Utah State Aggies men's basketball

He's really excited to come to Cache Valley.

I think he has some ties to Utah State and was just really excited to return.

So it really is an honor.

He is a master storyteller.

We'll feel right.

Thank you, Jason.

Utah State men's basketball just under an hour away from our pregame show here on KVNU as the Aggies tipping off their 122nd season tonight against Idaho State in the spectrum.

Now tip off is set for 730.

Oregon State over Weber State 102-61.

Utah State taking down Idaho State 94-58.

And Colorado State taking down Montana State 84 74 andy where you want to start with today's breakdown

yeah i think for starters uh the first thing i'll say is that this is how i would have predicted the first day to go i mean and i don't think and i'm not trying to like you know pat my own back this was kind of the overwhelming expectation i think was that every pac-12 team except washington state would win and that's not even necessarily to dunk specifically on washington state we'll do plenty of that later But because Davidson is a good opponent, like this is probably the second best team that anybody in the Pac-12 played behind, of course, Purdue.

So did Pasquarelli had 16 points.

They had four players with double digits.

And then Utah State, obviously, 94-58.

We saw Mason Fausa, 49 points, only played 21 minutes in this contest.

Oregon State over Weber State 102-61.

Utah State taking down Idaho State 94-58.

And Colorado State taking down Montana State 84-74.

Andy, where do you want to start with today's breakdown?

So did Pasquarelli had 16 points.

They had four players with double digits.

And then Utah State, obviously, 94-58.

We saw Mason Fausa for only nine points, only played 21 minutes in this contest.

I think this is going to be a really good level for Zavian Lee, I think, going to Florida last year.

I mean, he was a starting guard on a number one seed, so I don't mean this in the way that it's going to sound, but I think Xavier Lee is just going to thrive so much more when he's playing against Mountain West, even the Utah States of the world instead of the Arkansas of the world.

No disrespect to Utah State, but just athleticism wise, I'm not saying Utah State can't be as good as an Arkansas, although I wouldn't predict it, but just athleticism wise, the SEC is so much more athletic than the Pac-12 is going to be this year.

So I think Xavier Lee could be in for a decent year.

And then, as you mentioned, I mean, programs like a San Diego State that has had, you know, tournament success on their own.

Utah State seems to be a hotbed for coaches of the future.

They basically go there and end up at a big-time job.

So that's another program that you're happy to have in the mix.

I know I've joked about Gonzaga-Wazoo kind of being a rivalry with Pullman and Spokane being so close to each other, but why not? I think the atmosphere will be there.

So it's a lot to look forward to, and I think with Gonzaga and them having a team potentially that could compete for a national championship, it's good for the league, and I think it's good for everybody involved.

I wanted to touch on Utah State.

Obviously, you know, it's a revolving door of coaches, a bit of a stepping stone program.

You have to look at that aspect of it too, and especially where it pans out in the Pac-12 era where they're going to be one of the lowest-funded teams from a basketball roster standpoint.

And so I think it's unfair to put expectations on David to outperform that year in and year out if they're not getting the same support as Utah State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Gonzaga.

I mean, those are really, really good basketball programs.

And if you're not meeting the standard – that those teams are laying out for you, then I think it's unfair to just say, well, you know, Coach Riley's not a very good coach.

So it can, it can change in a hurry, but When you look at this conference slate, I mean, it kind of feels like you have some can't miss games like Fresno State, Texas State.

Like you have to win those games if you want to finish 500 in conference because the rest of it's just going to be a gong.

Totally, and obviously you've got to prove yourself against, I mean, the top of the conference, Gonzaga, obviously, goes without saying, San Diego State, Utah State, Utah State had a tournament team last year, new coach, but, you know, they've kind of done the stamps where they've gotten new coaches every couple of years, and they continue to maintain that high standard of excellence in Logan.

And then Colorado State is, you know, their growing program.

Yeah.

But Hoops begins tomorrow, and next weekend I'm out in Salt Lake City, and one of the places I'm going to be is Utah State.

And they've got the chant.

It's kind of – It's attached to soccer, but they do it at Utah State.

And it's the, I believe that we will win.

I believe that we will win.