When you look out on the court during the 2011-12 men's basketball season, you might notice a few differences from the past season. That tends to happen when a program graduates six seniors. One big difference will be the 6-foot-11, 250-pound frame of Sky View High School product Jordan Stone.
In a season where, despite history-making efforts, Utah State men's basketball once again failed to advance in NCAA Tournament, anyone but head coach Stew Morrill could have received the 2011 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award. However, Morrill was awarded the prestigious honor during the Final Four in Houston, Texas, the Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award is given each year by CollegeInsider.
Prior to last season, the returning players on the USU men's basketball team had started a combined 292 games, a mark of continuity unprecedented during head coach Stew Morrill's tenure at Utah State. The combined number of career starts for next season's returners? Forty-one.
The View from Section F
Another season in the books, another 345 dreams that didn't come true, and another year that the little guys came up short. I know it probably seems brutally redundant at this point for me to still be talking about the hopes and dreams of the mid-majors, but it is important to know that all of the emotion poured into hoping to see the other mid-majors of the world like Butler succeed is based around the hope that Utah State will be the team in that position.
After starting the season 27-13, the Jazz seemed well on their way to another successful season and another chance to make some noise in the playoffs. The departure of long-time head coach Jerry Sloan seemed to be a surmountable challenge.
Bitten: Nevada ends Utah State’s 33-game WAC home winning streak
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