Utah State basketball: Wesley's foul trouble hurting Aggies, frustrating Morrill

LOGAN — Tai Wesley is, in some ways, the most important player on Utah State's roster.

The junior power forward has stepped into a leadership role in Logan and is a vocal part of an Aggie team trying to right itself after a somewhat disappointing 4-3 start.

But he's of little use when he's sitting on the bench with foul trouble.

"I just get so jacked, so hyped, that I just do stupid stuff," said Wesley, whose team will face Utah Valley tonight at 7 p.m. in the Spectrum, said. "My team needs me on the floor. ... I've got to be smarter."

Wesley leads the team in personal fouls with 23. Many of those fouls have come after a mistake on the offensive end as he tries to correct a bad pass, bad shot or some other lapse.

What results is sometimes a wild swing at the ball trying to block a shot.

Another side affect? A frustrated coach.

Especially because fellow big man Nate Bendall is also often in foul trouble because he's asked to guard big men.

"Nate's up to his fanny in alligators guarding (players like Saint Mary's Omar Samhan, BYU's Chris Miles and Utah's Kim Tillie)," USU coach Stew Morrill said. "We need him on the floor. Tai's got to get smarter."

Wesley is averaging 12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for USU. But the timing of his foul trouble has often left Utah State in a lurch at the end of games or the end of the first half.

Tonight, the Aggies will need Wesley on the floor when they face a Utah Valley team eager to notch a win against an in-state opponent.

UVU coach Dick Hunsaker has his team (4-4) playing better after adjusting to life without Ryan Toolson filling up the net. UVU beat William Jessop on Tuesday at home but has yet to win on the road.

Senior guard Jordan Swarbrick has stepped into Toolson's role as team leader and is averaging 16.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Junior Justin Baker is adding 13.6 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Wolverines.

"Hopefully we can come out and play a little better. As you look at our team right now, there are some very encouraging stats. Our field goal percentage defense is a real encouraging stat. Our rebounding has been good and our turnovers have gone down," Morrill said.

"We have to make a few more shots, that is just the reality of it. We are getting some good looks, but we are forcing a few, too. I thought we forced a few in the post and on the perimeter in the Saint Mary's game. I think we have to get good shot attempts and our percentage will go up."

Tonight's game is the last of a five-game homestand for the Aggies, who just completed finals week at school and hit the road next week for a pair of games at Cal State Bakersfield and Long Beach State.

Aggies on the air

Utah State (4-3) vs. Utah Valley (4-4)

Smith Spectrum, Logan

Tonight, 7 p.m.

TV: CW 30

Radio: 610 AM, 1230 AM, 95.9 FM

e-mail: jeborn@desnews.com