OCR Text |
Show Aggie Basketball Special • Fall 2011 • I 2G 7 OUTLOOK , , rONT. FROM PAGE 6 points and 5.3 rebounds as a sophomore at Lon Morris (Texas) Junior College, while Berger averaged 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds as a freshman at Chemeketa (Ore.) Community College during the 2008-09 season. Thornton averaged approximately 19.0 points and 5.0 boards as a prep senior at Golden Valley (Calif.) High School. And Thoseby averaged 7.3 points and 1.4 rebounds this past season at Maine Central Institute Prep, and scored nearly 27.0 points per game as a high school senior playing for the Under 18 Reading Rockets in Great Britain. Other additions to the program include freshman forward David Collette, freshman guard Sam Orchard and freshman center Jordan Stone. Collette averaged 22.4 points and 8.8 rebounds this past season for Murray (Utah) High School, while Stone averaged approximately 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds as a prep senior at Sky View (Utah) High School during the 2007-08 campaign. Orchard, a walk-on from Highland (Utah) High School, averaged 16.2 points and 3.2 rebounds a year ago. The final addition to the 2011-12 roster is a transfer from Oklahoma State in junior center Jarred Shaw, who must sit out this season. In two years at OSU, Shaw appeared in 44 games averaging 1.2 points and 1.2 rebounds as a sophomore. As for the WAC, Utah State will be looking to defend both its regular season and tournament championship as USU has won four-straight regular season titles and two WAC Tournaments in the past three years. "For the first time in several years, we will not be the favorite in the WAC. We hope the challenges of the preseason will help us improve enough to be a competitive WAC team. Nevada, New Mexico State and Hawai'i appear to be very strong and we look forward to seeing how it all shakes out," Morrill said. Highlighting Utah State's non-conference schedule will be home games against in-state foe Brigham Young along with Kent State and Saint Peter's, all postseason teams a year ago. Significant road games include trips to Missouri Valley Conference member Wichita State and to Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State, along with a contest at in-state rival Weber State. Utah State's matchup against Mississippi State will be the first of a three-game series as the Bulldogs will return to Logan during the 2013-14 season, with USU playing its second game in Starksville during the 201415 year. Utah State hasn't played an SEC school since losing to Vanderbilt (77-56) at the 2007 South Padre Island (Texas) Invitational, and this year's game will mark its first SEC road We Can Handle It -7- -4, . /SEE UPCOMING, PG 8 A Professional Quality Printing A Business Forms A Thesis, dissertations A Wedding Invitations & Accessories 715 " P -jA T-IN9 630 West 200 North, Logan • 753-8875 Schedule Utah State will play a total of 31 games during the regular season, which includes four contests against in-state opponents and a minimum of 11 games against postseason teams from a year ago. Utah State will also play 17 games in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, a venue where it has won 68 of its last 69 contests. Overall, the Aggies have posted an incredible 193-13 (.937) home record under Morrill, which includes a 45-3 (.938) mark in Western Athletic Conference play. USU will enter the 2011-12 season having won 31 straight home games, including 28 straight WAC games, to rank as the thirdlongest active home winning streak in the nation. ON E call: 752-2877 or visit us at: www,cvtdbus.org |