Utah State, BYU basketball: Teams serve up a tasty holiday hoops treat

Not since before Thanksgiving have we had something juicy to sink our fangs into on the local college sports scene.

Welcome to the first-ever neutral court basketball game between the Aggies and Cougars, adding some polish to your normal radioactive in-state affair.

This one should have the makings of a big-time exciting game. Both are defending conference champions determined to find how close they are to repeating trophy hunts this season.

Playing this one on the home court of the other is extremely tough — almost impossible for visitors to carve out wins lately. Both schools hatched out the plan for today's game in an NBA arena and the ticket has been easy to sell, more promotional and unique than a future routine.

But who knows? If this shebang blows up, we may see it again.

They've split the ticket count right down the middle for this match-up in EnergySolutions Arena and it will feature two undefeated teams; the Cougars are 7-0 and the Aggies stand 5-0.

Neither the Aggies or Cougars have been seriously tested since camp began in October.

Until today.

This game will give Stew Morrill and Dave Rose a great chance to see where they're at against competition comparable to UNLV and Nevada — respective league challengers in the MWC and WAC.

Just how did this gig get done?

"We had just finished a multiyear deal with USU and were trying to determine where to start the next series," said BYU athletic department spokesman Duff Tittle.

"We have traditionally played a game at the ESA and thought it would be fun for the fans of both schools to play the first game of the series at a neutral site. We are expecting a sold-out arena and a great college basketball atmosphere."

There are plenty of angles to breakdown in this showdown.

Can Stew Morrill's patented series of organized offensive sets be productive against BYU's ball-hawking defense?

Can BYU's center-by-committee hold off the Aggie's solid inside production while providing a threat of it's own? How big will 3-point shooting be in this game? Who has the better ball-handlers against what will be the best defenses either have faced this season?

Will Dave Rose's run and gun 3-point show be able to run that stuff against the well-coached Aggies? Will Cougar Jonathan Tavernari heat up his gun with makes or misses?

Who is tougher? Who is more consistent? Which bench is deeper? Can BYU run and shoot on the Aggies. Will the Aggies grind down and get those patented high percentage shots in the paint?