Does Utah State Deserve Respect?

Utah State is lurking. The Aggies have been hanging out in the "also receiving votes" section of the weekly polls, looking to finally break through any time now.

This is almost an indignity for Stew Morrill's club. Utah State is 19-1, 7-0 in the Western Athletic Conference with the lone loss coming to BYU in Salt Lake City. Not exactly a bad loss. Still, it's not enough to sway the voters.

Utah State has nine consecutive 20-win seasons, and nine consecutive postseason appearances -- including five NCAA Tournament showings. So they have the pedigree, but not our respect.

However, the bigger question is, does Utah State deserve it?

The truth is, no they do not. Morrill has built a pretty good program in Logan, but it could be so much more. Utah State does have all of those 20-win seasons. None of them are that impressive. Morrill seems obsessed with winning 20 games. Not so obsessed with playing the best schedule possible.

Call them the anti-Gonzaga if you will.

The Aggies have not played a team currently ranked in the Top 25. There are the rivalry games against BYU and Utah, but that's about it. Weber State, Cal Poly, Utah Valley State, Idaho State, Howard and Houston Baptist are not going to impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee. And what's funny is that Utah State thinks it is getting into automatic bid territory.

It is not. The Aggies strength of schedule is 221. Good luck with all of that.

Like most of the mid-majors, Utah State is going to need to win its conference tournament. And even an unabashed mid-major homer like myself can't defend this schedule and an at-large bid if they do not. And this has long been a problem for Utah State, and still, Morrill won't take steps to correct it.

The first thing in Utah State's defense is that nobody will come to play in Logan. And that's true. Cal State coach Bob Burton quipped that when Utah State left the Big West, Morrill would only see his backside because he was never going to return again. Utah State is viewed as a safety school for kids who can't get into BYU. And like it's big brother, Utah State is deadly at home, winning 28 consecutive home games.

But has Utah State ever considered playing road games? Crazy, for sure. The Aggies need take a couple of tough road trips, even if some of the majors won't return the favor. If that means taking some lumps at ACC and SEC schools, then do it.

The Aggies have a chance to be a Gonzaga-like program. But Morrill (a Gonzaga alumnus mind you) seems afraid. Why? He's already the school's all-time winningest coach. Morrill's legacy is secure. But for right now, that legacy is of a coach who has fattened up on cupcakes, refusing to take his team to new heights.

So in short, until Utah State respects itself, there is no need to give them your respect.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-28-2009 @ 1:49AM

tpbhome said...

Hey Adam, drop that "mid-major" stuff. It is pure BS. ESPN made that up and it is just a way to build up a few conferences at the expense of many others. Tell me Seton Hall, Northwestern, and Providence are "majors". Spare me.

1-28-2009 @ 1:48AM

aggieup said...

Adam, your worthless articles have done nothing to garner my respect.

1-28-2009 @ 2:21AM

Dane said...

Utah State doesn't play anybody. Play a good schedule and we can talk.

2-01-2009 @ 3:55PM

contraman86 said...

Dane, you obviously didn't read previous posts that have examined the phenomenon of St. Mary's. Who do they play? Anybody? No, not really, so I guess it really doesn't mean much that USU doesn't play anyone... and the dude that wrote the article to begin with is rediculous. First, trying to psychoanalyze Stew, second to assume that he is informed enough to talk. I sit almost courtside every game, and let me tell you what, Aggies are getting snubbed!

1-28-2009 @ 1:30PM

06nbarnhill said...

You are such an elitist bastard. WHo gave you permission to pretend your faulty opinions matter?

Lindsay said...

We would like to play the big boys, but not until they suck it up and do a 1 for 1 instead of requiring 2 or 3 for ones. Also, pull your head out of the sand and realize that USU is in no way affiliated or even aspires to be a "brother" to BYU.

1-28-2009 @ 12:25PM

gobias49 said...

You make some interesting arguments, however, your credibility was completely shot when you made the following statement:

"Utah State is viewed as a safety school for kids who can't get into BYU."

One of the silliest statements I've ever heard.

1-28-2009 @ 1:31PM

AggieFan said...

Funny thing is that you wrote an article praising St. Marys a few days ago and the Aggies have a better SOS than them. Please tell me who St. Marys has played? Aggie fans know we dont have the toughest schedule but that doesnt mean we dont deserve respect. Ask ACC and Big East fans how much they respect us by not coming to Logan! You are a fool and a bad journalist.

Also....why is Utah State undeserving but St. Mary's is not? Both teams have 18-1 records; however, St. Mary's has a lower RPI (53) and SOS (250) than Utah State and is ranked in both the AP and coaches poll.

1-28-2009 @ 2:40PM

travasu said...

If Utah State beats a decent team on the road (i.e Nevada) then, and only then, do they deserve to be ranked. Lots of teams could schedule a soft home schedule & get the same results. Until they beat one of the big boys shouldn't deserve to be ranked amongst them

Daryn said...

1-30-2009 @ 11:32AM

mmmson21 said...

dear adam, were you beat up by an aggie as a young tike or are you just blind? stubborn? im going to call it a mixture of all three, granted stew could losen up and play a couple tougher teams but for hecks sake, look at the boys play, compare them to st. mary's. your side choosing, unethical way of writting is sick, and pathetic. write about babies, or girls emotions or saving rainforests not basketball. basketball is for men and you dear boy are not a man.

1-30-2009 @ 11:33AM

TrueAggie said...

I feel like you wrote this with the sole intention of pissing Aggie fans off. Do yourself a favor, stay at least 100 miles away from Logan for the next ten years.

Stew says he will play a home and away with anyone who will come to Logan. No one will, even BYU doesn't come to Logan anymore. Sounds like everyone else respects Utah State. Why don't you?

Your biased literary garbage which you have laid down in this blog makes you sound uneducated and truly out of touch with reality. Utah State as a safety school? I'm from Provo and I wanted to go to Utah State since I was 15. You truly are a poor writer, simply throwing out assumptions where you feel like it, and should consider another hobby such as janitorial work and your beloved Saint Mary's University. Hey how did they fare against Gonzaga tonight? That team Utah beat. That Utah team who lost to Utah State.

1-30-2009 @ 8:27PM

I must first comment on your poor word usage Adam. I really hope you aren't a journalism major and further more, I hope you are not a sports reporter.
Second, You are a moron. How dare you throw out assumptions that people only go to Utah State because they couldn't get in to BYU. BYU blows in anything that matters in life.
I would suggest coming to the spectrum and watching a game before you start touting names like St.Mary's and Gonzaga. I am so happy that Ivy League wannabees likes you exist, you make my life look better by comparison.

2-01-2009 @ 4:11PM

Why is St. Mary's even in this discussion? I wouldn't take them, either. Utah State needs to prove itself by playing some tough competition on the road. Until it improves its SOS, Utah State will have to win the WAC tournament to get in.