Men’s Basketball holds first practice of Sprinkle era
The Utah State men’s basketball team kicked off their 2023-24 campaign on Monday, holding their first official practice inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Monday’s practice featured many new faces as the Aggies are returning just three players from last year’s roster — sophomore guard Landon Brenchley, sophomore center Isaac Johnson and redshirt freshman Mason Falslev.
Last year’s squad went 13-5 in Mountain West Conference play and 26-9 overall. They finished second in the conference behind national runner-up San Diego State and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
This year’s team has 13 newcomers, with three freshmen and 10 incoming transfers. Transfers include graduate senior guard Darius Brown II and junior wing Great Osobor from Montana State, graduate wing Max Agbonkpolo from Wyoming, senior guard Ian Martinez from Maryland, junior guard Josh Uduje from Coastal Carolina, junior forward Jackson Grant from Washington, junior forward Kalifa Sakho from South Plains College, sophomore guard Javon Jackson from Southern Nazarene and sophomore forward Nigel Burris from Idaho. Freshmen include forward Karson Templin, guard Garrison Phelps, guard Jaxon Smith and wing Dallin Grant.
Taking the reins this year for his first campaign in Logan is head coach Danny Sprinkle. Hired in April to succeed Ryan Odom, Sprinkle will look to build on his previous coaching success.
Sprinkle spent four years as head coach at his alma mater, Montana State University. He posted an 81-43 (.681) record in four years as head coach of the Bobcats, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023.
For Aggie fans who are accustomed to the offensive-minded, 3-point-heavy style of play instituted by Odom, Sprinkle’s team may look different.
Last year’s team was extremely efficient offensively, finishing top 10 in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage and assists, as well as top 25 in three-pointers made and overall field goal percentage.
“It’s like a 180 flip. Last year, we didn’t really focus on defense a whole lot, [we were] more focused on offense,” Falslev said. “This year from the start, we’ve been working on our defense, getting all the right gaps and all the right spots. So it’s been totally different, but it’s been super good.”
Last year’s Montana State team, with Sprinkle at the head, featured the best defense in the Big Sky Conference. They allowed just 66.9 points and 23.3 field goals made per game, both good for best in the Big Sky.
“We have to defend to have a chance to win this year,” said Sprinkle. “We don’t have [Ashworth] and Shulga and Bairstow and those guys running around scoring, you know, in a tremendous offensive team. So in order for us to win, that’s going to have to be our staple this year.”
The Aggies will play an exhibition against Montana State University Billings at home on Nov. 3 before officially tipping off their season against South Dakota on Nov. 6 in the Spectrum.