Blue and White Scrimmage Recap

Stew pre-game to the fans

Tai Wesley Post-Game

Brady Jardine Post-Game

Brian Green Post Game

Jared Quayle Post-Game

Stew Morrill Post-Game

A game like this is always hard to report on. There is so much talent, so much hope, and so much opportunity at the beginning of the season that I have a hard time grasping how this team would compare to the great teams of the last two years. One thing is certain - expectations are at an all time high.

Also one thing is certain - Brian Green can shoot the long ball. USU played itself in a man defense for the entire first half. That led to dominating performances by Tai Wesley, Brady Jardine and Modou Niang. Newcomer Nate Bendall had a decent outing, but the real showstopper was Green. He hit four straight 3-pointers in the beginning of the second half. Stew said he tried Green at the 1-guard role briefly, but with the absence of Pooh Williams to his injured foot, Green has since been rotated to the shooting guard role. Green seems very comfortable. He also is a very vocal player. In fact, he was the most vocal player on the team throughout the entire scrimmage, commanding the troops and giving good support to his new teammates. Green said the biggest factor in his transfer to USU from NJCAA National Basketball Champion SLCC was Gary Wilkinson with whom he played in Salt Lake and from whom he accepted invitations to visit the Spectrum during home stands. Apparently, the Aggie faithful impressed him.

Nearly as impressive was the true freshman from Carrolton, Texas, Preston Medlin. He almost went step for step with Green, hitting two 3's in succession, missing one, and then putting the fourth attempt home. Medlin hit his shots also when the Aggie coaches told their team to play... itself... in zone coverage, leaving the perimeter much more open than it would have otherwise been.

I would suppose by the way that the new 7-footer freshman Anthony DiLoreto played last night that he will be red-shirting this year. He did well, but showed a lot of freshman qualities and inexperience. He certainly has the potential to be a big star in this state in a few years. That much is certain.

Notable in this team is that there is only one Senior - Jared Quayle. We all remember Quayle and his dominating performance last year as a JuCo transfer. He looked really well distributing the ball, involving players, and running the system.

The team is not very weak, but as you listen to the post-game interviews, you'll notice that nearly all of the players and coaches said the team needs to improve defensively. I don't know how much stock I place in this since we can't see how the Ags measure up against the Utes and Cougars and Wildcats, but we'll find out soon enough. Weber and Utah are only two weeks away.