This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Fresno, Calif. • On paper, it certainly appears that Utah State is set up for a difficult challenge against Fresno State on Saturday night.
While the Bulldogs are relaxing, having had the week off, the Aggies are coming off a difficult, leg-draining, win over Boise State in a game in which the Broncos spent the bulk of the night pressuring the ball full-court.
And while Utah State is 4-0 in the Western Athletic Conference and in first place, Fresno is 3-1. Even in the best of circumstance, playing two games on the road in three nights can be hard.
Playing a good Bulldogs team promises to be even more arduous than normal for USU.
"I've always said that playing Saturday night on the road is hard to do," Utah State coach Stew Morrill said. "This is a game that's going to test our character. We've been on the road for three consecutive games. We're going to have to dig deep and we're going to have to play well to win."
Last year, Fresno State had an elite NBA draft prospect in Paul George, a 6-foot-8 guard who ended up going to Indiana with its lottery pick.
This time around, the Bulldogs have center Greg Smith, a 6-10 sophomore, who also is being projected as a potential draft pick. Smith, strong and athletic, is one of the best inside players in the WAC. Fresno also has Steven Shepp, a good shooter at point guard, helping him out.
The Aggies, however, have passed a few difficult tests in the past week. At 15-2 overall, Utah State defeated a Nevada team that sported a bevy of young talent. Against Boise, USU found a way to beat an athletic team in one of the most hostile road atmosphere's that it's faced this season.
More importantly, the Aggies found a way to win an elite game without Tai Wesley being a major factor, which was a question that needed to be answered. Wesley scored six points and seven rebounds as he found himself double-teamed the majority of the game.
Utah State was able to accomplish that because Brockeith Pane is establishing himself as one of the best perimeter players in the WAC. He led the Aggies against the Broncos with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists. His 3-pointer from the corner late against Boise was the most important shot of the game.
Pane is averaging 17 points a game in conference play and has scored in double figures in six consecutive games. In the process, the junior point guard has become the second scorer that Utah State's needed to complement Wesley.
"Playing against Fresno is going to be an important game," Pane said. "We're going to have to bring it and play better than we did at Boise. It's going to be hard."