USU MBB Preview: San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — Utah State Men’s Basketball (6-0) will play at the newest NBA arena, the Chase Center, as they take on San Francisco (7-1) in a neutral-site game tonight. The two programs will match up for the 12th time and the first time since a USU 74-48 win in 2003.
The Aggies are one of 13 undefeated teams remaining in the country. To defend their streak, they will have to beat a Don squad that is projected to finish third in the West Coast Conference.
“They have skill at all five positions,” head coach Ryan Odom said. “They play a very similar style to the way that we played last year. So we’re familiar with it.”
San Francisco is headlined by guards Khalil Shabazz and Tyrell Roberts. Together, they average 29.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
“Two veteran players, who provide a ton of challenges because they’re so fast,” Odom said. “They’re so crafty on offense. They shoot it well.”
On defense, Shabazz is tied for 16th in the nation in steals, with 21, and 15th in steals per game, averaging 2.6.
“Defensively, they cause havoc and really steal the ball,” Odom said. “In particular Shabazz. He’s elite at how he steals the ball.”
However, the Aggies usually make up for their turnovers with solid scoring opportunities off of assists. USU is 16th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio with 1.56. But, Utah State will have to do so without starting guard Rylan Jones — third on the team in assists with 27 this season — who suffered a concussion during the Utah Tech game, according to Odom. The team is unsure when Jones will be ready to play again.
“We don’t know how long, I mean, that’s just kind of up to his symptoms and how it goes,” Odom said.
The 3-point line will be a big factor in the contest with the Aggies leading the country in 3-pointers made per game, with 12.8, and 3-point shooting percentage, with 46.7%, while the Dons are 22nd in threes per game with 10.2.
On top of that, neither team is in the top 100 in the nation at defending the three. For Odom, the Aggies need to be more intense on defense around the perimeter.
“We were early in the season, the first couple of games, but then, we’ve gotten away from that,” Odom said. “We can’t be just content to trade baskets with folks, we’ve got to be more intense and intentional.”
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM and the WCC Network.
Featured image by Sam Warner from the Utah Tech game.