Remember the Titans?
Utah State University basketball Head Coach Stew Morrill is sick of talking about the 65-51 loss to Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 19 in California.
“We’ve got 18 wins and 10 in league and I have to talk about that damn Fullerton game,” Morrill said. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Unfortunately for Morrill, discussion about the Fullerton loss will not go away as the Aggies host the Titans Thursday in the Spectrum.
Following the 62-61 victory Saturday over the University of California Irvine, the Aggies (18-4 overall and 10-3 in Big West Conference) moved into a tie for first place with the Anteaters in the BW.
The Titans are 1-11 in conference play (4-17 overall), with their only win coming against the Aggies.
CSF has lost five of its last five games and 12 of its last 13 games.
“Hopefully we will have the energy we need this week to continue to battle in the conference race we are in the middle of,” Morrill said. “It’s kind of fun. That’s the way we need to approach it.”
Even though Morrill said nothing good came out of the loss at Fullerton, it does add a little bit of motivation for the team.
The last two games where the Aggies used revenge as motivation against Cal Poly and UC Irvine USU came away with 85-53 and 62-61 wins, respectively.
“Wherever you can find motivation in February, it’s a good thing,” Morrill said. “At this point of the year you look for motivation and there certainly should be some.”
Despite only having one win in league play, Morrill said he looks at Fullerton on tape and sees them as a team that could defeat anyone on a given night.
On top of being sick of talking about Fullerton, Morrill said he is also sick of watching the Aggie loss on tape.
And he’s going to share the wealth.
“I am going to make those kids watch some of the film,” he said. “It’s only fair. If I have to watch the film, they have to watch the film. If I have to live with this stuff this week so do [they].”
One difference between the last meeting and this week’s matchup is the fact the Aggies will have homecourt advantage.
Morrill, who said he believed the Spectrum was a difficult place to play when he was in Montana, said Logan has a positive atmosphere.
“We see a lot of people who are energized and ready to go because of the atmosphere,” he said.
A key asset to the positive atmosphere is the fans in the Spectrum, Morrill said, and he hopes the Olympic Break will not drive fans away.
Morrill said any true fan knows the team is in the middle of a conference race and their support is critical.
“Bring a pocket TV or something,” Morrill said. “Whatever you have to do. We need you there.”
Aside from fan support, the Aggies will look for continued play from forward Desmond Penigar.
Leading Utah State in the last meeting between the teams, Penigar had 17 points and nine rebounds off 6-of-18 shooting.
Penigar, who was named Big West Conference Player of the Week Monday for the third time this season, averaged 16.5 points and 10 rebounds on the road trip.
Penigar is only the second player in USU history to win the award three times in a season. Eric Franson did the same thing during the 1994-95 season.
The junior is the only player in the Big West to win the award three times this year.
Junior guard Ronnie Ross, who Morrill said has been playing “happy,” will also look to contribute to the Aggies’ cause.
Morrill said Ross has improved since he left some of the worrying to his coach.
“Ronnie Ross is a great kid, but he can rival me in worry level,” Morrill said.
In the last two games, Ross has scored 11 and 12 points, respectively, as well as shooting 7 for 8 and 5 of 8 from the line.