This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah State couldn't have done this last year.
The Aggies were plenty capable of erasing double-digit deficits last season for sure. But not in five minutes. Not with 17 fastbreak points. And certainly not in such demonstrative fashion.
Utah State showed an ability to put things into overdrive in a 81-67 win over Nevada, and when the Aggies did, the Wolf Pack couldn't keep up.
It's an ability that Utah State hasn't had in the past. The Aggies forced Nevada into turnovers and made the Pack pay at the other end with lay-ups. And they did so against an athletic, talented team that's far better physically than its 4-11 record.
Stew Morrill is starting to understand Brockeith Pane. At this point, it's clear that Pane's not going to rack up many assists, which has always bothered Morrill. But Pane is a weapon. He can break a defense down. He can get to the basket and when he gets there, his strength allows him to finish and get to the foul line. There simply aren't many guards in the WAC not named Justin Graham that can give him issues on defense.
Pane, and his back-up James Walker, turned the game around. They pushed the ball, and they allowed the Aggies to score easy buckets in transition.
There aren't many Stew Morrill teams that score 17 fastbreak points.
Ultimately, this is what gives the USU team of this season a little more upside than last year's version. This team, in addition to the inside strength of Tai Wesley and a deep frontcourt, is athletic. And when things aren't working in the halfcourt, there are options that the team last season didn't posses.
Tony Jones