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Utah State Basketball: In-depth look at senior guard Sam Merrill

By Bryan Mauro

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: The bench celebrates as Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies looks on as they play against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: The bench celebrates as Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies looks on as they play against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the game in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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RENO, NEVADA – JANUARY 02: Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies points to Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack as the ball goes out of bounds after the Nevada Wolf Pack missed a pass at Lawlor Events Center on January 02, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA – JANUARY 02: Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies points to Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack as the ball goes out of bounds after the Nevada Wolf Pack missed a pass at Lawlor Events Center on January 02, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

Utah State Basketball made a surprise run to the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Can their superstar guard Sam Merrill help them secure a spot for the second season in a row?

Entering the 115th season in school history Utah State Basketball are ready to show the rest of the Mountain West that last year was not an aberration. Current Aggie coach Craig Smith hopes to establish a new norm in Logan. Utah State made a surprise run to the tournament last year, this season it is expected for the Aggies to make a run to the tournament. The Mountain West has some strong teams at the top, but coach Smith has something the rest of the teams do not have.

The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year is still on campus in Logan, Utah and is looking to make more of a mark on the Aggie record book. Senior guard Sam Merrill is the best player in the conference and is on pace to be one of the best players in Utah State history. Unlike Utah State, Merrill entered the season last year expecting to be one of the better players in the conference. He lived up to the hype and without him a season ago it is hard to imagine how good Utah State would have been.

The Aggies enter the season as the favorite in the Mountain West and are poised to make a second consecutive run to the NCAA tournament. If the senior guard plays the same way he did a season ago, Utah State will have no problem returning to the NCAA tournament. Craig Smith has Utah State ready to take off and be the next mid major program that is a consistent winner in the conference. They have the looks of a team who has the chance to be a perennial tournament team. The senior guard is going to be a big factor in that success this season.