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Utah State defeated BYU on Friday night with a barrage of easy second-half points and a defense that reduced the Cougars' offense to a virtual turnover machine.
On Tuesday, the Aggies will really find out if they're any good.
That's the sentiment of Stew Morrill and his coaching staff, who know the enormous challenge that lies in trying to beat Weber State at the Dee Events Center in Ogden.
The Wildcats, on paper, have maybe the best team in the state. On paper, they surely have the best individual player in the form of Damian Lillard, a 6-foot-2 wizard of a point guard who is squarely perched on the NBA radar.
"Watching them on film, they have maybe the best team the Big Sky will have seen in 15 years," Morrill said. "Lillard is so hard to stop — he can do so many things. The hard thing, though, is that it isn't just him. They have big guys, they have shooters, they have a real team around him so you just can't key on him."
What fans will see is what could be the best in-state matchup of the year in Lillard and USU point guard Brockeith Pane. A senior, Pane dominated BYU with 21 points, 17 of them coming in the second half. Pane will guard Lillard, and the player who can effectively guard the other may give his team a big advantage.
At small forward, Utah State's Mitch Bruneel, a sophomore transfer from College of Southern Idaho, will receive his first career start because of his strong performance in the BYU game. He will offer shooting and defense from the wing.
"It's going to be tough for us," Morrill said. "They have a lot of offensive firepower. They are quick, and they have great shooters. They are very aggressive and confident offensively, and they should be."
Twitter: @tonyaggieville —
Utah State at Weber State
At Dee Events Center, Ogden
Tipoff • 7 p.m.
TV • None
Radio • 1280 AM/610 AM
Records • WSU 1-0, USU 1-0
Series record • USU 38-25
Last meeting • USU 77-65 (Nov. 13, 2010)
About the Wildcats • Junior guard Damian Lillard scored 25 points in his return from missing most of last season with a broken foot. … WSU's 59-point win margin Friday against NAIA N. New Mexico was the most in school history.
About the Aggies • Senior guard Brockeith Pane scored 21 points in USU's home-opening win over BYU, 17 in the second half. … USU forced BYU into 20 turnovers.