NCAA Tournament Round of 64: No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State First Look At The Tigers

NCAA Tournament Round of 64: No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State First Look At The Tigers Who are the Tigers? Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Utah State receives an at-large bid and No. 10 seed after run to MWC title game. There they find …

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NCAA Tournament Round of 64: No. 7 Missouri vs. No. 10 Utah State First Look At The Tigers

Who are the Tigers?

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Utah State receives an at-large bid and No. 10 seed after run to MWC title game. There they find SEC for Missouri.

After a stunning run to the Mountain West Tournament Championship game last Saturday. The Utah State Aggies, who fell short against the regular season & tournament champion San Diego State, are still going dancing.

Having the conference rated so highly since very early on in the season certainly helped the Aggies Case on selection Sunday. After successfully navigating a non-conference slate with quality wins over San Francisco & Oral Roberts. The only blemish Utah State had to overcome was a 75-72 loss to Weber State at home in mid-December.

It was never a guarantee for Ryan Odom’s group but hearing the Aggies name called as a No. 10 seed Sunday was just the right amount of reassurance for this great Utah State team. They drew SEC opponent Missouri in their first round matchup, here is a little about the Tigers.

Who Are The Tigers

Coach

The Tigers are led by first year head coach Dennis Gates. A former California guard who got his first head coaching gig in the Midwest at Cleveland State.

There he led the Vikings to back to back Horizon League regular season titles. Also winning two Coach of the Year awards and making a trip to the big dance (the programs 3rd ever) and NIT. It was impressive enough to make the jump to the SEC last offseason.

Prior to his arrival, his predecessor had taken the Tigers to two NCAA Tournaments and has Missouri ranked in the top-10 just a season prior before stumbling to a 12-21 (5-13) finish. Back in the big dance in just year one has fans in Columbia jumping with excitement for the future.

Star Players

Sr. G-Kobe Brown (6-8, 250)

Stats: 15.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG & 44.7% from three

Gr. G-D’Moi Hodges (6-4, 188)

Stats: 14.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 1.6 APG & 40.1% from free

Gr. G-DeAndre Gholston (6-5, 215)

Stats: 10.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG & 1.8 APG

How Did They Get Here

The Tigers secured an at-large bid by giving a very convincing non-conference performance. This as well as battling it out in the ever demanding SEC. Their resume began to truly take shape in late December. During the Holiday Break, Missouri managed to secure back to back wins over two top-25 ranked opponents.

Routing the No. 16 Illinois Fighting Illini in a neutral site cross border rivalry game in St. Louis. While then kicking off conference play against No. 19 ranked Kentucky squad, with a double digit win in Columbia.

Coach Gate’s squad then navigated their way throughout uber-competitive SEC. With wins over Arkansas, securing the sweep of a top-5 Tennessee Vols team and adding another top-25 win over Iowa State. Who themselves competed in the highest rated league in the nation in the Big 12.

The Tigers resume was stamped with a loss to eventual SEC Tournament champions Alabama last week. But the committee looked at an exciting Missouri team who could hang with the best of them and awarded them a No. 7 seed.

Biggest Wins

Neutral Site-No. 16 Illinois 93-71

Home Against-No. 19 Kentucky 89-75

@-No. 5 Tennessee 86-85

NET: 42nd

KenPom: 51st

RPI: 34th

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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San Diego State vs. Utah State MWC Championship: Keys to an Aggie Win

Mountain West Championship: Keys to a Utah State Aggies Win Ryan Odom looking for first tournament title at Utah State. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire The Utah State Aggies are primed to cut down the nets in Las Vegas Saturday afternoon. …

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Mountain West Championship: Keys to a Utah State Aggies Win

Ryan Odom looking for first tournament title at Utah State.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

The Utah State Aggies are primed to cut down the nets in Las Vegas Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Odom has managed to harness the same magic in Mountain West that his predecessor Craig Smith found before him. Utah State is enjoying a March Madness run everyone dreams of.

After downing New Mexico in the quarter finals. And taking care of a more troublesome Boise State last night to advance to their first championship game since 2021. Utah State has to take down one of the Mountain West’s best in order to cut to down the nets inside the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.

But no need to steady any nerves. As the Aggies have been here before, against the same opponent. Both now seeking their third tournament championship in six years.

San Diego State and Utah State have been two of the more dominant programs in the Mountain West in recent years. This is the Aztec’s fifth straight championship game appearance. Securing two conference titles during that span, one of which came against Utah State back in 2021.

While the Aggies have enjoyed similar success, with three straight title game appearances from 2018-2021. All meetings with the Brian Dutcher’s Aztecs, securing back to back titles during the first two years of coach Smith’s tenure at Utah State.

Now coach Odom gets a chance to make his mark on the Mountain West and bring some hardware back to Logan in the process. The only thing standing in the way is an Aztecs team that swept the Aggies en route to a regular season championship.

Utah state’s strengths

The Aggies have rallied behind leading scorer and floor general Steven Ashworth this season. As the junior guard has enjoyed a breakout season, earning all-Mountain West 1st-team honors this week from the conference’s coaches. After being snubbed by in the media’s selections days prior.

Ashworth’s 16.5 PPG, 4.7 APG & 1.2 SPG (all team highs) in 32.9 MPG this season leads the way for what may be the best offense in the entire conference.

The Aggies boast a league leading 17.1 APG, thanks to an overwhelming amount of depth. With five different players averaging 10.4 PPG or higher. Including the unanimous Mountain West 6th Man of the Year Dan Akin coming off of the bench to average 12.3 PPG & 6.8 RPG (team high) in just 27.1 MPG.

The addition of Akin this offseason from the transfer portal (California Baptist) speaks to the depth in scoring and size coach Odom utilizes every game. With players who can score inside (54.6 2P%, top-50 in the nation), at the line (15.1 made FTs a game, top-50 in the nation) or from beyond the arc (40.4%, 2nd in the nation).

This combination of size, depth and scoring ability sets the Aggies apart. Not to mention a team chemistry likely only rivaled by San Diego State. Utah State is primed to earn their first conference tournament championship of the Ryan Odom era.

To do this they’ll need to do three things:

Take and make the three-As mentioned the Aggies do this better than anyone in the Mountain West. Including Ashworth who knocks them down at a rate of 45.4%, 5th in the entire country. But the Aztecs hold their opponents to just 29.7% from three, including Utah State. Who were kept to just 29.7% from deep in both of their regular season losses to San Diego State this season.

Handle the ball efficiently-The Aztecs hold their opponents to a league leading and top-50 in the nation scoring average of just 63.8 PPG. They do so with above average and extremely efficient defensive metrics at all three levels of scoring.

Forcing teams to take contested shots and forcing turnovers to create wasted possessions. For a team of Utah State’s caliber handling the ball, they’ll need a near perfect performance to not fall victim to that defense.

Play both sides of the ball-We know the Aggies can score it, but they aren’t necessarily defensive slouches either. While the Aztecs are known for their defense, they have 4-5 players of their own that can take over a game offensively themselves.

Just ask Adam Seiko, San Diego State’s 8th leading scorer, but who enjoyed a season high 25-points with 7-9 made threes against Utah State on January 25th. It’s going to take everything Utah State has left in the tank, but if there was ever a time to run down to empty, it’s Saturday afternoon.

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2023 Mountain West Conference Tourney: New Mexico vs. Utah State

Game Preview: New Mexico vs. Utah State Utah State look to put away New Mexico for second time this season and advance. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico and Utah State meet for only the second time this season. But with so much on …

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Game Preview: New Mexico vs. Utah State

Utah State look to put away New Mexico for second time this season and advance.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico and Utah State meet for only the second time this season. But with so much on the line.

WHO: No. 3 seed Utah (24-7, 13-5 T-2nd place in the MWC) vs. No. 6 seed New Mexico (22-10, 9-10 6th in the MWC)

WHEN: February 9th, 2023-9:30 PM MT/8:30 PM PT

WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Stream: CBS Sports or get a free trial on FuboTV

Odds: Aggies are favored by 2 points, per KenPom

The Mountain West Conference has experienced a resurgence on the national stage this past season. Ranked ahead of of the ACC in the KenPom conference rankings and on the heels of the Pac-12. Competition in the conference is at an all time high.

Thursday’s late night matchup between the No. 3 seed Utah State Aggies and a revenge seeking No. 6 seed New Mexico Lobos squad should be a prime example of that.

2023 Mountain West Basketball Tournament: Bracket Set, TV Schedule, Live Stream

Last Time Out

These programs only met on the hardwood once this season. That being a 84-73 Aggie win over a red hot Lobo team in Logan back on February 1st.

Utah State had four players reach double figures in that one. As Richard Pitino’s group learned just how hard the Aggies are to beat inside the Dee Smith Spectrum (a record of 14-2 at home this season).

Utah State was led by a player with a familiar last name for Lobo fans, Sean Bairstow. Yes, the little brother of former Lobo great Cameron Bairstow in the early 2010s. The 6-8 guard and mismatch nightmare dropped 20 points and grabbed five rebounds to help his team secure the win over a quality Lobo squad at home.

New Mexico

Now the Lobos are out for revenge. Or maybe more of a convincing win to show onlookers of the conference, they are as dangerous as ever. With wins over some of the conference’s best and maybe the best non-conference performance this season, New Mexico is the dark horse candidate everyone doesn’t want to see on their side of the bracket this week.

After a come from behind 87-76 win over a pesky Wyoming squad in the first round on Wednesday afternoon. The Lobos are riding high on their winning momentum and when hot, can beat any team in the Mountain West.

They play their best basketball when their three-headed attack of Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr. & Morris Udeze catch fire. While playing at a high tempo full of fast breaks and points in the paint.

Utah State

The Aggies haven’t missed a beat in the post Craig Smith era in Logan. Ryan Odom came over from UMBC after success in the big dance. And in just year two, has Utah State back in the title race conversation. They do so, with arguably the best offense in the Mountain West.

They have five players averaging double figures, the unanimous Mountain West 6th Man of the Year in Dan Akin and shoot the three ball at a high rate.

The Lobos also have one of the best offenses in the conference, but the Aggies themselves have the depth and know how to get the ball to whichever hand is the hottest every night. A program this bought into playing team basketball can beat anybody any given night.

Players to Watch

New Mexico: Sr. G Jaelen House

Jaelen House showed last night just how much he can impact the floor for New Mexico. The 6-0 floor general is usually sparking fast breaks off turnovers, disrupting ball movement at the top of the arc all while putting points on the board to the tune of 28 points, 7 rebounds & 6 assists in Wednesdays win over Wyoming.

When House is hot, the Lobos are hot and his 17.1 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.0 RPG & 2.6 SPG show the damage he can do when healthy and hungry for his team to succeed. Four games in four days is a lot to ask of a player like House, who makes folks watching him at home tired from his style of play. But he is also mentally driven to win. Which can be the x-factor for an upset Thursday night.

Utah State: Jr. G Steven Ashworth

The Alpine, UT native has taken charge of leading this surging Aggies program. Like several local high scoring guards before him, Ashworth, who was named to the all-conference first team yesterday. Is the offensive catalyst on the conference’s best offensive team.

The 6-1 floor general is averaging 16.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.4 RPG & 1.1 SPG while shooting 46.7% from the floor, a whopping 45.0% from deep and a marvelous 88.9% from the charity stripe.

Not to mention a mere 1.5 turnovers a game as the team’s leading scorer and facilitator.

If the rest from the Aggies’ first round bye has done Ashworth well and he brought his A game to Vegas, I see him in the title game with San Diego State on Saturday.

Prediction: Utah State 80, New Mexico 75

I would love to see the Lobos make the Thomas and Mack Center the “Pit West” again by cutting down the nets on Saturday. But with such a reliance on their three leading scorers and such a short bench. It would take a poor performance from several of Utah State’s players and a perfect defensive effort by New Mexico to secure the upset.

I think the fight and energy the Lobos displayed in the first round keeps it close. But with rest and so much fire power on Coach Odom’s squad, I see them advancing for a showdown with the team they tied for second in the regular season with.

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