Utah State vs San Diego preview: How to watch, projected starters, injuries

LOGAN – Utah State will take its 3-0 record on the road to take on the likewise 3-0 San Diego Toreros. If the Aggies win tonight, it’ll be the first 4-0 start since 2019 (started 7-0 that year). It would also be the first time since 2013 that USU started 4-0 while facing teams that were undefeated at the time of facing the Aggies.

How to watch

  • Tip-off: 8 p.m. MT
  • Location: Jenny Craig Pavilion | San Diego, CA
  • Broadcast: WCCsports.com
  • Aggie GameDay Coverage on KVNU (102.1 FM/610 AM & KVNU mobile app): 7 p.m. MT
  • KVNU Aggie Call (102.1 FM/610 AM, KVNU mobile app): Immediately after game ends

Injuries

Utah State

Steven Ashworth (6-1, G) – PROBABLE (Ankle)

Ashworth injured his ankle late in the Santa Clara game. He couldn’t put weight on it in the moment but Ryan Odom said on Wednesday that the injury was not as severe as it seemed initially. Ashworth practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday and is expected to play.

San Diego

Sigu Sisoho Jawara (6-3, G) – PROBABLE (Illness)

Jawara played in San Diego’s first two games of the season but missed the team’s most recent contest due to an illness. Per a report from Jon Rothstein, Jawara is available for today’s game.

Projected Starters

Utah State (3-0)

  • G – Rylan Jones (6-0, Sr.) – 5.0 points | 2.3 rebounds | 5.7 assists
  • G – Max Shulga (6-4, Jr.) – 9.7 points | 6.3 rebounds | 2.3 assists
  • G/F – Sean Bairstow (6-8, Sr.) – 10.7 points | 5.7 rebounds | 1.3 assists
  • F – Taylor Funk (6-9, Gr.) – 17.7 points | 11.0 rebounds | 1.7 assists
  • C – Trevin Dorius (7-0, Sr.) – 5.7 points | 3.7 rebounds | 0.0 assists

San Diego (3-0)

  • G – Sigu Sisoho Jawara (6-3, Jr.) – 19.5 points | 0.5 rebounds | 5.0 assists
  • G – Jase Townsend (6-3, Sr.) – 16.0 points | 3.0 rebounds | 3.3 assists
  • G/F– Eric Williams (6-6, Sr.) – 15.3 points | 11.0 rebounds | 1.7 assists
  • F – Marcellus Earlington (6-6, Sr.) – 15.7 points | 7.3 rebounds | 2.0 assists
  • F – Jaiden Delaire (6-9, Sr.) – 8.0 points | 7.7 rebounds | 1.0 assists

Team Statistical Ranks

Utah State

  • Pace – 74.2 (99th)
  • Offensive Rating – 114.9 (70th)
  • Defensive Rating – 87.4 (100th)
  • Field Goal % – 47.4 (116th)
  • 3-point % – 41.9 (37th)
  • Rebounding % – 57.0 (55th)
  • KenPom Rating – 48th

San Diego

  • Pace – 67.9 (291st)
  • Offensive Rating – 114.7 (71st)
  • Defensive Rating – 96.1 (187th)
  • Field Goal % – 46.3 (159th)
  • 3-point % – 42.6 (31st)
  • Rebounding % – 54.1 (128th)
  • KenPom Rating – 147th

Going on the road for the first time this season, USU head coach Ryan Odom noted that the biggest thing that needs to travel with them is their defense.

“The first thing is your defense has to travel with you,” Odom said. “We’ve got to be really good there. That sets the tone, first and foremost because you’re not always going to make shots.”

San Diego are far and away the best 3-point shooting team USU has faced this season, ranking almost top 30 in 3-point field goal percentage. The Toreros play a five-out offense, with forward/center Jaiden Delaire able to play on the perimeter.

“They’re a little bit like us last year in that they’ll play their five man out on the perimeter like we did with Brandon (Horvath),” Odom said. “And he’ll dribble. So that’s going to be a new test for us. We haven’t necessarily seen that.”

Odom noted that at times UVU and Bradley would “downsize” and give Utah State a five-out look, but this will be different in that most of the game San Diego will be bringing this look.

Delaire won’t be the focal point of the offense, though. He averages just 8.0 points on offense while all of the other starters are currently averaging at least 15 points per game. Sigu Sisoho Jawara leads the bunch, averaging 19.5 points in two games played and Jase Townsend averaging 16.0 per game in three appearances. Jawara, Townsend and Marcellus Earlington are all shooting 42 percent or better from three on a combined 14.4 attempts between them.

“We’re gonna have to do a good job of making sure their guys are not allowed to just lace it up from three,” Odom said.

Defensively the Toreros are not nearly as highly rated as its offense, ranking 187th in defensive rating per Basketball Reference. Based on that metric, it’ll be the __ defense the Aggies have seen all year. But Odom isn’t underestimating San Diego in that regard

“We’ve got to be ready for their tough defense and their mixing of defense,” Odom said. “They’ll play both man and zone, and press. Try to keep you off balance and try to see what’s most effective against us. But I’m still confident in our guys and how they’re playing offensively and from that perspective nothings really going to change, how we attack the other team.”

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