Utah State Nov 28

[trout95]

Couldn't resist starting the thread for Thursday's game.

Utah State is 5-0, and ranked by Kenpom at #45. This is just ahead of #46 Iowa who they appeared to beat comfortably. Their other wins though are at:

Charlotte 155
Montana 199
Alcorn St 355
Westminster...Div II

So, their SOS so far not much better than ours. I've not watched them play, some others have and posted in the other thread. Should be a great game, and I like our chances.

[kccgold]

They are a very good team. They were an 8 seed in the tourney last year, and while their coach left for Washington and took some players, he didn't take all of them.

Their top scoring guard is a returning grad student with a lot of experience and they have a 7 footer that shoots from the outside. He's "only" a junior but he served a mormon mission for 2 years and reshirted, so he's gotta be like 25 years old or something. 

Last few years when a team had a big guy who could shoot, it killed us. Hoping the size of this team could change that

[bigcat]

I watched the Iowa game and followed them closely the last couple years. It’s a great program. They have talent and size. We need a big step up to hang with them.

Like many of us posted this weekend… still looking for a complete game from the Bonnies. We look marvelous at times. As coach said yesterday we fall into funks when we have big leads. No funks recommended vs the aggies.

[ewenke13]

New polls just came out. Utah St. received 6 votes in the AP and 1 in the Coaches Poll. This is a Q1 opportunity - let’s take advantage of it! Go Bonnies!!!

[ohiobona]

We neeed a dub! Marquee Mark Schmidt Win, let’s go!!! Thinking of making game 2, where is everybody drinking pregame? 20000 thousand leagues under the sea, next door?

[zorro (res)]

Potential Q1 opportunity. It's where they finish, not where they rank when you play them. They're one bad loss from falling to Q2. Let's give them that bad loss. I'd rather take a Q2 win than a Q1 loss.

Utah State should open around -6, I would think.

[artvandalay]

I live in Florida and my friend who lives in Orlando asked me if I wanted to come over for the games, I thought about it but being at or near Disney on a holiday weekend changed my mind. If you are going and driving give yourself plenty of time. GO BONNIES!!

[towniegrad]

Alcorn state? … isn’t that where Chip n Dale played ?

[bub]

Nov 25, 2024 17:35:19 GMT -5 zorro (res) said:

Potential Q1 opportunity. It's where they finish, not where they rank when you play them. They're one bad loss from falling to Q2. Let's give them that bad loss. I'd rather take a Q2 win than a Q1 loss.

Utah State should open around -6, I would think.

Why would we be a bad loss for Utah St? They beat Iowa on a neutral court in Kansas City. Iowa was picked 13th out of 18 teams in a Big 10 preseason poll. Other than that, they have played nobody (Like us) and all those nobodies were at home. Who knows how good they are? I am optimistic. I think we are going to put up a big defensive effort on Thursday and get the W.

[chrismoses]

Utah State was picked 5th preseason in the MWC. They’re obviously a solid team, but let’s not make them out to be an elite team.

Just like the rest of the Mountain West teams, they play a relatively soft OOC, rack up a ton of blow out wins and then reap the benefits come March.

Save SDSU, I don’t think many teams from that conference have fared well in the postseason most years. USU might be No. 1 in scoring in the country, but they have no good wins. Both teams have a lot to prove.

Similar to us, they’ve racked up a bunch of wins against poor competition. Pace of play will be interesting in this game. Which style of play wins out? The Aggies up tempo style or Bona’s slower more methodical style?

Interesting to note that neither team has a victory by less than eight points. How will these teams perform in what could be their most competitive game of the season?

I have a lot of respect for the Mountain West, but their clubs always seem better on paper while our teams seem worse. I think that may have changed a bit this offseason with a lot of A10 clubs playing softer schedules than usual (besides UD and VCU).

[Sipowicz]

In the latest Mid Major Poll(I know, alot do not approve of A10 teams being on it) has Utah State ranked 5th and our ST. BONAVENTURE BONNIES ranked 23rd!!

[Hermit]

Nov 25, 2024 18:52:31 GMT -5 chrismoses said:

Utah State was picked 5th preseason in the MWC. They’re obviously a solid team, but let’s not make them out to be an elite team.

Just like the rest of the Mountain West teams, they play a relatively soft OOC, rack up a ton of blow out wins and then reap the benefits come March.

Save SDSU, I don’t think many teams from that conference have fared well in the postseason most years. USU might be No. 1 in scoring in the country, but they have no good wins. Both teams have a lot to prove.

Similar to us, they’ve racked up a bunch of wins against poor competition. Pace of play will be interesting in this game. Which style of play wins out? The Aggies up tempo style or Bona’s slower more methodical style?

Interesting to note that neither team has a victory by less than eight points. How will these teams perform in what could be their most competitive game of the season?

I have a lot of respect for the Mountain West, but their clubs always seem better on paper while our teams seem worse. I think that may have changed a bit this offseason with a lot of A10 clubs playing softer schedules than usual (besides UD and VCU).

Hey, Bonnies like to run too! Utah St does have size, but it’s their guards that are their leading scorers, and they (the guards) also do a very good job rebounding. I think a key will be how well our guards can contain them.
Many posters feel the A-10 is not getting any respect. So far, the league doesn’t deserve any.
VCU, St.Joe, St.Lou, Richmond, all have, so far, disappointed. They are not winning the games they need to. Dayton has the Tar Heels tonight. Come on Flyers!
I will say though, Why Not Bona? These players are hungry. Sure, having a year together would have been nice, but that’s not the way it is anymore. They work hard. They play hard. We got Coach. I’ll say it again “Why Not Bona?”

[bigcat]

Anything is possible but USU is the real deal. They have played/beat one strong team — Iowa. The Bonnies, on the other hand, have played no one. The Aggies have three key returnees and played three games internationally in August.

The Aggies score 99 points a game, shoot 54% from the field, 41% from deep, and 75% from the line. They are +11 on the boards and average 16 offensive boards. They average 21 assists vs 11 turnovers. These numbers are staggering.

They won the MWC regular season in 2024. Their league sent six teams to the big dance. USU was picked to finish 6th this season in the MWC. The Bonnies have been picked 10th in the A10.

SBU has talent and great coaching. As I said previously, this likely is our strongest opponent on the schedule. We cannot make the mistakes we’ve seen thus far and we surely need to rebound better than last game.

Always hopeful though certainly not confident.

www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/328

[ohs73]

Yo Bonnies...whatever you do, no pregame turkey on Thanksgiving. Can't let tryptophan slow you down!

May be best to have leftovers after you return from Disney.

[MM77]

In regards to Utah State, I say, 'never say never.' The Bonnies are rolling and after every win must be developing more and more confidence in each other and themselves. Most certainly the Brown and White are prohibitive underdogs, but I like it when we are predicted to lose. I have no doubt this game will bring out the best in the Bonnies, a great test of spirit and talent. Go Bona's, make our Thanksgiving Day even more blessed.