LOGAN — The college basketball regular season has hit its crescendo. From here on out it is win or go home as postseason conference tournaments are being played across the country. Utah State may have earned a little wiggle room based on the strength of their best-ever regular season at 28-3, but will still have the attitude that a loss in this week's WAC Tournament in Las Vegas will end their NCAA Tournament chances.
"They always say all you have to do is win one more game, then it's one more and so on," USU coach Stew Morrill said. "At first it was beat St. Mary's on the road and you're in. Then it was get revenge on Idaho. Then it was sweep the road trip. It's never enough. Best thing we can do is play hard and focus on winning the next game. I would hope our RPI, winning our league by five games, and all that would be enough to get in should it come to that."
Besides being played in a neutral location this year at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the tournament will also have a new setup. Utah State, by virtue of finishing first in the regular season, will have a double-bye and will not have to play until Friday afternoon in the semifinals. On the Aggies' side of the bracket are eight-seed San Jose State and five-seed Hawaii, who will play Wednesday evening to decide who moves on to face four-seed Idaho. The winner between Idaho and San Jose State/Hawaii will then move on to play the Aggies at 6 p.m. Friday night to decide which team will move on to the title game.
On the other side of the bracket, Nevada faces Fresno State in the 6-7 game Wednesday for the right to face third- seeded New Mexico State. That game will decide which team will play the No. 2 seed Boise State in the other semifinal game. Last place finisher Louisiana Tech did not qualify for the tournament.
WAC HONORS: The WAC released its postseason awards on Sunday afternoon and the list was littered with Aggies. Leading the honors was Tai Wesley, who was named WAC Player of the Year, and Morrill, who won the Don Haskins WAC Coach of the Year Award.
"I thought we were very well represented on the all-league teams and it is always good stuff when you get guys recognized and win a league championship," said Morrill. "You have heard me say for a long time that team success gives you a chance for individual recognition."
Along with Wesley, Aggie point guard Brockeith Pane made first team All-WAC as well as the All-Newcomer team. Backup sharpshooter Brian Green made the second team All-WAC. Tyler Newbold rounded out the honors by being named to the All-Defensive team.
"I am thrilled that we had three of the top 10 players in the league and Tai being named player of the year is very deserving, he has had a great season and a great career," Morrill continued.
The only possible snub the Aggies received was Pooh Williams missing out on joining Newbold on the All-Defensive team.
The Coach of the Year honor was Morrill's third straight in the WAC and sixth overall. He won the award twice during Utah State's time in the Big West and once while at Montana in the Big Sky Conference.
"When you get recognized by your peers that is always special," stated Morrill. "This award is not about me, it is about a lot of people doing a good job, and receiving this is more of an indication that our program is healthy."
2010-11 WAC Men's Basketball Postseason Award Winners
First Team
La'Shard Anderson, Boise State, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., San Diego, Calif. (Irvine Valley CC)
Troy Gillenwater, New Mexico State, F, 6-8, 238, Jr., Boston, Mass. (Stoneridge Prep)
Adrian Oliver, San Jose State, G, 6-4, 210, Sr., Modesto, Calif. (Washington)
Brockeith Pane, Utah State, G, 6-1, 195, Jr., Dallas, Texas (Midland JC)
Tai Wesley, Utah State, F, 6-7, 240, Sr., Provo, Utah (Provo HS)
Second Team
Bill Amis, Hawai'i, F, 6-9, 235, Sr., Oklahoma City, Okla. (Pratt CC)
Brian Green, Utah State, G, 6-1, 200, Sr., Kaysville, Utah (Salt Lake CC)
Dario Hunt, Nevada, F, 6-8, 230, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (Charis Prep School)
Jeff Ledbetter, Idaho, G, 6-3, 195, Sr., Brea, Calif. (Irvine Valley CC)
Greg Smith, Fresno State, C, 6-10, 250, So., Fresno, Calif. (Westwind Academy)
Honorable Mention
Olu Ashaolu, Louisiana Tech, F, 6-7, 220, Jr., Toronto, Canada (Humble Christian)
Kyle Barone, Idaho, C, 6-10, 220, So., Garden Grove, Calif. (Pacifica HS)
Deonte Burton, Nevada, G, 6-1, 185, Fr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Compton Centenial HS)
Justin Graham, San Jose State, G, 6-4, 195, Sr., Ripon, Calif. (Ripon HS)
Zane Johnson, Hawai'i, G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz. (Arizona)
Player of the Year: Tai Wesley, Utah State
Freshman of the Year: Deonte Burton, Nevada
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Stew Morrill, Utah State
All-Defensive Team
La'Shard Anderson, Boise State, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., San Diego, Calif. (Irvine Valley CC)
Olu Ashaolu, Louisiana Tech, F, 6-7, 220, Jr., Toronto, Canada (Humble Christian)
Justin Graham, San Jose State, G, 6-4, 195, Sr., Ripon, Calif. (Ripon HS)
Dario Hunt, Nevada, F, 6-8, 230, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (Charis Prep School)
Tyler Newbold, Utah State, G, 6-5, 210, Sr., Payson, Utah (Payson HS)
All-Newcomer Team
Deonte Burton, Nevada, G, 6-1, 185, Fr., Los Angeles, Calif. (Compton Centenial HS)
Olek Czyz, Nevada, 6-7, 240, Jr., Gdynia, Poland (Duke)
Zane Johnson, Hawai'i, G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz. (Arizona)
Brockeith Pane, Utah State, G, 6-1, 195, Jr., Dallas, Texas (Midland JC)
Tim Steed, Fresno State, G, 6-4, 215, Jr., Philadelphia, Penn. (Highland CC)