The Aggies' lone win over an NCAA Tournament team was against Utah Dec. 22, but if you polled office pools around the country, the biggest first-round upset special would probably be Utah State over Marquette.

"I've never met a guy with such a drive to win," Wilkinson said. "From the beginning of practice in October until now he has never let up. Even when we were on our 19-game winning streak, he was the same coach when we suffered our first lost. He has a passion to win that won't quit.

"That's what has driven this team."

Oddly, Morrill is not really one of them. He was raised Mormon but no longer practices. He went to a Catholic school, Gonzaga, and married a Catholic girl. However, his brother is a bishop and his sister is a devout Mormon. Seven Aggies have gone on Mormon missions. None ever questioned his off-court commitment to them during recruiting.

"Occasionally, a rival school might point that out," Morrill said. "I'm pretty blunt. My comeback is that, 'I'm your basketball coach. I'm not your bishop.' "

Yes, faith is big in Utah. Faith in Morrill is almost as big at Utah State.