If you thought BYU would be the toughest in-state team Utah State would face this season, you were mistaken. I've said it before and I'll say it again; Weber State is the premiere college basketball team in the State of Utah this season. At least right now they are. Obviously the season still has to play out, but going into things, this game between two in-state rivals (see what I did there BYU, I gave them credit for being rivals... because they are. Respect) is to see who really are the basketball kings of the Beehive State (BYU fell out of the running Friday in Logan).
Weber State returns almost every crucial piece from a team that went 18-14 last year, including one piece that was out with an injury for most of that season. After Damian Lillard was lost for the year, the burden of carrying the team fell heavily on the likes of returning players Kyle Bullinger, Scott Bamforth and Byron Fulton. Basically every returning player on Weber's team has faced the challenge of taking on a higher role than they'd planned on. Now with Lillard returning, this team is dangerous. They're experienced, they're talented and holy hell can they shoot the 3-ball. Throw in a solid transfer in Frank Otis, who scored 13 points and pulled down 17 rebounds in his first game as a Wildcat, and they're looking dangerous across the board.
For the Aggies, their biggest asset right now is still athleticism, which should be helpful in them disrupting Weber's offense and causing turnovers. What USU is going to need most though will be essentially flawless execution on offense, another thing that will be difficult due to the aspect of Randy Rahe's and Stew Morrill's similar systems (or as we've so often called, the "evil twin brother effect.").
Another solid game from Morgan Grim is crucial for USU. Weber's centers have generally not been impact players, and starter Kyle Tresnak is no exception to that trend. But he's also much bigger and stronger than Noah Hartsock, who Grim played fairly well against, so Grim will have to out-talent Tresnak rather than out-muscle him. At the other forward spot, Brady Jardine is going to have to claim ownership early on over Frank. 22-X should have the advantage in every aspect there, so again, it will come down to execution.
Pane vs. Lillard is going to be one of the best match-ups of point guards in college basketball this season. Pane had what is still one of his best games as an Aggie in his USU debut last year against Lillard, but Lillard still put up better numbers. Simply put, Lillard may be the best player USU will play against all season. Watching those two will be entertaining.
Hell, the whole game should be entertaining. If USU pulls off a win in Ogden, that's going to be one to put on the tournament resume as the year goes on. Same probably goes for Weber if they protect their house Tuesday.
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