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Show StatesmanSports Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Women's team looking to upset BY USU ATHLETICS Hawai'i to end the regular season, while Louisiana Tech lost its final regular season game at Boise State, 74-65. The Aggies look to build on the success of last season's WAC tournament. Last season, Utah State captured its first ever WAC tournament win with an overtime victory over Idaho, 59-58. The Aggies fell in the semifinals to eventual-champion Fresno State, 57-54. Last season's fifth seed was the highest seed any USU team had ever earned. In 2006, the Aggies were the No. 9 seed, while earning a No. 6 seed in 2007 and a No. 7 seed in 2008. Last year, there were two upsets in the WAC tournament. Both upsets happened in overtime. In the quarterfinals, fifth-seeded Utah State defeated fourth-seed Idaho, while thirdseeded Nevada beat second-seeded Louisiana Tech in the semifinals. The seeds for the tournament this season are almost identical to last season. The only difference is that the Aggies have switched positions. Last season, USU was the fifth seed, while NMSU was the seventh. Utah State women's basketball (13-16, 5-11 WAC) will be the seventh seed in the upcoming WAC tournament March 10-13 in Reno, Nev. The Aggies are playing in their fifth WAC tournament and third in Reno. This will be the first time that Utah State will play Louisiana Tech in the WAC tournament. The Lady Techsters hold a 20-8 overall record and ended WAC play with a 11-5 record. The two teams will be the final game of the first night of competition on Wednesday, March 10, at 9:30 p.m. (MT). This will be the third meeting between the Aggies and the Lady Techsters this season. In the first meeting, Utah State captured its first ever win against Louisiana Tech in Ruston with a 69-66 victory. The Lady Techsters had control of the second meeting with a 74-54 victory over the Aggies in round two in Logan. This will be the first neutral site meeting between the two teams. Utah State snapped a five-game losing streak with a win against Strang: Keeping his dream alive Page 7 Thursday, March II, USU vs. Boise St. —1:00 p.m. in the lounge on the third floor of the TSC —Available on any computer on campus at www.espn360.com 2010 Men's Basketball Tournament Bracket March 11-13 • Lawlor Events Center • Reno, Nevada 2070 TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY yeti on #1 Utah State Game 1 Quarterfinal #1 Thursday, March 11 12:00 p.m. ESPNU Winner Game 1 #8 Boise State Game 5 Semifinal #1 Friday, March 12 6:00 p.m. Winner Game 5 #4 Louisiana Tech Game 2 Quarterfinal #2 Thursday, March 11 2:30 p.m. ESPNU Winner Game 2 #5 Fresno State continued from page 6 for the rest of their lives." He said he also tries to be on a more personal level with the athletes. "Some of my athletes call me coach, and I yell at them," he said half jokingly. "I don't really like the title coach. They can just call me John." Although Strang has put his athletic career on hold, he still trains and occasionally competes. Strang just returned from competing in the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Bloomington, Ind., placing fifth in the heptathlon. "I think I could've placed third, if I was in better shape," he said. Strang said he plans to start training more intensely as soon as the college outdoor track season is over. He said his main reason he does track is because he enjoys the sport, but there is a larger goal underneath it all. "I'd like to just go to the Olympic trials in two years," Strang said, "just to say I went." Strang admits he could probably only place fifth or sixth in the decathlon, and to go to the Olympics, he would need to be third. "In the decathlon, anything can happen," Strang said. "Someone could no height or something and I would be in position to go." No matter how big of a goal he has, Strang said he doesn't make it the main focus of his life. He said he likes his coaching job and entertains the thought of starting a family. "In the Olympics I could've maybe given myself a chance," Strang said. "But it would have set me back at least seven years. It is kind of my dream, but I've got a lot of dreams." So, for the moment, Strang stays happy with coaching and helping his athletes to become better. "I get a lot more out of seeing them smile after they've done well then after I've done well," he said. "I get a lot of satisfaction out of just being a coach." — t.g.s@aggiemail.usu.edu Game 7 Championship Saturday, March 13 7:00 p.m. ESPN2 Winner Game 7 WAC Champion #2 Nevada Game 3 Quarterfinal #3 Thursday, March 11 6:00 p.m. Winner Game 3 #7 Idaho Game 6 Semifinal #2 Friday, March 12 9:00 p.m. ESPN2 Winner Game 6 #3 New Mexico State Game 4 Quarterfinal #4 Thursday, March 11 8:30 p.m. Winner Game 4 #6 San Jose State All times PST What They're Saying National news weighing in on Aggie athletics "Turbin's injury is a pretty big deal not just on the field but mentally for the team. It's puts a lot more pressure on Diondre Borel. So, the key will be finding a new playmaker this spring. If they can do that, 1 think the offense has a chance to be the same. I don't see it getting drastically better with Turbin on the shelf." Graham Watson, ESPN columnist March 8 "My Final Four prediction right now: Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia and Utah State. 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