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LOGAN — Utah State basketball coach Stew Morrill knew that joining the Mountain West Conference would bring a plethora of new experiences.
More conference money, better recruiting opportunities and a place in a conference that has become an elite basketball product. However, for all of the benefits that lie in place with the MWC, the reality of playing those elite basketball products night in and night out has definitely reared its ugly head for the Aggies.
Utah State is currently 2-2 in conference play, with wins over San Jose State and Colorado State, and losses to Nevada and Air Force. Overall, the Aggies sit squarely in the middle of the conference — a conference that has six teams with double-digit win totals.
The Aggies outlasted former Utah State coach Larry Eustachy and his Colorado State Rams, 57-50, Wednesday. Now, the Aggies travel to Boise to take on former WAC foe Boise State in a battle to see who can get a winning record in conference.
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The Broncos aren’t traditionally known for their basketball team, but that perception is rapidly changing as time goes on. Boise played in the First Four last year, and coach Leon Rice is changing the expectation level of a school that is well-known for its football prowess.
During last year’s campaign, the Broncos went 9-7 in conference play and still made the NCAA Tournament. Boise’s season is evidence why Utah State is better off in the Mountain Wes because the Aggies have a much better shot at advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
Rice has the Broncos off to a 12-5 start — an opening stretch that has included wins over Utah and Hawaii. Boise State also has a few tough losses in that slate, including single-digit road losses to Kentucky, Iowa State, San Diego State, and Wyoming.
Rice has only faced Utah State twice, losing both appearances. Compare that to Morrill, who has gone 24-10 all-time against the Broncos, with a record of 18-4 against Boise State while in Logan.
As far as a style of play, Boise will be a good matchup for Utah State with two solid scoring options in Anthony Drmic, who averages 19.2 points a game, and Derrick Marks, who averages 15.5 points a game. Drmic is the second-leading rebounder, and Marks leads the teams in assists per game.
