SCOUTING THE AGGIES: What Arizona Fans Need to Know About Utah State
Mar 20, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Utah State Aggies guard Mj Collins (2) reacts in the second half against the Villanova Wildcats during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Utah State isn’t sneaking up on anyone after Friday night. The Aggies outscored Villanova 15-3 over the final six minutes to pull away 86-76 in their matchup with the east coast Wildcats .
Here’s what Wildcat fans need to know heading into Sunday’s nightcap. They Live in the Paint This is the defining trait of Utah State’s offense. The Aggies are scoring 38.
7 points in the paint per game and shooting 60. 9% inside the key this season. It’s not accidental, head coach Jerrod Calhoun has built a system around point guard Drake Allen and wing Mason Falslev feeding post entries and duck-ins, making Utah State relentlessly efficient at the rim.
They rank 11th in the nation in two-point field goal percentage at 59. 3%. If Arizona’s interior defense slips, the Aggies will make them pay.
They Force Turnovers and Run Utah State ranks 16th in the country in steal percentage and 35th in fast-break points per game, and in their Mountain West Tournament run, they nearly had a 10-point differential in fast-break points per game while winning the turnover battle each night by six. Their defensive pressure extends well beyond half court, and when they create turnovers, they convert. Arizona needs to be clean with the ball.
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