History Against Top 25 Opponents Hasn’t Bode Well For Aggies
Feb 28, 2019, 1:39 PM
Sam Merrill #5 of the Utah State Aggies points to Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack as the ball goes out of bounds after the Nevada Wolf Pack missed a pass at Lawlor Events Center on January 02, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
LOGAN, Utah – Since the 2000-01 season, history hasn’t favored the Utah State basketball program when they have faced Top 25 teams in the Associated Press Poll.
The Aggies are just 4-23 overall against ranked teams with two of the four wins coming at home. The other two victories were in conference tournaments.
They played seven teams that were ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA tournament and lost to all of them.
Utah State played six games against top 25 opponents at home and four games in conference tournaments.
Wins Over Ranked Teams
Utah State’s first win over a top 25 team in 2000 was against the Utes when they were ranked No. 22. They beat them by one point at the Spectrum.
The Aggies finished the season with a 28-6 record and winning the Big West Conference Tournament. They played Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and won by nine points in overtime. Their season came to an end when they lost to No. 15 UCLA in the second round.
It was 2003 when the Aggies faced another ranked opponent when they lost to No. 6 Kansas in the first round of the Big Dance by three points after posting a 24-9 record.
The 2004-05 season play against three top 25 opponents. They lost to No. 24 Pacific at home before getting revenge on the No. 18 Tigers in the Big West Tournament. Utah State lost to No. 9 Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That was another 24-win season for then head coach Stew Morrill.
During the 2005-06 season, the Aggies ran into Nevada twice when they were ranked. They lost both games beginning with a loss at home when the Wolfpack were No. 25 in the country. Utah State lost to Nevada as the 21st ranked team in the WAC Tournament. They fell to No. 17 Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The next season, Utah State beat No. 10 Nevada at home by two in overtime. They gave the Wolfpack payback from beating the Aggies earlier in the season in Reno. The Aggies beat Nevada again in the WAC Tournament by two points.
Forward Tai Wesley #42 of the Utah State Aggies dunks the ball over forward Lazar Hayward #32 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena on March 20, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
During the 2008-09 season, Utah State lost to No. 23 Marquette in the first round of the tournament and to No. 23 Texas A&M in the same fashion the following season.
Last Nine Years
The last nine seasons for the Aggies haven’t been kind against ranked teams. They played 13 top 25 opponents. They lost all of the games, just two of them were at home, one was in a conference tournament and one in the NCAA Tournament.
Utah State lost to in-state rival BYU in Provo when they were ranked No. 23 in the country, they also lost to No. 16 Georgetown on the road before ultimately losing to No. 21 Kansas State in the first round of the tournament.
Jacob Pullen #0 of the Kansas State Wildcats drives against Brian Green #23 and Nate Bendall #35 of the Utah State Aggies during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at McKale Center on March 17, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Just two ranked opponents popped up on the Aggies schedule from 2011-13, losing to No. 15 Mississippi State and No. 25 Louisiana Tech on the road.
During the 2013-14 season, Utah State face San Diego State three times and New Mexico once, all losses. The Aztecs were No. 7 when they beat Utah State in Logan, they were No. 6 when they beat the Aggies in San Diego. Both teams would square off in the Mountain West Conference Tournament when they were No. 9. New Mexico was the 25th ranked team in the country when they won at home against the Aggies.
From 2015-17, they played powerhouse Duke at Cameron Indoor when they were ranked No. 6. Utah State also lost to No. 17 Purdue at a neutral site.
Last season, Utah State lost to No. 17 Gonzaga at the Kennel and to No. 24 Nevada at home.
Utah State will host No. 12 Nevada at the Spectrum on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
