Utah State basketball notebook: Broken nose will not sideline Aggies forward

LOGAN — He might not have that same handsome face, but Tai Wesley will be ready to play Friday afternoon despite a broken nose suffered in the first minute of the Western Athletic Conference championship game.

"The nose is feeling better," Wesley said of the swollen schnoz. "Hopefully it gets better everyday."

Wesley's nose collided with the elbow and forearm of New Mexico State's Hamidu Rahman early in the game and spent most of the first half checking in and out of the game because the bleeding was never fully stopped until after halftime.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound junior from Provo High was scheduled to meet with doctors Monday to determine the extent of the injury and to see if a mask or even surgery would be needed.

Never one to shy away from contact, Wesley's effectiveness was limited in the NMSU game not only because of the bleeding, but because he appeared to not be quite as aggressive on offense — shooting just 1-of-6 shooting in the first half. Defensively, he was also hurt as NMSU's post players spotted the possible hesitance to bang bodies and went after him, creating contact and forcing him back to the bench when the bleeding resumed.

One thing is for certain, though: Wesley will play Friday.

"We're hopeful that he's going to be OK," Aggie coach Stew Morrill said. "I can't imagine that kid not playing."

END THE TREND: Playing in the NCAA basketball tournament is not exactly a new experience for Utah State. The Aggies have, after all, been there 18 times in the past — including last season.

Winning in the big dance, however, has proven difficult.

Utah State hasn't won a post-season game since 2001 — and that includes 4 NIT appearances — and would love nothing more than to break that nine-year streak of tournament futility.

"Whenever I boast about the NCAA Tournament, they always remind me that we haven't won very many games," Morrill said, "but it is because you get awfully tough draws. We certainly have a really tough opponent. I have seen them in the past and I know how much talent they have and how well-coached they are."

Perhaps the best way for Utah State to get more favorable seeding — they usually have an RPI warranting a seed much better than they typically get — is to finally break through and win.

Point guard Jared Quayle said having a veteran team filled with NCAA tourney experience might come in handy.