Young basketball team drops first game
The men’s basketball team got off to a timid beginning on Wednesday night, falling to EA Sports 60-67 in a pre-season exhibition game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. A combination of rushed shooting and multiple change-ups in the first half gave EA Sports a definite advantage. Out-scoring USU with a staggering 52 percent field goal percentage, EA Sports made 26 of 50 compared to the Aggies’ 22 for 56, 39.3 percent.
“We lost to these guys last year and we had a good year,” said Head Coach Stew Morrill, “so maybe it’s an omen.” Morrill said he remains hopeful for the season to come, and that he knows his team will show improvement as they begin to improve their concentration during practice and on the court. Some players on the court had no idea where to go or what defense the team is in, Morrill said.
With a fresh team that includes nine new players, Morrill said he looks at this exhibition game as a way to give everyone a look. With a first half consisting of many substitutions, each player was given a chance to prove to Morrill that they will step up on the court, said junior shooting guard Jaycee Carroll.
“It’s a good opportunity for us as players to prove to coach that we want to play,” Carroll said, “that we’ll take care of things when we’re in.”
As for the team being where it should be for the start of the season, Morrill said he isn’t surprised at all about what happened Wednesday night. The Aggies are used to having five-year veterans on the roster, but with one three-year player and a few two-year returners, the team certainly has room to refine their tactics, Morrill said.
Senior forward Chris Session led the team in rebounds, recovering the ball a total of 14 times – a game high for Session. Carroll, who put up eight rebounds for the team, said he expects Session to keep having games like these.
“Chris Session’s rebounding is where it needs to be,” Carroll said. “If he rebounds like that every game, well, he’s gonna lead the nation.”
The Aggies had some good moments and bad moments, just as they have during practice. For a 6-foot-6-inch Session going up against players as tall as 6-foot-10, it’s important for him to stay agile on the court, Session said. Excelling in rebounds was not enough to bring the Aggies on top for very long, as most of the game consisted of playing catch-up. Carroll led the team in scoring with 24 points, followed by senior forward Chaz Spicer, who contributed 14 points.
EA Sports’ roster includes three former Western Athletic Conference players. New Mexico native Troy DeVries shot five of eight 3-point field goals, aiding his total of 24 points. EA Sports Head Coach Maury Hanks complimented Morrill on being one of the best coaches in the country.
“This is their first game. They will be better in a month from now and especially two months from now when they start conference play,” Hanks said.
For now, Morrill said he will ensure his team improves their practice strategies. The newness of the team shows, but they have to want to get better and grind things out instead of self-destructing, Morrill said.
He said Identity as a team is important early in the season. Players should not rely on the crutch of having a teammate that has been around three or four years, which is something they don’t have, he said.
“I always get a kick out of people who think you’re automatically good,” Morrill said. “You’re not automatically good because of what your past teams have done.”
The Aggies will face off in another exhibition game, at home, against Occidental College on Nov. 6 at 7:05 p.m. The regular season schedule begins on the road against Northwestern State on Nov. 10. -eawads@cc.usu.edu