This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Well, this should keep the Stew Morrill bashers at bay for a minute.

Utah State, who has been looking for a game on the weekend of December fourth to round out its schedule, has done just that by agreeing to a 1 year deal with Georgetown of the Big East.

This is a significant game for the Aggies, who desperately needed to add some strength to its preseason schedule. With what is shaping up to be one of the better teams of the Stew Morrill era, the Hoyas will be able to provide a stiff challenge with its Princeton offense, its ability to shoot the ball, athleticism and ability to attack the basket off the dribble.

Chris Wright, Jason Clark and Austin Freeman are one of the three best backcourts in the country, with Wright and Freeman potential NBA players. They will provide a serious challenge to Brockeith Pane, Tyler Newbold and Pooh Williams. But while the Hoya backcourt is seriously talented, and Julian Vaughn promises to be a load for the Aggies to deal with in the paint, Utah State will have some advantages.

1) Tai Wesley, USU's best player, will most likely be guarded by freshman Nate Lubick, which will allow Wesley to use his strength and experience in the post. Lubick is a top 50 recruit, but Wesley is one of the best power forwards in the country, and that should give Utah State an advantage.

2) Georgetown plays in the Verizon Center, on the same court as the Washington Wizards. It's by no means an imposing homecourt, especially on December 4th, especially against a team like Utah State that the average G'town fan knows nothing about. That element of surprise, potentially, could help the Aggies.

3) Pooh Williams is a great defender, and reportedly so is Pane. That means Williams sticks to Freeman in what should be a great matchup. Pane, who once played Derrick Rose to a standstill when he was at Houston, gets Wright in what should be another excellent matchup between two point guards with the same body type and attitude.

4) The Hoyas have lost Greg Monroe, and they probably will need a little more time to figure things out without their lottery pick. The Aggies have six seniors and a mountain of experience. They will not be intimidated.

5) Beyond the backcourt and Vaughn, a senior, the Hoyas have precious little experience. Wright will be backed up by freshman Markel Starks. Freshman center Moses Abraham will see minutes, junior power forward Henry Sims has two years in the system but has hardly played in those two years. Vee Sanford and Aaron Bowen are talented but untested.

Still, the Hoyas are as formidable an opponent as Utah State has played in the preseason. It should be a great matchup, and a great challenge with exposure on the east coast for Morrill's program.

Tony Jones