Utah State's at-large hopes take a hit with loss to Idaho

Maybe this is why Stew Morrill never plays a challenging non-conference schedule.

Utah State had their 25-game WAC winning streak and their 17-game winning streak this season snapped at the hands of the Idaho Vandals, 64-56, on Wednesday night, putting the Aggies in a tough spot in regards to their at-large candidacy.

Utah State has played one of the easiest schedules I've ever seen for a team ranked in the top 25. Only two of their opponents -- Georgetown and BYU, who were their only two losses on the season coming in -- were ranked in the RPI top 100. That means that all of the Aggie's 22 wins -- and now one of their three losses -- have come against teams with three digits in their RPI.


Now, not all of this is Utah State's fault. Weber State was supposed to be better this season, but Damian Lillard was lost midway through the year to a foot injury. A foot injury also sidelined New Mexico State's Wendell McKines. Nevada is not the same Nevada team that Mark Fox coached. Even Utah and Long Beach State are down from where they were expected to be this season.

But the NCAA Tournament committee isn't going to be looking at the names on the schedule. They will be looking at the numbers, and those numbers now say that Utah State, who was 25th in the RPI prior to last night's game and will likely slide to the low 30's, is 0-2 against the RPI top 100 and now 22-1 against the RPI bottom 100.

It sets up an intriguing situation.

The Aggie's have one more shot at a quality opponent, when they head to Moraga, CA, to take on St. Mary's in Bracket Busters. After that, its the conference tournament. Let's say that Utah State loses to both St. Mary's and in the final of the WAC tournament.

Is a team with a mid-30's RPI whose best win on the season is against Long Beach State truly deserving of an at-large bid?

That would be tough, even in a year with a historically weak bubble and an expanded tournament.

So Stew? My advice?

Beat St. Mary's. Win the WAC Tournament. Remove all doubt.

That's much easier than another Selection Sunday disappointment.