LOGAN — Utah State's non-conference season is over, and Western Athletic Conference play begins tonight when the Aggies (11-2) take on the Hawaii Warriors (9-3) in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
For the seniors on the USU team, it will mark the last foray into conference play in their careers. Pooh Williams, Tyler Newbold, Matt Formisano and Tai Wesley have spent the last four years learning the rhythms of the WAC, dealing with the unbelievable travel that accompanies a conference that stretches from Hawaii to Louisiana, and learning the schemes that coaches from the conference employ.
As important as all these players have been to Utah State's program, none of them means more to the team than Wesley. The senior from Provo will be starting his 107th game in his Aggie career tonight and has been a key cog in the team since his freshman year, appearing in every game over his four-year career.
This year, however, his importance has grown even more.
Wesley was picked by the coaches as the WAC's preseason player of the year and was voted as first team All-WAC by the media. With All-WAC point guard Jared Quayle gone due to graduation, it has been Wesley's responsibility to lead this Aggie team, and at times direct the offense when the team's young point guards struggle.
The only thing that seems to stop Wesley is foul trouble. In the Aggies' losses at BYU and at Georgetown, Wesley has fouled out, and consequently, did not play regular minutes.
In the Aggies' biggest non-conference game of the season against Georgetown, Wesley only played 20 minutes, fouling out early in the second half, and watched the team struggle through a 17-point loss. In Provo, Wesley dominated underneath but struggled with foul trouble and free throws all night, finishing just 1-of-6 at the line.
With 2:04 remaining, he was whistled for an intentional foul that ended his game and any attempts for a Utah State comeback.
"I've changed my mindset," Wesley said of his foul troubles. "I start with the mindset that I have four fouls so I don't foul. I'll give up a layup instead of taking a foul — all so I can be out there at the end of the game instead of just the start."
When Wesley hasn't been in foul trouble, though, he has been fantastic. He leads the team in scoring at just under 14 points a contest, is second on the team in rebounds (8.2 per game), assists (2.8), and blocks (1.0). Even more important than those statistics is his shooting percentage, which at over 64 percent ranks second in the nation. With a myriad of post moves that he credits to his brother and uncle, Wesley scores at will in the paint when facing single-coverage.
When teams inevitably run double-teams at him, he uses his excellent passing skills to find the open man.
"He just does so much out there for us in terms of passing the ball, scoring the ball, rebounding the ball, has become a solid defender, all of those kinds of things," USU head coach Stew Morrill said. "I think, obviously, we've got other players to go with him, but it sure helps when he is out there, we tend to execute better."
In WAC play, Wesley is going to have to continue to be the go-to guy for the Aggies. The elements of deception and surprise are nullified in conference play when teams see each other at least twice a season.
Wesley is going to continue being the biggest contributor to the team. Every other WAC coach knows this as well, which is why Morrill is sure opposing teams will be gunning for his star forward.
"When he stays out of foul trouble, it greatly helps our basketball team," Morrill said about what Wesley needs to do to lead the team through conference play. "I'm sure Hawaii, along with everyone else, is going to try and go at him and get him in foul trouble. That seems to be a common theme with everyone we play."
Hawaii may be the surprise of the conference so far. Picked to finish last by both the media and the coaches, the Warriors have played well under new coach Gib Arnold. The result has been a couple of nice victories over Utah and Mississippi State last week during the Diamond Head Classic.
"I think Hawaii has a lot of energy with their new coach, Gib (Arnold) is doing a good job," Morrill said. "They've got a bunch of new players that are performing for him. I really like how hard they are playing.
"He went out and recruited and added a bunch of kids that are doing a good job. They are impressive to watch. They've just got a number of weapons."
The Warriors have surprised many, but they have no weapon like the versatile Wesley. In fact, few WAC teams do.
Without Wesley, the Aggies might just be another team in the WAC. But with him, they are the favorites for their fourth consecutive conference crown.
Aggies' WAC opener
Utah State (11-2) vs. Hawaii (9-3)
Today, 7:05 p.m.
Smith Spectrum, Logan
TV: None Radio: 610 AM, 1320 AM, 95.9 FM