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BYU basketball: Previewing the Utah State Aggies

By Nathan Cunningham

BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Big Blue, mascot of the Utah State Aggies stands on the court during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - MARCH 20: Big Blue, mascot of the Utah State Aggies stands on the court during the game against the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /
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BYU basketball takes on its second in-state opponent in as many games when the team travels north to clash with Utah State. Here’s what to know about the Aggies.

BYU basketball heads north this weekend, looking to defeat the Utah State Aggies. While USU doesn’t look intimidating, ESPN picks them to win.

Here’s what to know.

Utah State sits at 4-4 on the season, but nothing about the Aggies looks intimidating at the moment.

The team’s four wins have come over Mississippi Valley State, Montana State, Northeastern (which required a comeback) and New Hampshire. Utah State has two solid losses (Gonzaga and Valparaiso) and two bad losses (Weber State and Portland State).

So on paper, this looks like a game that BYU basketball should have no trouble winning. Then again, like they say, the games aren’t played on paper. Plus, for a team that can’t afford to drop winnable games, the Cougars simply cannot afford to overlook the Aggies.

Utah State’s top players this season have undoubtedly been sophomore guards Sam Merrill and Koby McEwen, and junior guard DeAngelo Isby.

McEwen, the reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, may not play though. He’s missed each of the last two games with an ankle injury. It would be good news for the Cougars if he misses three straight.

McEwen is 12.3 points per game on 44 percent shooting. He started slow, going just 3-for-10 in the season opening loss to Weber State, but has rebounded nicely, hitting 13 of his next 26 shots. The Toronto native has shown explosiveness in the past and could be a handful for BYU basketball.

Merrill is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game. He’s been extremely efficient on the year, too. Currently he’s shooting 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range. He’s also averaging north of three assists and three rebounds per game.

Isby is averaging 12 points per night, but he’s been wildly inconsistent as a shooter. Over his last two games (a loss to Valpo and win over New Hampshire) he’s 7-of-30 from the field. So while it seems easy to dismiss him, we’ve seen plenty of streaky shooters get red hot against BYU basketball.

The Cougars and Aggies tipoff at 7PM MT on Saturday, December 2.

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