Utah State basketball: Aggies try to bounce back against CAA's Northeastern

With Wednesday night's bitter loss at Utah barely behind them, the Utah State Aggies hit the road for a rare road trip to the East Coast, hoping to avoid a 1-2 start to the season.

"It's a quick turnaround," USU coach Stew Morrill said of the team's rush to get ready for the Huskies. "But that's something we can't change. We just have to get ready the best we can."

The Aggies will have had only Thursday as a full preparation day for Northeastern. Friday was a travel day from Salt Lake City to Boston, and the tipoff time of noon Eastern time means the players will be suiting up for what feels like a 10 a.m. tipoff to their inner clocks.

The Huskies, on the other hand, will have had three full days to watch game film, practice and rest at home waiting for the showdown.

Northeastern has played just one game, a 59-53 loss at Sienna on Tuesday. The Huskies play in the Colonial Athletic Association and finished last season with a 19-13 record, third in the CAA behind Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason.

Matt Janning, a 6-foot-4 swingman, was named a preseason mid-major all-American after averaging 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a junior.

Utah State will counter with senior point guard Jared Quayle, who scored 27 points while grabbing 11 rebounds in the loss to Utah.

One thing Morrill hopes the Aggies can do, in addition to hitting the early tipoff awake and focused, is cut down on the turnovers that have hindered the team so much in the first two games of the three-game road swing to start the season. USU had 17 turnovers against Utah, and Morrill said the sloppy passes and ballhandling were to blame for the loss.

"We can't have 17 turnovers and expect to win against a good team like Utah," Morrill said. "That's something we have got to do a better job with."

USU has not had starting swingman Pooh Williams available in any games yet this season, but he may play a few minutes if needed and the game situation allows it today.

The Aggies have yet to play a game at home, but that will change quickly after today's game at Northeastern.

Utah State hosts Idaho State on Tuesday, and then Southern Utah visits the Spectrum next Saturday.

Aggies on the air

Utah State (1-1) at Northeastern (0-1)

Matthews Arena, Boston

Today, 10 a.m.

TV: none Radio: 610 AM, 1230 AM, 95.9 FM

e-mail: jeborn@desnews.com