Aggies need to schedule tougher non-league foes

SPOKANE — I used to figure when it came to Utah State University basketball, it was nitpicking to complain about scheduling.

Isn't that like complaining about sand in your toes at Barbuda Beach?

I mean, the proof is in. The Aggies did get in the NCAA Tournament this year, despite losing in the WAC Tournament. They win enough nowadays to catch the attention of the selection committee, regardless of whom they schedule.

Still, after seeing USU lose on Friday for the sixth straight time and 15th in the last 16 tries in the NCAA Tournament, I have to ask: Is this really a surprise?

Are the Aggies doomed to a future of great regular seasons and short postseasons?

They've tried it this way for a long time, why not walk a less familiar street?

Why not throw caution to the wind and schedule a game against (gadzooks!) Iowa State?

USU dropped its first-round tournament game to Texas A&M, 69-53, looking suspiciously as it has in the postseason for almost 30 years: out-manned and overwhelmed. The A&M Aggies came out aggressively and attacked the glass, which USU expected. What it wasn't expecting was a lights-out shooting performance by A&M's Khris Middleton, who made five straight 3-pointers.

The Utah State Aggies said they were anticipating great defense and athleticism and all the other stuff you expect from a contender in a big conference. But did they know A&M was that good?

Film can tell you some things but live action tells you the righteous truth.

"Texas A&M dominated the basketball game," said USU coach Stew Morrill. "They're bigger, they're stronger, you gain no advantage in terms of character, because they're high character, just like us. If you watched the game, you could see the domination by their athletes and their length, and we would have had to really have an excellent shooting night. I'm not trying to make excuses. I'm just trying to give them the credit they deserve, they are that good."

In other words, if the USU Aggies faked left, the A&M Aggies went left. If they faked right, same thing.

And if they went "Boo!" A&M yawned and went "Boo what?"

Maybe it would have been different if USU had seen something similar in the regular season.

"We haven't played anybody as good as Texas A&M," said Morrill.