This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Obviously Utah State suffered way too many turnovers. If the Aggies handle pressure they win this game by 20 easily. Thy were simply too strong in every other facet of the game for Boise State to handle.
And it still remains to be seen, but it's hard to imagine a challenger to the Aggies for the WAC title. Every other team in the conference has flaws that USU can exploit. It's that simple.
Against the Broncos, Tai Wesley was taken out of the game, but apparently Boise never scouted Brian Green because he had wide open looks at the rim all night long.
Utah State didn't play particularly well offensively. But on defense, the Aggies were tremendous. Reggie Arnold had a late run from three-point range to get his 20, but he really wasn't that much of a factor. LaShard Anderson, the reigning WAC player of the week, went 3-15 on his way to seven points. Paul Noonan went 0-7 from the field and Daequon Montreal went 3-8.
Utah State simply choked Boise's best players defensively. The only reason this was a game is because the Aggies didn't take care of the ball.
"We have to clean that up," Brockeith Pane said.
Stew Morrill said that it was hard to simulate that kind of pressure in practice situations. What makes Boise's pressure so unique is that it comes from all five spots on the floor, all five players.
So, for Utah State, call it a teaching moment. But call it a win as well.
Tony Jones