Washington Basketball: Getting to know the Utah State Aggies
By Neil Adler
The Washington basketball team is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Its opponent, Utah State, is a talented crew.
The Washington basketball squad, which claimed the Pac-12 Conference regular-season title and boasts a 26-8 record, has earned a No. 9 seed in the Midwest Region and will take on the No. 8 seed, Utah State, this Friday evening in the round of 64 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. In preparation for this tantalizing Big Dance affair, I figured it would prove helpful to provide a bit of context on the Huskies’ foe.
The Aggies (28-6), whose campus is in Logan, Utah, compete in the Mountain West Conference. During the regular season, Utah State finished tied for first place with Nevada in the Mountain West, with each group going 15-3. Then, in the league’s post-season tournament, the Aggies defeated San Diego State, 64-57, in the championship game to land an automatic bid to March Madness.
What’s more, after that successful run, Utah State entered both the AP and Coaches polls at No. 25, becoming nationally ranked for the inaugural instance dating back to the 2010-11 campaign. Needless to say, the Aggies’ first-year head coach, Craig Smith, a former Colorado State assistant, is doing a tremendous job in guiding Utah State.
The Aggies, as they arrive at the Big Dance, possess a strong NCAA NET rating of No. 29. Utah State also has achieved a stellar 5-1 mark so far in contests that transpire at neutral sites. On Friday night, the Aggies will make their 21st trip to March Madness, and their ninth in the past 20 years, although Utah State has not won an encounter in the NCAA tourney since 2001. Its No. 8 seed in this term’s Big Dance is the program’s highest-ever seeding.
Washington’s coaches, players and fan base alike should feel a tad nervous about just how potent of an offense Utah State owns. The Aggies average nearly 80 points a game, collect 40 rebounds, dish out 17 assists, and shoot roughly 47 percent from the field.
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Junior guard Sam Merrill is a total stud, tallying 21 points per contest, along with four boards and four dimes. He connects on about 46 percent from the field and an astounding 91 percent from the free-throw line. The Huskies will have their hands full with Merrill and the entire Utah State roster, and Washington’s tenacious zone defense better comes ready to ball.