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Show Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 Page 8 FridayS110 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com `Inspirational' Green provides offensive spark By MEGAN ALLEN staff writer Each time Brian Green sinks a 3-point shot, he slaps his elbows. For most of his debut season at Utah State, no one in the crowd knew what he was doing. At the end of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Reno, Nev., someone finally asked him what it meant. "I'm just loading the guns," he said. Green, a 6-foot-l-inch guard, is starting his second season at Utah State. He grew up in Kaysville, Utah, playing basketball, as well as baseball and football. After playing at and graduating from Davis High School, he went on to play at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). In his two years at SLCC, Green averaged 14 points a game, shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range. His freshman year, he was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association all-tournament team. That same year, he received the Bud Obee Award, which is given to the best small guard in the national tournament. His sophomore year, he helped lead the Bruins to a 32-4 record and an appearance in the championship game of the NCJAA tournament. As he got close to finishing at SLCC, Green said he had a lot of options when it came to deciding where to go next to continue his education along with his basketball career. He said he had offers from schools across the Big Sky and Big West conferences, as well as from Colorado State and the University of San Diego. In the end, however, he decided USU was the best fit for him. "It's all a good fit," he said. "The way we run our offense, the coaches, the Spectrum and the fans make this a great place to be." Green said he knew USU would be a place that would help him achieve his goals. "My whole life I wanted to play in the NCAA tournament," he said. "I knew Utah State would give me a good chance of doing that." Green's impact on the USU basketball program has stretched across a very wide range, said Aggie assistant coach Tim Duryea. "Brian's always one to dive for a ball, but ( BRIAN GREEN spent two years at Salt Lake City Community College before coming to Utah State. The 6-foot- I Kaysville, Utah native was an integral part of USU's success last season, and led the WAC in three point shooting percentage. His 50 percent from beyond the arc set a new USU single season record. TODD JONES photo then he'll celebrate more for a shot made by a teammate than one of his own," he said. "He is full of infectious qualities." Last season, Green led the Western Athletic Conference in 3-point shooting, making 50 percent of the shots he took. Green showed promise from the beginning of the season, but it took until spring semester for him to really show what he could do. Once he did, his actions made national waves. "He had a bit of a slow start," Duryea said, "but he got his feet wet and became the best shooter in the country. I wouldn't put it past him to maintain that percentage this year." That shooting percentage took Green past the previous school record held by Jaycee Carroll, who shot at 46.5 percent from behind the arc during his career. "It's a compliment to be compared to a player like that, and an honor to be able to shoot like him," Green said. "I wasn't even trying to break his record, it just happened. I look up to him a lot." Duryea said Green's impact to the team extends past the court. "Brian's hard work starts before anyone sees us," he said. "He's always helping someone, whether it's on the court, in the locker room and in things not even related to basketball. He holds people accountable." Sophomore Preston Medlin is Green's fellow guard on the USU basketball team, as well as his roommate. "We have tons of fun," he said. "He's a great guy to live with." Medlin said he enjoys playing basketball with Green. "He's fun to watch," he said. "Just give him his space and he makes the shot." Going in to this season, the team is really excited, and with good reason. With Green on board and prepared for another run, the Aggies have high expectations. Still, Green said, the team isn't getting too far head of itself. "We just don't want to have any regrets," he said. "We have a lot to work on, but we're just going to take it one game at a time." The game all Aggie fans are looking forward to is the game at BYU on Nov. 17, but the team isn't too focused on that game yet. "That's still like three games away," Green said. "We're excited and we'll be ready, but we've just got to go game by game." The coaches and other players all agree Green is a leader both on and off the court. "Brian leads by example first, and then verbally," Duryea said. "Every team needs one of those guys." Last year, along with forward Tai Wesley, Green was voted "most inspirational player" by his teammates. To keep himself motivated, Green said he makes sure he stays competitive, I See GREEN, page 10 Bartlett proves worth in USU pass game half showing against Nevada. Enter Bartlett. By ADAM NETTINA The 6-foot-2, 246-pound junior may have sports editor come into the season with only 10 career catches, but his five on Saturday night proved he It's the kind of game college football players has valuable assets beyond the point of attack. dream about. According to his position coach, T.J. Woods, The game where, after an offseason filled Bartlett's performance was no fluke, and came with grueling practices and a season mainfrom an entire career dedicated to doing whattained by the grim duty of blocking, a player ever it takes to improve both his pass catching finally graduates to play-maker status. The and blocking. kind of game where not only his coaches see all "I think it's been about two years in the his hard work pay off, but a national television making. Kellen's been working his butt off, audience watches as he rumbles into the end and has been steadily improving every week," zone and leads his team in comeback fashion. Woods said. "The opportunity knocked, and Somebody better pinch Utah State tight end he answered the call. Kellen Bartlett. After Saturday's five-catch, Bartlett has caught 10 passes over the 131-yard performance in the Aggies' 56-42 course of the last three weeks, including his loss to Nevada, the junior from Blue Springs, first career touchdown against the Wolf Pack. Mo. won't have to imagine what A vicious blocker who prides himit would feel like to take center c self on making blocks to spring stage on an offense where he had `Everyone wants others for scores, even he couldn't previously been an afterthought. to have a game help but comment that the feel"Everyone wants to have a of scoring a touchdown is like thatmlt was ing game like that," Bartlett said. unmatched. great to get out "It's something you work for, "It's hard to compare the especially as a tight end. You're two," Bartlett said of the differthere and be a blocker most of the time, more a receiver and ence between scoring and blockthan a receiver. But it was great ing for someone else who scores. to get out there and be a receiver make some big "But I definitely love some touchand make some big plays for the plays for the downs, that's for sure. There's team. It was a good feeling." nothing better than scoring, and I team. It was a If the Nevada defense was can't wait to get some more touchod feeli ng." caught off guard by Bartlett's downs. sudden emergence in the Aggie Kellen Bartlett, He may not have to wait passing game, they weren't alone. long. When the Aggies (2-6, 0-4) USU tight end host New Prior to the season, Bartlett was Mexico State (2-6, 1-3) expected to be mostly a blocker on Saturday, Bartlett figures to for the Aggie offense, which uses multiple sets again figure into the USU passing game. Utah in offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin's spread State's coaches have taken notice of his versascheme. Yet with injuries to receivers Stanley tility in recent weeks, and say that his ability Morrison and Matt Austin, the Aggie passing to provide a physical presence as a blocker, game has struggled throughout portions of the coupled with his soft hands as a receiver, make season, and has recently been working without him an ideal player for the kind of multiplethe services of slot receiver Xavier Martin, who personnel, spread offense Baldwin runs. has also battled injury. "With his versatility you can split him out The drop-off was apparent in back-to-back and he can run routes or you can bring him in losses to Hawaii and Louisiana Tech, in which the box and he can bang around a little bit," the Aggie passing attack had just 73 and 123 Woods said. "In a spread offense it's all about yards, respectively. 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