Logan • This is the difficult thing about playing with six experienced seniors: One day, they graduate and you have to start over.

Such is life for Utah State this season. The Aggies think they have talent. They think they have a chance to do well in the Western Athletic Conference, and maybe even make another run at the NCAA Tournament.

But with a bushel of newcomers, there just isn't any way to know for the next month where this team will potentially be when February and March rolls around.

"There are just so many moving parts," USU head coach Stew Morrill said. "I'm still trying to get used to coaching this team. I'm excited to coach this team, but we have a long way to go."

Heading into Friday's matchup with BYU at the Spectrum, one starter, point guard Brockeith Pane, has full-time experience in the lineup from a year ago.

The Aggies are expected to start freshman Steven Thornton at small forward, redshirt sophomore Preston Medlin and shooting guard and senior Morgan Grim at center. Neither of the first two guys were in uniform a season ago, while Grim was a little-used reserve.

Still, this is Utah State that we're talking about, and Stew Morrill is still at the helm. USU has looked good in two exhibitions, including one impressive half against Adams State, where the Aggies played their trademark lockdown defense.

Pane will be counted on to score more than he did last season as a first team all-conference performer, but has looked uncertain in that role thus far. Senior forward Brady Jardine will be asked to provide his trademark rebounding and high-energy play over 30 minutes per game this season. He will also be counted on for interior scoring, something he hasn't been comfortable with.

"I think we all have to step up to a degree for us to be successful," Jardine said. "We don't have a Tai Wesley to count on when we need to score. So it has to be a collective unit."

Utah State looks to be deeper than it was last season. Adam Thoesby, Kyisean Reed, EJ Farris and former Sky View star Jordan Stone will all see significant action against BYU, along with junior college transfer Mitch Bruneel. That's a change from last year, when Morrill routinely played just seven bodies, with Grim subbing in as needed.

How it all turns out? That's anyone's guess. If nothing else, however, this looks to be an intriguing bunch of clay that Morrill will need to shape and mold into his image.

tjones@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tonyaggieville —

Utah State schedule

All times Mountain

Nov. 11 • BYU, 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 15 • at Weber State, 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 19 • Southern Utah, 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 22 • at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 6:05 p.m.

Nov. 26 • at Idaho State, 7:05 p.m.

Nov. 30 • Denver ,7:05 p.m.

Dec. 3 • at Pacific, 8:05 p.m.

Dec. 6 • Utah Valley, 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 10 • at Wichita State, 6:05 p.m.

Dec. 17 • Seattle University, 7:05 p.m.

Dec. 20 • UT-Arlington, 8:05 p.m.

Dec. 21 • St. Peter's, 8:05 p.m.

Dec. 22 • Kent State, 8:05 p.m.

Dec. 31 • at Mississippi State, 12:05 p.m.

Jan. 5 • Fresno State, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 7 • Nevada, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 12 • at New Mexico State, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 14 • at Louisiana Tech, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 19 • at Seattle University, 8:05 p.m.

Jan. 21 • at Idaho, 8:05 p.m.

Jan. 26 • Hawai'i, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 28 • San Jose State, 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 2 • at Nevada, 8:05 p.m.

Feb. 4 • at Fresno State, 8:05 p.m.

Feb. 9 • Louisiana Tech, 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 11 • New Mexico State, 1:05 p.m.

Feb. 14 • Montana Tech, 7:05 p.m.

Feb. 18 • ESPNU Bracketbuster, TBA

Feb. 24 • Idaho, 7:05 p.m.

March 1 • at San Jose State, 8:05 p.m.

March 3 • at Hawaii,10:05 p.m. —

Three things we've learned

• Jordan Stone won't redshirt. The 6-foot-11, 275-pound freshman from Sky View High isn't skilled offensively, but he's the only legitimate size on the roster, and his strength and aggression have been impressive during two preseason games. He will see time off the bench, and don't be surprised if he sees more and more minutes as the season goes on.

• Steven Thornton has emerged as a starter. The freshman small forward is long, athletic, and defensive-minded — kind of like departed senior Pooh Williams. Thornton grabbed nine rebounds against Adams State, and has exhibited a nice mid-range game.

• The Aggies will run more this season. With USU's relative lack of size, and Brockeith Pane at the point, expect to see an increase in transition. It's not normally Stew Morrill's thing, but his personnel dictates this change, and the tempo increase just may make the trademark halfcourt offense more effective. —

BYU at Utah State

P Friday, 7 p.m.

TV • KCSG-TV (Comcast Ch. 116, DirecTV Ch. 44, Dish Network Ch. 37)