Despite loss, Aggies optimistic about next year

Utah State might have lost by just one point in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to a Top 25 team from the Big East.

But the loss isn't much different than a 20-point blowout in many

regards — the Aggies are home in Logan today instead of getting ready

to play Missouri in the second round.

Still, the one-point setback to Marquette leaves many wondering what

might have happened if USU made one more basket or had one more

defensive stop.

"I know for myself I look at things that I could have done

differently," said USU senior Gary Wilkinson, who played his final game

as an Aggie and scored 15 points. "I don't know if any of us hang it

all upon ourselves and say 'Oh, it's my fault this happened' or this or

that, and I hope none of us do. But there's obviously things that you

think back on and if I would have made this play or would have been

able to get to that ball or boxed out better on this."

And while there may be dozens of individual plays that could have

made a difference in USU's season-ending 58-57 loss to the Golden

Eagles, it was probably two factors that made the biggest difference in

the game.

First, Utah State suffered through a stretch of more than nine

minutes with only one basket. During that time, Marquette turned a 10-7

lead into a 23-9 advantage and threatened to blow the Aggies out of the

gym.

"We weren't really ready for their pressure," said sophomore Tai

Wesley, who had 15 points. "They were kind of taking us out of our