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By Earl Scott
"There's a certain sense of security when you have a player that has achieved that kind of status," said Head Coach Stew Morrill. "We are going to depend a lot on some newcomers stepping forward and being productive and our veterans elevating their game and taking more responsibility in some areas." USU does return three players who received conference recognition in All-Big West honorable mention senior Mark Brown and junior Spencer Nelson, along with sophomore Nate Harris, who was selected to the Big West All-Freshman team. Morrill feels fortunate that his teams have gone to post-season tournaments the last four seasons. Three of those have been the NCAA tourney. While the program has built a tradition of winning under his tutelage, he doesn't want past success to stifle the growth of this team, he said. "It's very important this team finds their own way, their own identity, doesn't feel pressure from past teams, yet feels pride in the accomplishments of those who came before them," he said. Along with developing their own identity, Morrill will stress with this year's team the keys that have made his past clubs successful, namely defense, rebounding and toughness. Morrill doesn't worry much about the team scoring points, believing the offensive scheme they run will find a way to put enough points on the board to win a game. Oct.18 Morrill and his charges had two practices to officially open pre-season camp, after several months of individual work and preseason conditioning. "It was fun to be back out there," Morrill said. "The kids were receptive; we have a real solid group in terms of coachability and effort level." As far as expectations for the season, Morrill said it is difficult to say, a coach never knows how much talent there is until the season is under way and the injury factor is something that can't be predicted; a coach never knows what is going to happen. "Coaching college basketball is very fragile," Morrill said. "I've been doing this a long, long time and every year, every season is a lifetime." The team and coaching staff are coming together well. Morrill said he believes come March this will be one of his favorite teams in terms of character that he's had in 18 years of being a head coach. Adding to the fragile arena that Morrill is operating in was the conference merry-go-round that USU has been in lately. With the acceptance of the invitation from the Western Athletic Conference, Morrill and his staff can concentrate on finishing their time in the Big West and moving to the WAC in two years. "I couldn't be happier we found a home in the west," Morrill stated in a USU press release. "It's a very good day for all associated with Utah State Athletics." Morrill does have great respect for the BWC and what it has done for the USU basketball program. "The Big West has been very positive for our program," Morrill said. "We'll leave the Big West with an appreciation for the time we've been in it." Now that the Aggies are in the WAC it will take time to make adjustments to the talent level and the greater financial commitment it will take, Morrill said. Fans will need to be patient and understand it will take some time to become successful moving up. USU will begin competition as a WAC member in all sports during the 2005-06 season in all sports except women's gymnastics, which will remain in the Western Gymnastics Conference. The basketball team will have is annual "Hoop Fest" at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Spectrum. The team will have two scrimmages with a three-point shooting and slam-dunk
contest in between. |
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