Basketball Blues

The Utah State Aggies are halfway through their basketball season with a measly 10-9 record, leaving fans questioning if they will make the National Invitation Tournament or even be a contender in the Western Athletic Conference this year.

What is happening to the former four-time reigning conference champions?

Some say it started with a season ending injury to veteran forward Brady Jardine.

After just three games into the season, Jardine suffered from torn ligaments in his foot while playing Southern Utah University.

“Brady was the toughest guy on the team,” Joe Wesley, a USU fan said. “I think the Aggies definitely miss him and are worse without him.”

Other fans argue it’s the other WAC teams that are getting better.

Teams like Nevada (15-3) and New Mexico State (14-5) have taken over the WAC this year. Both teams are undefeated in the WAC and beat USU by a combined score of 158-131.

Losing six seniors last year did not help the Aggies either.

Last years senior class was the winningest senior class in USU history with a combined record of 108-27 over four seasons.

Although the Aggies lost six seniors from last years team, they still have plenty of talented young players.

But their inexperience and simple mistakes have cost them throughout the season.

“They have no consistency,” Jeremy Rogers, a USU fan said. “They beat a team by 10 or 15 then a month later they lose bad to the same team. The only consistency they have is making stupid mistakes in the games they should win.”

In November, the Aggies beat a weak University of Seattle team 78-53, but lost to the Redhawks 73-66 on Thursday.

Whether it’s the lack of last years key players or the struggles of this young team, attendance at USU basketball games has dropped significantly since last season.

The average attendance has dropped by more than 1,000 people since last season according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

“I haven’t gone to as many games this season,” Megan Anderson, a USU student said. “It’s just not as fun when we’re losing.”