Coach Talks Down Defending Champs

They still won’t buy it, although he has tried hard. Utah State Coach Larry Eustachy has told anyone who will listen not to expect much from his team.

Forget that the Aggies are defending regular-season Big West Conference champions, he says. This group isn’t that group.

Eustachy talks and talks, but they don’t listen. However, the Aggies haven’t exactly proved him a liar.

Utah State got smacked around during its nonconference schedule. It seems Eustachy is right--the Aggies aren’t great.

But remember, this is the Big West 1995-96. Great isn’t required to reach the top. OK to average should get it done, meaning the Aggies are probably more than good enough.

“They are good,” Long Beach Coach Seth Greenberg said. “They were great last year and they may have the best talent in the conference.”

Eustachy doesn’t want to hear it, but such is life. Long Beach (7-5, 2-1 in the Big West) hosts Utah State (9-7, 3-1) Thursday night in a key game. Eustachy believes Long Beach is the team to beat, and Utah State is just part of the pack.

“Our team is probably where it should be in terms of development,” Eustachy said. “We’re not where we think we’ll be [by the end of the season], but we’re about as good as I thought we would be at this point.

“But even if we get there, we’re not going to be as good as everyone thinks. We’re just not that good.”

Eustachy’s colleagues aren’t convinced. Many Big West coaches still believe the title will return to Logan. Their reasoning is sound, though not entirely appreciated by Eustachy because he doesn’t want the added pressure.

“It’s hard at times,” Eustachy said. “You try to be honest, but what can you do?”

The Aggies do have their strengths. Center Eric Franson was selected the Big West’s player of the year last season and forward Silas Mills is a major talent.

Franson averages 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds, and Mills 19.7 and 7.3. Also, Eustachy was selected the Big West coach of the year after leading the Aggies (21-8, 14-4) to the NIT. It was their first postseason invitation since 1988, and they lost in the first round to Illinois State, 93-87.

The coaches and media picked Utah State first in preseason polls this season. Most preseason publications also picked the Aggies No. 1.

What followed, though, didn’t help Utah State’s standing in the Big West community. Its first victory over a Division I opponent came in game No. 10.

“It was way too much,” Eustachy said of the preseason attention. “It’s a compliment to what we’re trying to do, but we’re just trying to be as realistic as we can.”

In-state rivals Brigham Young and 15th-ranked Utah, powers from the rival Western Athletic Conference, routed Utah State. There are more helpful images to send during recruiting wars.

The problem? It’s the guards.

Utah State’s starting backcourt and sixth man graduated after last season. The new guys will be good players in the future, but the future isn’t this season, Eustachy said.

“Everything starts with good guard play,” he said. “We lose two [second-team] all-conference guards, and everybody expects us to be the same.”

The Aggies might not get much better, but they should have a big impact on the title race. Even if Eustachy isn’t so sure.

“Right now,” Eustachy said, “I’d be happy if we can just finish .500.”

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Die hard: Some Big West coaches might have been surprised by San Jose State’s recent victories over New Mexico State and Nevada Las Vegas, but not UC Irvine’s Rod Baker.

The Anteaters were holding a 21-point lead with 14 minutes left Jan. 4 when the Spartans came roaring back to cut the lead to three. Irvine hung on to win, but Baker was once again impressed with San Jose’s fight.

“[Coach Stan Morrison] has had his ups and downs there, some pretty good teams and some pretty bad teams,” Baker said, “but I’ve never seen one of them quit. Ever.

“I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’ve never seen it happen.”