Aggies to get glimpse of WAC future against Denver

LOGAN — It has not been the easiest of starts for head coach Stew Morrill's Utah State men's basketball team.

The Aggies (3-2) have stumbled out of the blocks, as they deal with a rash of injuries and work to integrate an array of new players into the fold. The hope for Morrill is that the Aggies figured something out about themselves last weekend when they beat Idaho State 75-62 on the road and can carry that momentum back home to face Denver University (4-1) tonight in the Spectrum.

Last season the Aggies defeated the Pioneers 61-53 in Denver. That experience, however, does Utah State little good, as the Aggies will only have two players, Morgan Grim and Brockeith Pane, who saw action in the game last year and will suit up this evening.

Denver runs a complicated Princeton-style offense that features plenty of back-door cuts, with every player on the floor posting up and 3-point shooting from several positions.

"A lot of the guys this year have no idea what the Princeton system even is," said Morrill. "Against most teams, you try and stop them from getting layups. These guys are going to get some layups, so you just have to try and limit how many they get."

On defense, the Pioneers utilize a zone-matchup scheme that makes them unlike any team that the Aggies have seen so far this year, or likely will see again this season.

"Their defense does lots of switching. It's not quite zone and it's not quite man," said Morrill. "You spend so much time worrying about how to defend the Princeton offense that sometimes you forget how difficult the defense is."

INJURY UPDATE: Forward Kyisean Reed is doubtful to play against Denver.

Reed suffered a knee injury during practice last week and did not play against Idaho State. The junior forward has no ligament damage, but depending on recovery time could miss an additional game or two. It is unknown exactly how long forward Brady Jardine will be out. The senior went down with a mid-foot sprain against Southern Utah and has missed the last two contests. Jardine could be back as early as next week, or as late as January depending on how his foot responds to treatment.

STARTING ROTATION CAROSUEL: The Aggies have already started four different lineups in five games and may go with their fifth different starting lineup tonight. Small forward Adam Thoseby responded well enough to his first career start to possibly earn the starting job against Denver. Against Idaho State, Thoseby scored 15 points and dished three assists. Morrill will not make an official decision until this morning.

FUTURE FOES: Starting next season, the Aggies and the Pioneers will meet in Western Athletic Conference play as Denver will be joining the league for the 2012-2013 season. Along with Denver, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and Seattle will also become WAC members next year, replacing Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State. Hawaii will play in the Big West next year while Fresno State and Nevada will be in the Mountain West Conference.

AGGIES ON THE AIR

Denver U. (4-1) at Utah State (3-2)

Tonight, 7 p.m.

Smith Spectrum, Logan

TV: KSCG

Radio: 97.5 FM, 610 AM