Logan » The schedule, so tough at the beginning of the Western Athletic Conference season, is beginning to clear up a bit for Utah State.
And if the Aggies can get past this week's road trip at Fresno State and at Idaho without a loss, they are set up for quite a run through the WAC with a favorable home schedule and just three road games, all against opponents they should beat, for the remainder of the regular season.
But starting with tonight's game against the Bulldogs, at 8 p.m., getting through these two games will be the tough part.
Fresno sports an almost surefire NBA talent in Paul George, a budding big man in Greg Smith, and Sylvester Seay, who has given USU fits in the past. And the Bulldogs, coming off two consecutive defeats, are hungry for a win.
Saturday's game is against a much-improved Idaho team that features former Aggie assistant Don Verlin and his inner knowledge of how Utah State runs its offensive and defensive sets. And Utah State will be on the back end of the trip with Idaho having waited the entire week to play.
"Fresno State is very talented," USU coach Stew Morrill said. They have size and athleticism all over the court. It starts with Paul George, and Greg Smith is very talented. This is a very capable team and we're going to have to play well to win."
Morrill is two wins away from career victory No. 500. But more importantly, quietly, the Aggies know that if they can win two games that they will be favored in every league game the rest of the way. And with the way Louisiana Tech is playing this season, unbeaten in the league, it's going to take a long run to win the conference title.
Jared Quayle, as the reigning WAC Player of the Week, is performing as well as he has all season, which is making Utah State better in the process.
The Aggies are also coming off their best road win of the year, an overtime triumph of Nevada.
"We have to come out and play with energy," Quayle said. "We know that these two games are going to be tough. We have to fight through the tough times."
