Up to Speed with Aggie Basketball

The Utah State basketball team is nine games into the 2010-2011 season and have managed to attain a record of 7-2.  A big core of players are returning from last year including preseason WAC player of the year Tai Wesley. Other key players returning include Pooh Williams, Brian Green, Nate Bendall, Tyler Newbold, and Brady Jardine.  New players on the team include highly praised Brockeith Pane and speedy James Walker, who both play the point guard position.

Tai Wesley has definitely proven that he was a worthy pick for WAC player of the year.  Wesley is averaging 14.7 points and 8 rebounds a game, both career highs.  Along with Wesley, Jardine and Green have stepped up their game as well.  Combined they are averaging over 20 points a game.  Jardine is just about averaging a double-double at 9 points and 9 rebounds.

The key loss from last season’s team was point guard Jared Quayle.  Quayle averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, very hard numbers to replicate especially the rebounding numbers from the point guard position.  The newcomers Pane and Walker are doing their best to fill the void by averaging a combined 10 points, 3 assists, and almost 6 rebounds per game.  The only void they seem to have trouble filling is Quayle leadership.

Like  mentioned before, the Aggies record is 7-2.  Those two losses? At currently ranked 15th Georgetown and 16th ranked BYU.  We all have murmured about the Aggies schedule, and not playing big time schools, and finally we got a game.  Unfortunately we didn’t compete  in the 68-51 loss to Georgetown, but it’s still going to go a long ways for a team who year in and year out need RPI and strength of schedule help.  Currently the Aggies are 28th in the RPI while BYU sits at number five and Georgetown is at number two.  It will be really interesting to watch how that all shapes out once the Aggies get into conference play with the WAC being pretty weak this year.

It should be once again, another great season for Utah State basketball.  One thing they need to fix is their field goal percentage which uncharacteristically has them ranked 106th in the country.  The Spectrum will be popping like always as the Aggies get ready to win another WAC title.

Written by: Matthew Flygare

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Ags stand atop the WAC

After beating Idaho for the 11th straight time last night the Aggies took sole possession of the top spot in the Western Athletic Conference standings.  The Aggies 80-62 victory was fueled by reserve guard Brian Green, who at one point scored 10 consecutive Utah State points.  Green finished the night with 16 points hitting four three-pointers and four other Aggies were also in double figures.

The Aggies jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back in this game.  The game was tied twice at 2-2 and 4-4, but shortly after that the Aggies went up 24-11 after Green’s personal 10 point run, where he hit two three-pointers, a couple of free throws, and a 15 foot footer.  All in all it was just a dominating performance for the Aggies who have now won seven in a row.

The Aggies have another big one on the horizon this Saturday as Nevada rolls into town.  Let’s hope the Aggies can keep the current win streak alive and beat the Wolfpack for the second time this season.  In their last meeting the Aggies pulled out a huge win coming from behind late and finally picking up the win in overtime.  I’m sure we’ll see the Spectrum packed Saturday night and as loud as ever for this one.

Written by: Jesse Kunz

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Today’s halfdog award nominee-SEC

Sadly enough, the students at South Carolina cost their school a fine of 25,000 dollars.  Why, do you ask? Because they celebrated on the court after watching their men’s basketball team beat the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats.  Not only was it the school’s first victory over a top ranked team (68-62),  but arguable, the biggest win of school history.  So how does the SEC respond to this big win?  By fining the students and school for being excited.  The SEC conference earns our nomination today for our halfdog.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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Today’s halfdog award nominee- North Carolina Men’s basketball team

Today’s halfdog award nominee is the University of North Carolina Men’s basketball team.  The Tarheels lost their third consecutive game last night a first in the Roy Williams era.  I know the tarheels lost four players to the NBA draft this past year, but come on it’s North Carolina.  That loss last night will surely drop UNC out of the top 25 and earns them the honor of today’s halfdog award nominee.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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Today’s halfman award nominee-Kansas State basketball team

Last night, the Kansas State men’s basketball team beat the number one ranked Texas Longhorns, who have seemed unbeatable all season.  Kansas State held a 10 point lead at halftime, and had to hold on in the second half to secure their 71-62 victory in Manhattan Kansas.  Thousands of fans wore fake beards in tribute to Jacob Pullen, Kansas State’s best scorer, but it was Jamar Samuels who lead K-State to victory with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  Even though Kansas State was ranked 9th in the country, it our eyes it was an upset and worthy of a halfman nomination.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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Today’s halfman award nominee-Gary Patterson

Today, Gary Patterson was named the AP coach of the year.  Patterson lead the TCU Horned Frogs to an undefeated season, their first Mountain West championship, and their first BCS apperance.  Most people will argue that TCU should also be in the national championship game.  TCU and Patterson are the cream of the crop this season in college football, and Patterson deserves our halfman nomination for today.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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Wild Weekend in Sports

I wish every weekend in sports was like this past one.  We saw the Dallas Cowboys end the Saints run at perfection, we saw seven NFL games that were won on late 4th quarter drives, we saw the first ever basketball game at the new Cowboy Stadium, and we saw the first bowl game of the season be a thrilling double-overtime game.  So what did we learn?  That the month of December gives sports fans amazing Christmas gifts.

Saturday night, the Cowboys ended the Saints 13-0 start.  Demarcus Ware, who had to be taken to the hospital on a stretcher one week earlier, lead the Cowboys with two sacks and two forced fumbles, one of which ended the game.  It felt like the Saints were going to pull it out again after Nick Folk missed a 24 yard field goal which kept the game 24-17, but Ware stripped Drew Brees of the ball with two seconds left to seal the Saints fate.  Nick Folk might be looking for a new job.

Most of the games on the Sunday schedule for the NFL ended with high drama.  Seven games ended within a touchdown, and one ended it overtime.  Ben Roethlisberger completed an improbable pass to Mike Wallace who some how kept his feet in.  Jamarcus Russell also lead his Raiders team on a winning touchdown drive with 35 seconds left.  Chargers, Falcons, Cardinals all won late in the 4th quarter while the Titans beat the Dolphins in overtime.  Crazy day in the NFL

North Carolina and Texas played not only the first NCAA basketball game at Cowboy Stadium, but the first basketball game ever.  Texas proved that their were the number two team in the country beating up the Tar-Heels 103-90.  Texas outrebound UNC by 20.  The HD replay screen actually stretched out further than the length of the court, and nearly 40,000 people attended the game.

Tempers flared before the Fresno St. and Wyoming game.  The New Mexico Bowl tipped off bowl season, and did it in grand fashion.  In the first overtime, Wyoming had a chance to win the game, but missed a field goal.  However the Cowboys from Wyoming scored first in the second OT and held Fresno and claimed the first bowl win of the season (35-28).

If this past weekend is any indicator of what is going to come over the next month or so, like Craig Bolerjack says, “Buckle In”, and even though I cringe every time he says that, it actually seems quite fitting for the next few weeks of sports coming our way.

Written by: Matthew Flygare

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Turbin Needs to be a Household Name

Most people in the country aren’t familiar with Utah State football, or Utah State in general. The Utah State Aggies, for those who don’t know, play in the WAC along with Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State.  The Aggies have a new coach this year, Gary Anderson.  Anderson was previously at Utah as their defensive coordinator.  With Utah State turning their program around, we want to get awareness out about one particular player, Robert Turbin. Turbin didn’t get many offers from schools to play, but Utah State gathered him up, and found a gem.

It hasn’t been since Emmett White in 2001 that Utah State has produced a 1,000 yard rusher in a season.  White had consecutive years in 2000 and 2001, rushing for over 1,300 each year.  Utah State hadn’t even seen a career 1,500 yard rushers since White as well.  Turbin has finally broken those streaks this past season accumulating 1,296 yards on the ground, and pushing his career total to 1,798.

Good news for Aggie fans, Turbin is only a sophomore, and with his size, people everywhere should get familiar with him because he will be playing on Sundays.  This past season, Turbin put in seven games of over 100 yards rushing, including a 184 and a 190 yard game. Turbin also collected 418 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns to go along with his 13 rushing Tds.

Emmett White holds the all time record for most yards by an Aggie with 2,791, and next year, we should have a new leader.  Turbin earned second team All-Wac this year, and will continue to receive recognition.  We are going to make it a point of emphasis to follow Turbin’s career, because up here at Utah State, we have a very special player who most people don’t know about.

Written by: Matthew Flyare

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Today’s halfman award nominee-John Wall

Today’s halfman award nominee is John Wall.  Wall who is projected as the number one overall pick in next year’s draft, was electric last night.  I heard Dick Vitale say he was quicker than Derrick Rose and I just thought he was being senile. After watching that game against Connecticut last night, he might be right.  John Wall is going to make someone at the top of the lottery next year very happy, but Ashley Judd can enjoy him for now.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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Today’s halfdog award nominee- Michigan State football players

Today’s halfdog award nominee is the nine Michigan State football players who were charged with assault and conspiracy following a dorm brawl.  Michigan State’s football team went 6-6 and is  going to suspend 11 players for their upcoming bowl game on January 2.  So congrats to all nine of the players involved in this brawl you are today’s halfdog award nominee.

Voting Friday night thru Monday morning. Awards handed out on Mondays

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