Evidence at how the Aggies improved over non-conference play can be pointed at two preseason tournaments: the South Padre Island Invitational in Texas and the Gossner Foods Classic in Logan.
In one (South Padre Island), it showed the Aggies how much they needed to improve if they were to attain their goal of winning the WAC; in the other (Gossner Foods), it proved that they had indeed improved, and needed to keep taking strides to be ready for conference play.
Utah State finished third in the six-team S.P. Invitational, behind champion Vanderbilt and Bradley and ahead of fourth-place Iowa, Austin Peay and Montana Western. The Aggies, Vandy, Iowa and Bradley were the four teams that actually traveled to Texas over Thanksgiving break. Austin Peay played at Iowa and Utah State, and hosted Montana Western, while Montana Western had to take their Invitational games on the road.
USU was pounded 76-55 by the Commodores, who have been ranked in the Top 25 nearly all season. However, the Ags responded by knocking off Iowa 65-52.
Previously in Logan, USU beat NAIA Montana Western 77-58 in an ugly game, and Austin Peay 71-68 in a much better played game.
Overall, the Ags played two good games in the tourney, and two bad ones.
In their two wins, USU played like a WAC contender. In their two losses, pretenders.
It really was that simple.
The Aggies were smacked around by a top SEC team, but took it to an average Big Ten team, proving that they can be Big Dance-worthy this year, but only if they give a consistent effort every game.
Then came the Gossner Foods Classic.
The Aggies were drubbed by Utah 72-48 to put their record at 5-5 fifteen days earlier. However, Utah State came out of the gates strong in the opening game against Utah Valley, and maintained the intensity in an 87-65 win. Two of the nation's top scorers, Jaycee Carroll and UVSC's Ryan Toolsen, faced off against each other, and Carroll took the battle in a landslide.
Then in the championship the next night, the Aggies played another solid game in a 78-62 victory over a 7-4 Northern Arizona club. Gary Wilkinson had perhaps his best game in the Aggie blue up to that point in the season.
Utah State looked SO much better in these two games than they had when they played another inferior team in Montana Western a month earlier. It really indicated that they had taken strides and made the choice to be a tough team after the wake-up call at the Utes' home in Salt Lake City. Add in a victory over a solid Oral Roberts group eight days later heading into WAC play, and Aggie fans, after initial concern with a .500 start to the season, could breathe a bit easier.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Midseason grades for Utah State basketball
This is an article that I wrote back on Jan. 2, the day before conference play was about to begin. At this point in the season the Aggies had just wrapped up non-conference play at 10-5. However, I saved it and never published it...
Post Players
Gary Wilkinson: B Center
Wilkinson has proven that he can score. However, many players have been able to out-rebound him with ease, particularly really talented posts like Vanderbilt's Andrew Ogilvy.
Tai Wesley: B- Power Forward
Tai has taken over the starting power forward position, a spot that he took and hasn't relinquished since an early December game at Cal State Bakersfield. He has played better in the role with more and more playing time, and with the way he is going will be in the running for WAC Freshman of the Year once conference play gets rolling.
Steve DuCharme: B- Power Forward/Center
Steve started strong earlier in the season, particularly in weekend games in southern Californinia at Cal-Poly and UC-Irvine, when he averaged 20 points and was really the only Aggie to perform well. However, he has struggled to find his place on this team that has been ever-evolving over non-conference play.
Moduo Niang: C- Center
Moduo saw some playing time in the first ten or eleven games of the season, but has found his place on the bench his freshman season as coach Stew Morrill has been trying to solidify a rotation. Niang is still very raw but has shown signs of being a big contributor in seasons to come.
Overall: B-
Swingmen- Shooting Guards & Small Forwards
Jaycee Carroll: A Shooting Guard
What can I say? He has kept the team afloat as they have come together and improved, especially over the holiday break from school (a 32.5 ppg average during the Gossner Classic, a school record). Is still shooting just as well, or even better, than last season. While his scoring average was a little down from last year early on, he has scored at a higher pace the last 7 games while still involving his teammates.
Tyler Newbold: B- Small Forward
After burning his redshirt when Nick Hammer's tenure with the time ended right before the season, Newbold took over the starting small forward position vacated by DeUndrae Spraggins in the same December game at Bakersfield that Tai Wesley took the starting power forward slot. He has played good defense most of the time, and unlike Spraggins has fully accepted that he isn't going to get a lot of shots in an offense that looks for Carroll and passes to the post players coming off of low-post cross screens.
DeUndrae Spraggins: B- Small Forward
Spraggins has been a stellar defender, often taking on defensive roles against the opponent's best scorer. However, he has taken too many questionable shots for coach Morrill's liking, and perhaps has had a little too much pot recently, especially when compared to returned missionary Newbold.
Pooh Williams: C- Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Pooh played quite a bit in the first 6 or 7 games of the season, but has fallen out of the rotation as Morrill has sought to tighten the playing lineup. He can be a very solid player, but as coach Morrill has said, needs to develop consistent practice habits and fight fatigue in practice.
Overall: B
Point Guards
Kris Clark: B
Clark surprisingly had a major issue with turning the ball over in the Aggies' 5-5 start. However, since an embarrassing loss at Utah, Clark has been more steady with the ball, beginning with the Prarie View A&M game. In the two-game Gossner Classic, in fact, Clark turned the ball over just once. It is good to see that he is regaining his steady form from last season.
Desmond Stephens: C
Stephens has proven that he is a pretty good outside shooter, and while he isn't the largest man on the floor (5-9, 160 pounds), he contains serious speed to emphasize the fast break. However, he has had a huge problem with making lazy passes that lead to points for the opponent on the other end. However, the last few games he has seemed more accustomed to Div. 1 basketball.
Overall: C+
Team: B-
The team needs to continue to improve at the rate that they are improving to be contenders in the WAC. Starting conference play at home should help a lot in that regard.
Post Players
Gary Wilkinson: B Center
Wilkinson has proven that he can score. However, many players have been able to out-rebound him with ease, particularly really talented posts like Vanderbilt's Andrew Ogilvy.
Tai Wesley: B- Power Forward
Tai has taken over the starting power forward position, a spot that he took and hasn't relinquished since an early December game at Cal State Bakersfield. He has played better in the role with more and more playing time, and with the way he is going will be in the running for WAC Freshman of the Year once conference play gets rolling.
Steve DuCharme: B- Power Forward/Center
Steve started strong earlier in the season, particularly in weekend games in southern Californinia at Cal-Poly and UC-Irvine, when he averaged 20 points and was really the only Aggie to perform well. However, he has struggled to find his place on this team that has been ever-evolving over non-conference play.
Moduo Niang: C- Center
Moduo saw some playing time in the first ten or eleven games of the season, but has found his place on the bench his freshman season as coach Stew Morrill has been trying to solidify a rotation. Niang is still very raw but has shown signs of being a big contributor in seasons to come.
Overall: B-
Swingmen- Shooting Guards & Small Forwards
Jaycee Carroll: A Shooting Guard
What can I say? He has kept the team afloat as they have come together and improved, especially over the holiday break from school (a 32.5 ppg average during the Gossner Classic, a school record). Is still shooting just as well, or even better, than last season. While his scoring average was a little down from last year early on, he has scored at a higher pace the last 7 games while still involving his teammates.
Tyler Newbold: B- Small Forward
After burning his redshirt when Nick Hammer's tenure with the time ended right before the season, Newbold took over the starting small forward position vacated by DeUndrae Spraggins in the same December game at Bakersfield that Tai Wesley took the starting power forward slot. He has played good defense most of the time, and unlike Spraggins has fully accepted that he isn't going to get a lot of shots in an offense that looks for Carroll and passes to the post players coming off of low-post cross screens.
DeUndrae Spraggins: B- Small Forward
Spraggins has been a stellar defender, often taking on defensive roles against the opponent's best scorer. However, he has taken too many questionable shots for coach Morrill's liking, and perhaps has had a little too much pot recently, especially when compared to returned missionary Newbold.
Pooh Williams: C- Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Pooh played quite a bit in the first 6 or 7 games of the season, but has fallen out of the rotation as Morrill has sought to tighten the playing lineup. He can be a very solid player, but as coach Morrill has said, needs to develop consistent practice habits and fight fatigue in practice.
Overall: B
Point Guards
Kris Clark: B
Clark surprisingly had a major issue with turning the ball over in the Aggies' 5-5 start. However, since an embarrassing loss at Utah, Clark has been more steady with the ball, beginning with the Prarie View A&M game. In the two-game Gossner Classic, in fact, Clark turned the ball over just once. It is good to see that he is regaining his steady form from last season.
Desmond Stephens: C
Stephens has proven that he is a pretty good outside shooter, and while he isn't the largest man on the floor (5-9, 160 pounds), he contains serious speed to emphasize the fast break. However, he has had a huge problem with making lazy passes that lead to points for the opponent on the other end. However, the last few games he has seemed more accustomed to Div. 1 basketball.
Overall: C+
Team: B-
The team needs to continue to improve at the rate that they are improving to be contenders in the WAC. Starting conference play at home should help a lot in that regard.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Posted: Feb. 7, 2008 10:18 AM
Man accused in burglary of LDS Meetinghouse
35-year-old man, in addition to juvenile, is suspected
LOGAN, Utah- Jim Michaels, a 35-year-old man, and a 15-year-old juvenile have been accused of being involved in the burglary of the meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that took place last week, early Thursday, January 31, at 900 North 1600 East in Logan, Utah.
Michaels and the juvenile face trial in a preliminary court March 21.
Prosecuting attorney Noel Mayfield believes that there is “plenty of incriminating evidence” to be presented in court. Mayfield seeks the maximum punishment for both Michaels and the unnamed 15-year-old.
Intriguingly, this is not the first time that Michaels and the unnamed juvenile have intruded on the law together.
“I’m definitely going to seek for the maximum of the law for these two individuals… they are acquaintances, I can say that much… they have committed crime together in the past,” Mayfield commented.
While Mayfield is committed to seeing justice be done on these two individuals, Robbie Cochran, the defense attorney representing Mr. Michaels, doesn’t believe there is sufficient evidence for his client to be proven guilty.
“There is concern (over the evidence for the case). My client doesn’t want to go to jail… I don’t even believe (Michaels getting prosecuted) is an issue. I’m surprised that the judge even called a trial, because I believe (what Mayfield has against Michaels) is flimsy evidence.”
On the other side, Noel Mayfield claims that there is forensic-type evidence that she can present in opposition to Michaels and the 15-year-old. According to Mayfield, Michaels faces six months to a year in jail for the burglary of the meetinghouse on account for breaking and entering the building.
Mayfield refused to release any additional details of the burglary.
Judge Alan Mayfield is to run the trial. Michaels has posted a bond of $5,000 in his defense.
Cochran strongly opposes Judge Mayfield in this case.
“This will be an interesting trial because Judge Alan Mayfield (no relation to Noel Mayfield, prosecuting attorney) is unpredictable. You never know what side he is going to go on.”
Sheriff Geoffrey Hasty, who has been involved in the burglary since it first happened last week, remains involved in the accusation and will appear in the court March 21.
35-year-old man, in addition to juvenile, is suspected
LOGAN, Utah- Jim Michaels, a 35-year-old man, and a 15-year-old juvenile have been accused of being involved in the burglary of the meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that took place last week, early Thursday, January 31, at 900 North 1600 East in Logan, Utah.
Michaels and the juvenile face trial in a preliminary court March 21.
Prosecuting attorney Noel Mayfield believes that there is “plenty of incriminating evidence” to be presented in court. Mayfield seeks the maximum punishment for both Michaels and the unnamed 15-year-old.
Intriguingly, this is not the first time that Michaels and the unnamed juvenile have intruded on the law together.
“I’m definitely going to seek for the maximum of the law for these two individuals… they are acquaintances, I can say that much… they have committed crime together in the past,” Mayfield commented.
While Mayfield is committed to seeing justice be done on these two individuals, Robbie Cochran, the defense attorney representing Mr. Michaels, doesn’t believe there is sufficient evidence for his client to be proven guilty.
“There is concern (over the evidence for the case). My client doesn’t want to go to jail… I don’t even believe (Michaels getting prosecuted) is an issue. I’m surprised that the judge even called a trial, because I believe (what Mayfield has against Michaels) is flimsy evidence.”
On the other side, Noel Mayfield claims that there is forensic-type evidence that she can present in opposition to Michaels and the 15-year-old. According to Mayfield, Michaels faces six months to a year in jail for the burglary of the meetinghouse on account for breaking and entering the building.
Mayfield refused to release any additional details of the burglary.
Judge Alan Mayfield is to run the trial. Michaels has posted a bond of $5,000 in his defense.
Cochran strongly opposes Judge Mayfield in this case.
“This will be an interesting trial because Judge Alan Mayfield (no relation to Noel Mayfield, prosecuting attorney) is unpredictable. You never know what side he is going to go on.”
Sheriff Geoffrey Hasty, who has been involved in the burglary since it first happened last week, remains involved in the accusation and will appear in the court March 21.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Jazz still haven't lost since the post a week ago
Since the last Dubyaworld posting about the Utah Jazz exactly one week ago, the Jazz still have not lost. In fact, they have won four games in a row since that post to build their impressive, NBA-leading winning streak to eight games.
At 30-18, the Jazz are the leaders of the Northwest Division, which currently puts them as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, their record is actually the sixth-best in the conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Lakers and a half-game behind the San Antonio Spurs, whom the Jazz defeated five days ago 97-91 in Salt Lake City.
Utah takes on the New Orleans Hornets in a continuation of the never-ending Deron Williams-Chris Paul comparison tonight at seven in SLC at the EnergySolutions Arena. This will be the tenth meeting between the two. Williams currently has a 6-3 advantage head-to-head versus Paul. With that said, Paul is going to his first All-Star game this season, while Williams did not get selected. However, Williams has taken his team to the playoffs in his three-year career- something that Paul cannot claim. In fact, Williams led his team to the Western Conference Finals last year. 'Nuff said.
In addition, and more importantly, the Jazz are just three games behind the Hornets in the standings, who are second in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Phoenix Suns.
This is, without a doubt, the biggest game in the NBA today amidst a schedule that includes ten games.
At 30-18, the Jazz are the leaders of the Northwest Division, which currently puts them as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, their record is actually the sixth-best in the conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Lakers and a half-game behind the San Antonio Spurs, whom the Jazz defeated five days ago 97-91 in Salt Lake City.
Utah takes on the New Orleans Hornets in a continuation of the never-ending Deron Williams-Chris Paul comparison tonight at seven in SLC at the EnergySolutions Arena. This will be the tenth meeting between the two. Williams currently has a 6-3 advantage head-to-head versus Paul. With that said, Paul is going to his first All-Star game this season, while Williams did not get selected. However, Williams has taken his team to the playoffs in his three-year career- something that Paul cannot claim. In fact, Williams led his team to the Western Conference Finals last year. 'Nuff said.
In addition, and more importantly, the Jazz are just three games behind the Hornets in the standings, who are second in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Phoenix Suns.
This is, without a doubt, the biggest game in the NBA today amidst a schedule that includes ten games.
Four suspended Aggie ballers most likely partied at La. Tech
The whispers coming out of the Utah State University campus are that the four men's basketball players who were suspended for the Aggies' Jan. 26 game at New Mexico State- Steve DuCharme, Desmond Stephens, Pooh Williams, and Jaxon Myaer- are that they went to a party on the Louisiana Tech campus.
The Aggies played La. Tech that Thursday, the 24th, two days before the game at NMSU. It is unclear whether the players partied on the Bulldog campus before or after the game in Ruston, La.
The most credible source for this information is Aggie athletics insider and women's basketball assistant team manager Atlee Zipf, who knows every single player on the men's team as well and counts most of them as his personal friends.
The Aggies played La. Tech that Thursday, the 24th, two days before the game at NMSU. It is unclear whether the players partied on the Bulldog campus before or after the game in Ruston, La.
The most credible source for this information is Aggie athletics insider and women's basketball assistant team manager Atlee Zipf, who knows every single player on the men's team as well and counts most of them as his personal friends.
David West and Josh Smith on the All-Star teams?!
The NBA All-Star reserves were announced four days ago, and though I agree with most of the coaches' overall selections, there were a couple of instances that made me scratch my head.
David West was named to the Western Conference roster?
Josh Smith was named to the Eastern Conference roster?
These were two named that really blew me out of the water when I first saw the listings of the reserves on ESPNews. Though West's New Orleans Hornets are currently one of the best teams in the NBA, with the second-best record in the Western Conference, he did not deserve to go to the game. He has decent averages of about 19 points and nine rebounds per game, but are these All-Star numbers? A fellow power forward that is on the All-Star roster is Carlos Boozer, who is averaging over 22 points and almost 11 rebounds per game, not to mention shooting a very higher percentage than West. Or Dirk Nowitzki, another power forward averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game, and as a seven-footer is also shooting over 35 percent from the three-point line. Besides, the Hornets already were going to be represented in the game by a very-deserving Chris Paul.
I guess the coaches were feeling generous to the Hornets for two reasons: number one, because they are a very good team this year, and secondly, because the game is being played in New Orleans. Maybe the coaches are being mindful of the fans, who will be paying big bucks for the game and would be more than happy to see TWO of their own players in the game.
I feel like that All-Star selection, however, should have gone to Golden State's Baron Davis or Utah's Deron Williams. Both players are point guards who are commandeering their clubs to fine seasons, as both the Warriors and Jazz are currently in the playoff picture. They matter to their teams much more than West does to the Hornets; in fact, they are their respective teams' MVPs, much like West's teammate Paul.
In the East, an All-Star spot went to Atlanta Hawks swingman Smith. While a great talent, who can shoot from the outside and can jump out of a gym, Smith is not an All-Star, at least not yet. This spot most definitely should have gone to Boston's Ray Allen, whose teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are on the team. Allen matters to the Celtics' success just as much as Garnett and Pierce do. The Celtics would not be as good as they are without all three of those superstars. With only two of the three, Boston would be average at best. It does not do the Boston organization justice to not include one of these three players who have sacrificed much of their own personal glory for the success of the team this season.
In addition, what has Atlanta done this year, especially in comparison to Boston? Go 10 games under .500? Simply said with the facts, Smith is not nearly as pivotal to Atlanta as Allen is to Boston.
I agree with all of the other selections for the game. I thought that New Jersey's Richard Jefferson would be on the East roster rather than the Wizards' Caron Butler, but I can let that one slide. Two spots that I cannot let slide at all, however, are the two above-ranted selections.
David West was named to the Western Conference roster?
Josh Smith was named to the Eastern Conference roster?
These were two named that really blew me out of the water when I first saw the listings of the reserves on ESPNews. Though West's New Orleans Hornets are currently one of the best teams in the NBA, with the second-best record in the Western Conference, he did not deserve to go to the game. He has decent averages of about 19 points and nine rebounds per game, but are these All-Star numbers? A fellow power forward that is on the All-Star roster is Carlos Boozer, who is averaging over 22 points and almost 11 rebounds per game, not to mention shooting a very higher percentage than West. Or Dirk Nowitzki, another power forward averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game, and as a seven-footer is also shooting over 35 percent from the three-point line. Besides, the Hornets already were going to be represented in the game by a very-deserving Chris Paul.
I guess the coaches were feeling generous to the Hornets for two reasons: number one, because they are a very good team this year, and secondly, because the game is being played in New Orleans. Maybe the coaches are being mindful of the fans, who will be paying big bucks for the game and would be more than happy to see TWO of their own players in the game.
I feel like that All-Star selection, however, should have gone to Golden State's Baron Davis or Utah's Deron Williams. Both players are point guards who are commandeering their clubs to fine seasons, as both the Warriors and Jazz are currently in the playoff picture. They matter to their teams much more than West does to the Hornets; in fact, they are their respective teams' MVPs, much like West's teammate Paul.
In the East, an All-Star spot went to Atlanta Hawks swingman Smith. While a great talent, who can shoot from the outside and can jump out of a gym, Smith is not an All-Star, at least not yet. This spot most definitely should have gone to Boston's Ray Allen, whose teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are on the team. Allen matters to the Celtics' success just as much as Garnett and Pierce do. The Celtics would not be as good as they are without all three of those superstars. With only two of the three, Boston would be average at best. It does not do the Boston organization justice to not include one of these three players who have sacrificed much of their own personal glory for the success of the team this season.
In addition, what has Atlanta done this year, especially in comparison to Boston? Go 10 games under .500? Simply said with the facts, Smith is not nearly as pivotal to Atlanta as Allen is to Boston.
I agree with all of the other selections for the game. I thought that New Jersey's Richard Jefferson would be on the East roster rather than the Wizards' Caron Butler, but I can let that one slide. Two spots that I cannot let slide at all, however, are the two above-ranted selections.
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