Utah State basketball: Aggies focused on task at hand

RENO, Nev. — Don't ask Stew Morrill about the bubble.

He's not interested in whether or not Utah State is a bubble team, whether or not the 27-4 Aggies have an NCAA Tournament berth secured or if USU — like Big Sky champ Weber State — will be bound for the NIT if it doesn't win the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

No, Morrill isn't one to dwell on speculating — at least not for the time being.

"We're not even talking about that at all," Morrill said. "We better not be thinking in any way shape or form that we're secure in the NCAA ... that would be asinine.

"That would be silly."

So, instead of joining his team's fans in wondering the if, when, where and how of a potential ticket to the Big Dance, Morrill and the Aggies will focus on exactly what the rest of the WAC is focusing on — winning three games over the next three days and removing any debate about the team's worthiness for an at-large berth.

Utah State — the runaway winner of the WAC regular season title — faces 9-seed Fresno State today at 3:30 in a quarterfinal matchup. If the Aggies win, they advance to face the winner of the Boise State vs. New Mexico State game Friday at 7 p.m.

Thinking that far ahead, let alone as far as Selection Sunday scenarios, won't happen until — and if — Utah State beats the Bulldogs for the third time this season.

"They will definitely have our guys' respect," Morrill said of Fresno State, which comes into the game with a 13-20 record. "The number of wins I not indicative of how many wins they could have."

Indeed, the Bulldogs have lost several games by only a handful of points — 12 of the losses came either in overtime or by fewer than six points — and after beating Hawaii on Tuesday in the WAC tourney play-in game, FSU will have some confidence and momentum.

In the two regular-season games at Utah State, the Bulldogs lost in overtime at home and by just four in Logan.

The Bulldogs, perhaps as much as any team in the WAC, present matchup problems for the Aggies. But USU has thrived in many games because of tough defense, offensive execution and patience.

"Our focus is to go out and play better D," USU's veteran coach said.