Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It's hard to be optimistic for Utah State Basketball. The Aggies have lost 4 straight games for the first time since 1994 and play 6 of their next 8 on the road; including trips to Louisiana Tech and BYU. But I'm here to tell you there is hope for the Aggies as they begin the 2nd half of Conference play; and it starts with the 2nd half they played last Saturday night.
"We're gonna be doing some good things coming up, I can feel it."
Junior forward Spencer Butterfield was optimistic after the Louisiana Tech game, and in all honesty, he should be. The Aggies comeback came up short, but they were impressive in how they lost. More specifically, their defense was spectacular.
They held the Bulldogs to 16 2nd half points; the lowest point total in a half for the WAC's best offensive team.
They out muscled the Bulldogs for 10 offensive rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
Still not impressed? The Aggies defense forced Louisiana Tech to shoot just 18 percent from the field. Not bad considering the Bulldogs average 40 percent.
We know how hard we can play now, we just have to come out and do that every game.
–Spencer Butterfield
Let's go one step further, twice in the 2nd half, Louisiana Tech went 6 plus minutes without a field goal; 12:51 seconds without a basket to be exact.
It was a Herculian effort defensively and considering how low Utah State is on bodies nowadays, it might be unreasonable to expect that night in and night out; but Butterfield and the Aggies know, it's the only way they'll have a chance moving forward. "We know how hard we can play now, we just have to come out and do that every game."
Their first challenge? Idaho's Kyle Barone.
Last time the Vandals and Aggies met, Barone dropped 13 points and 10 rebounds on Utah State, and that was with Kyisean Reed healthy. Last week, the 6'10 center scored 27 points against Texas State and 25 against UTSA; grabbing 16 rebounds in both games.
"Unbelievable weekend last weekend, just unbelievable. He is a guy that has been a starter since he was a freshman, every year he has gotten better," coach Stew Morril said of Barone. "He is a first-team all-league guy without question. We have got to help some on him and we have got to do a good job when we don't help."
The Aggies also need to find an answer for Connor Hill, who scored 18 points in Spectrum earlier this month; shooting 4-7 from three. All in all, Idaho shot 48% as a team in their last meeting, a number Utah State can't allow again.
Tip off for tonight's game is 8:00 pm; it will be televised by ESPN Regional TV, airing on Altitude 2 (DirecTV Ch. 682, Dish Network Ch. 450).
