2019–20 Utah State Aggies men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Utah State Aggies men's basketball team represented Utah State University in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Aggies, led by second-year head coach Craig Smith, played their home games at the Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah as members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 26–8, 12–6 in Mountain West play to finish in a three-way tie for second place. They defeated New Mexico, Wyoming and San Diego State to become champions of the Mountain West Tournament, their second consecutive Mountain West Tournament championship. They earned the Mountain West's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, on March 12 it was announced that the NCAA Tournament would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019–20 Utah State Aggies men's basketball
Jamaica Classic champions
MWC Tournament champions
ConferenceMountain West Conference
2019–20 record26–8 (12–6 MW)
Head coachCraig Smith (2nd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Austin Hansen
  • Eric Peterson
  • David Ragland
Home arenaSmith Spectrum
2019–20 Mountain West Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 6 San Diego State17–1 .944  30–2  .938
Utah State †12–6 .667  26–8  .765
Nevada12–6 .667  19–12  .613
UNLV12–6 .667  17–15  .531
Boise State11–7 .611  20–12  .625
Colorado State11–7 .611  20–12  .625
New Mexico7–11 .389  19–14  .576
Fresno State7–11 .389  11–19  .367
Air Force5–13 .278  12–20  .375
San Jose State3–15 .167  7–24  .226
Wyoming2–16 .111  9–24  .273
† 2020 MW Tournament winner
As of August 14, 2020; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Aggies shared the regular-season Mountain West title with Nevada, and defeated New Mexico, Fresno State, and San Diego State to win the Mountain West Tournament to earn the Mountain West's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for their first appearance since 2011. They lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament to Washington.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Tauriawn Knight1G6'1"170FreshmanEdmond, OKTransferred
Dwayne Brown, Jr.2G/F6'6"220SeniorConyers, GAGraduated
John Knight III3G6'2"195SophomoreJackson, MSTransferred to SUU
Crew Ainge4F5'11"180RS SophomoreWellesley, MATransferred to Babson
Quinn Taylor10F6'8"240RS SeniorHouston, TXGraduated
Ke'Sean Davis13F6'7"225JuniorCompton, CALeft team
Ben Fakira21F6'10"240FreshmanSydney, AustraliaLeft team

Incoming college transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious college
Carson Bischoff1G6'4"210JuniorOgden, UtahJunior college transfer from Treasury Valley CC
Alphonso Anderson10F6'6"220JuniorTacoma, WashingtonJunior college transfer from North Idaho College
Marco Anthony44F6'5"225JuniorSan Antonio, TexasTransfer from Virginia
Kuba Karwowski52C7'2"220JuniorWarsaw, PolandJunior college transfer from North Platte CC

Recruiting
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Liam McChesney
PF		 Prince Rupert, BC Charles Hays 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Nov 12, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Sean Bairstow
SF		 Brisbane, QLD Churchie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Feb 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Cade Potter
PF		 Orange, CA Orange Lutheran 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sep 1, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:    ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: –   Rivals: –  247Sports: #65
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2019-10-15.

    Preseason

    Mountain West media poll

    The Mountain West Conference media poll was released on October 15, 2019. The Aggies were unanimously selected by MW media members as the preseason favorites.[1]

    Media poll
    Predicted finish Team
    1Utah State
    2San Diego State
    3New Mexico
    4Nevada
    5Boise State
    6Fresno State
    7UNLV
    8Air Force
    9Colorado State
    10Wyoming
    11San Jose State

    Preseason All-MWC teams

    Sam Merrill and Neemias Queta were selected to the All-MWC Preseason Team. Merrill was additionally selected as the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year.[2]

    Roster
    2019–20 Utah State Aggies men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    F 0 Klay Stall 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg) RS JrBasha HS Chandler, AZ
    G 1 Carson Bischoff (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrWeber HS Ogden, UT
    G 2 Sean Bairstow 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrChurchie Brisbane, QLD
    F 4 Roche Grootfaam 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)265 lb (120 kg) SrCovenant Christian Academy
    College of Southern Idaho    		 Paramaribo, Suriname
    G 5 Sam Merrill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS SrBountiful HS Bountiful, UT
    F 10 Alphonso Anderson 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrGarfield HS
    North Idaho College    		 Tacoma, WA
    F 13 Liam McChesney 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrCharles Hays Prince Rupert, BC
    G 15 Abel Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS JrDavis HS Farmington, UT
    G 22 Brock Miller 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS SoBrighton HS Sandy, UT
    C 23 Neemias Queta 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)245 lb (111 kg) SoBenfica Barreiro, Portugal
    G 24 Diogo Brito 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS SrMountain Mission School Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
    C 32 Trevin Dorius 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)240 lb (109 kg) RS FrWasatch HS Heber City, UT
    F 34 Justin Bean 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS SoSouthmoore HS Moore, OK
    G 44 Marco Anthony (I)  6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrHolmes HS
    Virginia    		 San Antonio, TX
    C 52 Kuba Karwowski 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrNorth Platte CC Warsaw, Poland
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    Oct 30, 2019*
    7:00 pm    		 No. 17 College of Idaho W 103–66 
    		 19 – Brito  11 – Anderson  7 – Bairstow  Smith Spectrum (6,017)
    Logan, UT
    Regular Season
    Nov 5, 2019*
    8:00 pm, ATTSNRM    		 No. 17 Montana State W 81–73  1–0
    		  28 – Merrill  10 – Bean  4 – Porter  Smith Spectrum (7,331)
    Logan, UT
    Nov 8, 2019*
    7:00 pm, Stadium    		 No. 17 Weber State W 89–34  2–0
    		  18 – Bean  9 – Bean  10 – Porter  Smith Spectrum (8,840)
    Logan, UT
    Nov 12, 2019*
    7:00 pm, Stadium    		 No. 17 Denver W 97–56  3–0
    		  27 – Miller  15 – Bean  5 – Tied  Smith Spectrum (6,504)
    Logan, UT
    Nov 15, 2019*
    7:00 pm, Stadium    		 No. 17 North Carolina A&T
    Jamaica Classic    		 W 81–54  4–0
    		  21 – Anderson  10 – Bean  5 – Merrill  Smith Spectrum (8,864)
    Logan, UT
    Nov 18, 2019*
    7:00 pm, Stadium    		 No. 15 UTSA W 82–50  5–0
    		  21 – Merrill  11 – Tied  5 – Bean  Smith Spectrum (8,667)
    Logan, UT
    Nov 22, 2019*
    2:30 pm, CBSSN    		 No. 15 vs. LSU
    Jamaica Classic    		 W 80–78  6–0
    		  24 – Tied  12 – Bean  8 – Merrill  Montego Bay Convention Centre (1,452)
    Montego Bay, Jamaica
    Nov 24, 2019*
    4:30 pm, CBSSN    		 No. 15 vs. North Texas
    Jamaica Classic    		 W 68–59  7–0
    		  19 – Anderson  13 – Bean  3 – Merrill  Montego Bay Convention Centre 
    Montego Bay, Jamaica
    Nov 29, 2019*
    9:30 pm, ESPNU    		 No. 15 at Saint Mary's L 73–81  7–1
    		  24 – Bean  9 – Bean  7 – Porter  McKeon Pavilion (3,500)
    Moraga, CA
    Dec 4, 2019
    9:15 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 25 at San Jose State W 71–59  8–1
    (1–0)    		  18 – Bean  14 – Bean  3 – Tied  Provident Credit Union Event Center (2,294)
    San Jose, CA
    Dec 7, 2019
    4:00 pm, ATTSNRM    		 No. 25 Fresno State W 77–70 OT 9–1
    (2–0)    		  24 – Merrill  13 – Bean  5 – Brito  Smith Spectrum (9,815)
    Logan, UT
    Dec 10, 2019*
    7:00 pm    		 Saint Katherine W 94–49  10–1
    		  22 – Miller  14 – Bean  5 – Bairstow  Smith Spectrum (6,006)
    Logan, UT
    Dec 14, 2019*
    5:00 pm, BYU TV    		 vs. BYU
    Old Oquirrh Bucket/Beehive Classic    		 L 64–68  10–2
    		  14 – Anderson  10 – Bean  4 – Porter  Vivint Smart Home Arena (10,291)
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Dec 18, 2019*
    5:45 pm, ESPN3    		 vs. South Florida
    Battleground 2K19    		 W 76–74 OT 11–2
    		  21 – Merrill  9 – Bean  7 – Porter  Toyota Center (18,055)
    Houston, TX
    Dec 21, 2019*
    12:30 pm, FS1    		 vs. Florida
    Orange Bowl Classic    		 W 65–62  12–2
    		  21 – Merrill  9 – 2 tied  5 – 2 tied  BB&T Center (8,927)
    Sunrise, FL
    Dec 28, 2019*
    2:00 pm    		 Eastern Oregon W 129–61  13–2
    		  25 – Miller  12 – Bean  11 – Brito  Smith Spectrum (8,338)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 1, 2020
    9:00 pm, CBSSN    		 at UNLV L 53–70  13–3
    (2–1)    		  17 – Bean  11 – Bean  3 – Porter  Thomas & Mack Center (7,571)
    Las Vegas, NV
    Jan 4, 2020
    8:00 pm, CBSSN    		 No. 13 San Diego State L 69–77  13–4
    (2–2)    		  26 – Merrill  14 – Queta  5 – Porter  Smith Spectrum (10,017)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 7, 2020
    9:00 pm, ESPN2    		 at Air Force L 60–79  13–5
    (2–3)    		  16 – Miller  5 – Bean  3 – Porter  Clune Arena (4,563)
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Jan 11, 2020
    6:00 pm, CBSSN    		 Nevada W 80–70  14–5
    (3–3)    		  19 – Queta  8 – Merrill  8 – Merrill  Smith Spectrum (8,725)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 18, 2020
    8:00 pm, ESPNU    		 at Boise State L 83–88 OT 14–6
    (3–4)    		  30 – Merrill  10 – Bean  4 – Porter  ExtraMile Arena (6,047)
    Boise, ID
    Jan 21, 2020
    9:00 pm, ESPNU    		 Air Force W 72–47  15–6
    (4–4)    		  16 – Bean  13 – Bean  5 – Bean  Smith Spectrum (8,442)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 25, 2020
    8:00 pm, ESPNU    		 Colorado State W 77–61  16–6
    (5–4)    		  28 – Merrill  9 – Bean  5 – 3 tied  Smith Spectrum (9,791)
    Logan, UT
    Jan 28, 2020
    9:00 pm, ESPNU    		 at Wyoming W 68–45  17–6
    (6–4)    		  14 – Merrill  12 – Queta  4 – Brito  Arena-Auditorium (3,115)
    Laramie, WY
    Feb 1, 2020
    8:00 pm, CBSSN    		 at No. 4 San Diego State L 68–80  17–7
    (6–5)    		  16 – Merrill  6 – Queta  12 – Merrill  Viejas Arena (12,414)
    San Diego, CA
    Feb 5, 2020
    8:00 pm, CBSSN    		 UNLV W 69–54  18–7
    (7–5)    		  21 – Queta  11 – Bean  5 – Queta  Smith Spectrum (8,987)
    Logan, UT
    Feb 8, 2020
    8:00 pm, CBSSN    		 Boise State W 70–61  19–7
    (8–5)    		  21 – Queta  16 – Bean  4 – Tied  Smith Spectrum (10,033)
    Logan, UT
    Feb 11, 2020
    7:30 pm, CBSSN    		 at Colorado State W 75–72  20–7
    (9–5)    		  32 – Merrill  11 – Queta  5 – Merrill  Moby Arena (4,038)
    Fort Collins, CO
    Feb 15, 2020
    8:00 pm, ESPNU    		 at Fresno State W 71–59  21–7
    (10–5)    		  24 – Merrill  11 – Bean  4 – Merrill  Save Mart Center (5,671)
    Fresno, CA
    Feb 19, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 Wyoming W 78–58  22–7
    (11–5)    		  26 – Merrill  15 – Queta  5 – Brito  Smith Spectrum (9,452)
    Logan, UT
    Feb 25, 2020
    9:00 pm, ESPN2    		 San Jose State W 94–56  23–7
    (12–5)    		  23 – Queta  13 – Bean  7 – Merrill  Smith Spectrum (8,925)
    Logan, UT
    Feb 29, 2020
    8:00 pm, CBSSN    		 at New Mexico L 64–66  23–8
    (12–6)    		  18 – Queta  14 – Queta  7 – Brito  Dreamstyle Arena (11,215)
    Albuquerque, NM
    Mountain West Tournament
    Mar 5, 2020
    7:00 pm, CBSSN    		 (2) vs. (7) New Mexico
    Quarterfinals    		 W 75–70  24–8
    		  29 – Merrill  15 – Bean  2 – Tied  Thomas & Mack Center (7,723)
    Paradise, NV
    Mar 6, 2020
    8:30 pm, CBSSN    		 (2) vs. (11) Wyoming
    Semifinals    		 W 89–82  25–8
    		  27 – Merrill  10 – Bean  7 – Merrill  Thomas & Mack Center (9,630)
    Paradise, NV
    Mar 7, 2020
    2:30 pm, CBS    		 (2) vs. (1) No. 5 San Diego State
    Championship    		 W 59–56  26–8
    		  27 – Merrill  12 – Bean  4 – Bean  Thomas & Mack Center (10,292)
    Paradise, NV
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Mountain.

    Rankings
    See also: 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
    AP 17 17 15 15 25 RV RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV NR RV RV 
    Coaches 19 19 16 15 RV RV RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RV RV

    *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings

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    References
    1. "Utah State picked to win 2020 MWC Men's Basketball Championship". The MW. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
    2. "Mountain West Announces 2019-20 Preseason Men's All Conference Team". The MW. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
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