When Larry Eustachy watched video of Sunday's one-point overtime loss in the Big West Conference tournament title game he noted that, on San Jose State's fateful final 3-pointer by little-used sophomore center Rich Taylor, Utah State's Jon Wickizer "played that guy perfect. And (Jon) was just shattered after the game; he thought he should have been on him a little tighter," recalls the Aggie coach.
"I called Jon Monday night, and I don't think he'd come out of his apartment. I said, 'Jon, you played it perfect, and you can go to your grave saying that you played it perfect. That's what we've done all year, played the percentages.'"He said, `You really mean it?' " Eustachy says.
"I said, 'Of course I really mean it.' "
That's the endearing thing about a USU team that was an eyelash from going to the NCAA tournament, that got 18 wins (an accomplishment despite 15 losses), that couldn't live up to its No. 1 preseason ranking (it was fourth) and then almost did anyway in the tournament.
This team took the blame, took responsibility, overachieved on self-sacrifice. No one exemplified that more than Silas Mills, who could have averaged more than his team-high 16.7 ppg but believed coaches that less from him meant more for the team. He was second on the team in assists (3.4) and rebounds (7.9) and had 20 more steals than any teammate.
"Silas' stock went way up with the NBA guys," Eustachy said, adding eight scouts at the tourney saw his all-around play. He made the all-tourney team averaging 14.3 ppg, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.0 steals, .67 blocked shots, 24 of 26 free throws and 16 turnovers, trying too hard to be selfless.
People said: What's wrong with the Aggies? They're not No. 1 like the preseason polls said. Eric Franson's not the league MVP again.
Eustachy has no regrets. "It was a great year for me, maybe my most rewarding. I was very pleased with the guys," he says. "Players were receptive to the way we had to play. This team needs no excuses. It reached its potential."
(1. Wickizer broke a hand and wasn't supposed to practice for a month but never missed; 2. When guard Phillip Kennedy's grandmother died, he left; 3. Point guard Duane Rogers learned a new position (he was a forward) despite a bulging spinal disc that threatened his career; 4. Rogers and guard Justin Jones hadn't played in two years (Rogers redshirting, Jones on a mission) but led USU in minutes (1,071 and 1,159); 5. Point guard Reggie Tucker blew a knee, sat the year; 6. Forward Chris Russell broke a thumb, sat the year; 7. Guard Sam Turks left. 8. Guard Myron Simms was arrested/dismissed; 9. Forward Maurice Spillers redshirted for scholastics; 10. The eighth man was raw frosh Brent Moore, sacrificing his redshirt year; 11. The ninth man was grid/hoop hybrid Novich Hunter, who shed 40 pounds. "One more thing, and it would have been tough to win a game," Eustachy says.
With new guards, little backup, Mills in a new role and Wickizer's hand a problem, defending MVP Franson was triple-teamed and still averaged 16.2 ppg/8.5 rpg. "I think he had a great year," Eustachy says.
USU loses Mills, Franson, Wickizer, Hunter and Jermaine Womack plus associate head coach Kermit Davis, who returns to coach Idaho. Eustachy says he and Davis will remain friends, share coaching insights and recommend players not right for one program to the other. Leonard Perry becomes a full-time assistant, and Eustachy will look for another part-time assistant.
Eustachy expects to sign four or five players, needing size. All frontliners but Antwan Smith graduate. Smith made the all-tourney team with his best play of the season and "is going to be a monster next year," says Eustachy. The coach hopes to sign some in-staters. He will probably take two or three preps and one or two jucos.
The 1996-97 Ags will be guard-oriented with Tucker, Marcus Saxon, Cory Jones and Kevin Rice already in the fold. Eustachy says his best team used three guards. "We'll be quicker than ever," he says.
Turnovers top Eustachy's to-do list, USU's biggest problem the last two seasons at 16.5 and 16.6 a game.