Utah State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of a first-round college basketball game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. Utah State won 88-72. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Utah State hasn’t exactly been in this position often. Since the NCAA Tournament moved to 64 teams in the mid-80s, the Aggies have participated in the Round of 32 just twice, with this season becoming a third instance. But as tricky as finally getting out of the opening round was, with 10 straight defeats across 23 seasons, game only get harder the further a team gets into the tournament. And boy does the second round bring a new rude awakening for Utah State. Purdue, the No. 3 overall team in the country according to the AP Top 25 Poll, KenPom, the NET, just about any reputable ranking has the Boilermakers in the top three. They’re the No. 1 seed of the Midwest region and just completed a 28-point dismantling of Grambling State. Most importantly of all, Purdue is the home of Zach Edey, the reigning AP and Naismith Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and a heavy favorite to repeat that

Utah State forward Great Osobor (1) celebrates with teammates at the end of a first-round college basketball game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. Utah State won 88-72. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Photos by Michael Conroy / Associated Press Photo Gallery sponsored by The Logo Shop, your source for teams, businesses and booster clubs.  http://welogostuff.mypromohq.com/ Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery Utah State center Isaac Johnson, left, blocks a shot by TCU forward JaKobe Coles (21) in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Utah State forward Great Osobor, center, fights for a loose ball with TCU guard Jameer Nelson Jr. (4) and forward Xavier Cork (12) in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Utah State guard Darius Brown II (10) dribbles between TCU forward Xavier Cork (12) and forward Emanuel Miller (2) in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael

Utah State center Isaac Johnson reacts after making a basket in the second half of a first-round college basketball game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS, IN — It’s been a long time coming. A full 23 years plus eight days since the Utah State Aggies could last lay claim to a victory in the NCAA Tournament. Utah State guard Ian Martinez (4) celebrates in front of TCU forward JaKobe Coles (21) after making a three-point basket in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The counter is now back to zero. Utah State surged late in the first half and exploded in the second half to fly past TCU 88-72. It was a fantastic offensive display, including a career night from Isaac Johnson, plus a (mostly) great night on the defensive end. “Unbelievable win. Just the toughness and the grit our guys showed against a Big-12 team,” USU head coach Danny Sprinkle said. “That’s a really good team. We knew what we were in for when we drew that seed.” The Aggies didn’t get