Utah State men’s basketball set to host Hartford in home opener

Utah State University plays Evergreen State College in the first basketball game of the season on Nov. 1, 2018 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah. Utah State defeated Evergreen State 96-45. (Megan Nielsen)

The Utah State men’s basketball team will kick off their 2018-19 home basketball schedule at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Friday night. USU will play Hartford in their home opener.

“Hartford is a veteran team,” Utah State head coach Craig Smith said following practice Thursday afternoon. “They‘re coming off of a season in which they won nineteen games, which is an all-time school record.”

The Aggies (1-0) are hoping to build off of their electric start to the 2018-19 season. Utah State defeated Montana State 101-71 on the road Tuesday evening behind a career-high 37 points from junior guard Sam Merrill. It marked the most points scored in a season opener under a first-year head coach in Utah State history.

“It was huge for us,” Smith said of the win. “It gives us a lot of confidence. We were able to play all twelve guys meaningful minutes throughout the game.”

Smith spoke of the need to not get too focused on past victories as the season moves on. The Aggies will be playing six games in 16 days starting with Hartford.

“If what you did yesterday is a big deal today, you haven’t done much today,” Smith said. “Sometimes when you have youth, you have to guard against getting too high and too low. We’re super excited to be at home and be in the Spectrum again.”

Hartford (0-1) will visit Logan after dropping their own home opener 75-68 against Central Connecticut State on Tuesday night. The Hawks were picked to finish in second place in the America East preseason poll. They boast a pair of preseason all-conference selections in seniors John Carroll and Jason Dunne. Dunne put up 13 points and Carroll added 11 in the loss to Central Connecticut State. The Hawks feature a veteran-laden lineup; all five of Hartford’s starters are seniors.

“They’re very prolific on offense, they’re very well-coached,” Smith said. “They have great synergy on offense. They’ll be one of the best passing teams that we will see all year. They really share it and they all know their roles in a very good way.”

While Utah State holds an advantage in talent over the Hawks, Friday night’s contest will be a solid opportunity for the Aggies to measure themselves in the young season. Smith mentioned Hartford’s versatility when asked about challenges that the Aggies will face.

“They play five guys that can shoot the three, that can drive it and that can pass it,” Smith said. “They put a ton of pressure on you. They run some Princeton (offense) actions with long continuities that really space you out. We’re going to have to defend well for a long period of time.”

It will be a quick turnaround for the Aggies, as they are just a pair of practices removed from their Montana State victory.

“This game is going to show us a lot about where we’re at,” Smith said. “We’re coming off of an emotional win, and now you have a two-day turnaround, where you’re flying back on one of those days and now you’re playing a team like (Hartford) with their veteran playmakers versus our youth. As a coach, I’m really curious to see how we come out and perform.”

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