Who is Utah State? Session 2

Yesterday we looked at the difference in schedule between Kansas State and Utah State. After reviewing the last 10 games of each team heading into the tournament as well as the non-conference portion of the schedules, it was pretty clear that Kansas State held a huge advantage in the quality of opponents played. That goes a long way towards prepping a team for the level of play found in the NCAA tournament, but it only counts for so much. There are plenty of examples of teams coming from mid-major filled conferences and knocking off a few powerhouse teams on their way to the Sweet 16. Strength of schedule is only a small part of the equation which is why today’s session focuses on the biggest factor when looking at a team: its players. Hit the jump to see how Kansas State stacks up against Utah State.

Guard7 ppg,

4 rebA returning starter, Newbold looks to get open on the wings and distribute the ball with his good passing skils.Jacob Pullen

Guard19.5 ppg,

3 rebPullen is the game changer for the Wildcats. He is consistent at around 20 ppg but can explode as seen with his 38 put on KU’s head in Manhattan.Brockeith Pane

Guard11.3 ppg,

3.1 rebPane is a transfer player for Utah State and plays the role of ball handler.Martavious Irving

Guard4.3 ppg,

1.3 rebIrving picks up solid minutes of the bench and can run the offensive set when needed.Pooh Williams** Guard/Forward8.4 ppg,

1.7 rebAnother returning starter, Williams was named to the WAC defensive team and is a defensive specialist. He can create off the dribble.Shane Southwell

Guard1.6 ppg,

2 rebSouthwell is a good role player and has provided solid defensive efforts all season.Brian Green

Guard10.6 ppg,

2.3 rebGreen is a pure shooter and a good sixth man for the Aggies. If he is left open, he’ll drain it.Nick Russell

Guard4.4 ppg,

1.9 rebMore depth for the Wildcats is provided by Nick Russell who is a good defender. Russell alsoTai Wesley

Forward14.7 ppg,

8 rebThis is Utah State’s go to guy. At 6’7”, 240 pounds Wesley has enough size to mix it up with anyone inside and uses his strength to challenge for every board.  He was voted the WAC player of the year and led the Aggies in scoring for the second straight year.Curtis Kelly

Forward10.3 ppg,

5.3 rebKelly is Kansas State’s biggest threat in the paint and has come alive in the final games of the season. At 6’8”, 255 pounds Kelly is powerful as well as quick to the basket and able to put up big point totals. The battle between Kelly and Wesley down low should be great to watch.Brady Jardine Forward7.5 ppg,

7.1 rebJardine sees time as the third man to play in the paint when Bendall or Wesley are out of the game. Jardine can be exploited as a below average defender.Jamar Samuels Forward8.6 ppg,

5.3 rebSamuels is a powerful scorer and brings intensity to the Kansas State team. He is inconsistent at times but can be a mismatch for many teams and has the ability to run up big numbers.Nate Bendall

Forward6.6 ppg,

5.9 rebBendall is the biggest player on the court for Utah State at 6’9”, 250 pounds. He is a decent post player and will contribute if too much attention is given to Tai Wesley.Jordan Henriquez-Roberts

Center3.7 ppg,

4.7 rebJHR has become a great second post player for the Wildcats. He is a defensive force around the rim standing at 7’0” and has provided solid offensive output as well.Will Spradling

Guard6.5 ppg,

1.7 rebSpradling is a freshman that has exceeded all expectations. He comes off the bench to give Pullen a breather and has great basketball I.Q. He handles the ball well and can hit shots from behind the arc as well.Rodney McGruder

Guard11.4 ppg,

6 rebMcGruder is a wing player that works to distribute and get open for shots. He has great ability from behind the 3 point line and is a great rebounder coming into the paint from the perimeter.

*Only players contributing 10+ minutes were included

** No that isn’t a typo. His name really is Pooh!

So what’s it all mean? Both teams have a solid group of players that provide for a balanced offensive style. While Utah State doesn’t have any pure centers, they use their forwards to play near to the basket much like Kansas State uses Curtis Kelly. Kansas State has more depth but barring a physical, foul filled game, that advantage shouldn’t mean much with both teams having ample time off coming into the round of 64. The biggest player impact will come from the source that everyone expects: Jacob Pullen. Sure there’s always the chance that some other player goes off for a career game but let’s be honest. Agent 0 is one of a few impact players in the Southeast regional and all eyes will be on him in this game. How Utah State plays him will determine which team finishes with a victory and moves on and which goes home…to Utah.