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Logan • If Utah State coach Stew Morrill could have scripted his final regular-season game at the Spectrum, he would not have picked Colorado State as the opponent.
"I would have played a local junior high team, rather than an NCAA [Tournament] team with 25 wins," he said.
Morrill wasn't consulted when the Mountain West Conference drew up its schedule, of course. But he announced in January that he would retire at the end of his 17th season at Utah State.
His decision created an emotional storyline for Saturday night's game against Colorado State — as if playing his former school for a possible No. 3 seed in the upcoming league tournament wasn't dramatic enough.
"Obviously it's a challenge for us," said Morrill, who coached the Rams from 1992-98. "CSU has a really good basketball team. They are a little bit of a nightmare — trying to figure out how to defend them. … Everybody has them as an NCAA team and I certainly do not disagree with that."
Colorado State is coached by Larry Eustachy. He was Utah State's coach before leaving and creating the vacancy filled by Morrill, who called the situation "ironic."
Heading into this game, Utah State is 18-11 overall and 11-6 in the Mountain West. The Rams are 25-5 and 12-6, meaning the Aggies will draw even with them in the final regular-season standings and win the head-to-head tiebreaker with a victory.
The bad news?
Utah State comes off a 76-53 loss at Wyoming, which snapped the Aggies' six-game winning streak.
"We are excited about the challenge of playing CSU," Morrill said. "But we know we didn't play well in Laramie. We have to play better to have a chance in this basketball game."
Win or lose, it will be an emotional night for Morrill.
"Fun is not the word I'd use," he said. "I don't really know how to describe it, other than it's kind of a realization that this thing's about done. … It's winding down."
Morrill expects scores of family members and friends to attend the game, although one son who lives in Montana won't make it.
"They are about to have a new baby — grandchild No. 8," Morrill said.
He joked that many of those coming to the game have mixed emotions about his decision to retire with two years left on his existing contract: "They're sad about not getting any more free tickets."
Under Morrill, the Aggies have enjoyed 17 straight winning seasons. They have won eight conference titles and reached the postseason 13 times, including eight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
A Provo native, Morrill has been his conference's Coach of the Year five times and is a leading candidate this season.
Going into the game against Colorado State, his record is 620-292 overall, 402-154 at Utah State and 248-31 at the Spectrum.
"Time flies for all of us," Morrill said. "It certainly has for me in the coaching business."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State vs. Colorado State
P At the Spectrum, Logan
Tipoff • 7 p.m.
TV • ROOT Sports
Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 97.5 FM, 102.1 FM
Records • Utah State 18-11, 11-6; Colorado State 25-5, 12-5
Last meeting • Utah State, 73-69 (March 12, 2014)
About the Aggies • They have won six of their last seven games but come off their most-lopsided loss this season — 76-53 at Wyoming. … They will finish between third and sixth in the Mountain West regular-season standings. … In the last three games, junior G Chris Smith is 9 for 13 from the 3-point line. … Sophomore F Jalen Moore is their leading scorer (15.1).
About the Rams • They have won four straight games by an average margin of 13.2 points. … This season, they've lost to Wyoming (twice), San Diego State, Boise State and New Mexico. … They rank second in the Mountain West in offense (73.0). … Their top scorers are seniors J.J. Avila (16.5), Stanton Kidd (11.5) and Daniel Bejarano (11.3).