LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The Madness of March has fully reached Utah State as its men’s basketball team prepares to win an NCAA Tournament game in back-to-back years for the first time in program history. The Aggies broke a 23-year drought of going without a win in the fabled tournament, and now have their sights set on a big run.
Utah State hasn’t made a run past the second round since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The Aggies have made three runs to the regional semifinal (or Sweet 16) and regional final (Eight 8), but those occurred when the field consisted of 25 or fewer teams and conferences could not have more than one team participate. But with the monkey off the program’s back over wins in the tournament, this team is confident in its ability to make that first run into the modern Sweet 16.
“It would be awesome making a run,” USU guard Mason Falslev said. “And I think our team is capable of it.”
“Obviously, last year we were very excited to have broken that streak or drought, whatever you want to call it,” Aggie guard Ian Martinez said. “But we have the same goal this year. We believe in our team. I think we have a lot of depth, a lot of great guys. We have the talents, we have the tools to get on the run.”
Before any runs begin, though, Utah State must deal with the opponent in front of it: UCLA. The Bruins have been a thorn in the Aggies’ side in the NCAA Tournament dating back more than 50 years. USU and UCLA have met three times in the tournament and have sent the Aggies packing all three times, most recently in 2001 by a score of 75-50.
UCLA presents a wide set of challenges. It boasts an elite defense, ranking 17th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. By that metrics, it’ll be the third-toughest defense the Aggies have faced all year behind Saint Mary’s (8th) and San Diego State (11th). A big key to the Bruins’ defense is forcing turnovers, ranking seventh in the nation in defensive turnover percentage.
Alongside a big-time defense, the Bruins bring literally big players, starting with 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward Tyler Bilodeau but also notable are the 6-foot-8 forward Eric Dailey Jr. and the towering 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. These players fuel a post-heavy UCLA offense. According to Synergy Sports play tracking, the Bruins rank 12th in frequency of post-ups, with Bilodeau, Daily Jr. and Mara leading the way. The trio averages 9.0 points per game on post-up possessions alone.
One of the Aggies players, Dexter Akanno, is quite familiar with Bilodeau, having been teammates with the Washington native for two seasons at Oregon State. The forward has grown from a promising freshman to the star of an NCAA Tournament team, much of that in front of Akanno’s eyes. This year, Bilodeau has averaged 13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
“I’m very proud of him,” Akanno said. “Just a blessing going into this next game, playing against him and just seeing his progress throughout the years. (He’s) just a hard worker and it’s going to be exciting playing against him.”
Mara still falls under the description of young up-and-coming, being just a sophomore who just last year only played nine minutes per game. And over the last 14 games, Mara has averaged 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in nearly 17 minutes per game.
“Tremendous young talent,” USU head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “I think one of the most, you know, talented young players in college basketball. You can see when he gets going in a game, he gets that swagger and he gets that confidence. A lot of times it’s easy baskets. He’s one of the best lob threats we have in college basketball.
“(UCLA head coach Mick Cronin) does a tremendous job of putting him in Spain actions, high pick and roll so your ball screen defense against him has to be really good. You got to do a tremendous job of playing physical because if he catches the ball in the block you have no shot.”
A crucial matchup in this game will end up being that of Aubin Gateretse and the opposing bigs in the post, especially Mara in his minutes off the bench. Gateretse’s minutes could be higher than normal as his backup at center, Karson Templin, is dealing with an injury in his left knee. It could also lead to more minutes from Isaac Davis, the freshman who’s seen more minutes of late. He played at least 10 minutes in three of USU’s last four games (didn’t play against UNLV) and put in quality time in each of those outings.
I asked Jerrod Calhoun about the health of the team. He said the Karson didn’t practice yesterday, though he’s participating in today’s open practice with his left knee wrapped. Calhoun said Templin got a shot yesterday as part of treatment. pic.twitter.com/Ga4S7LAVvc
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 19, 2025
Along with Templin, graduate guard Ian Martinez is also dealing with minor injuries. It is highly likely that both will play, but both could be limited to some degree due to these injuries.
Between stifling defense from the Bruins and a post-heavy offense, there’s one overwhelming key for Utah State in this game: find a way to protect the ball, play fast and utilize its speed advantage to overcome UCLA’s size advantage.
“Tomorrow’s matchup will be all about ball security,” Calhoun said. “They’re going to come after us in the half court, full court. We want the game to play fast. We want to open this game you know we we want to see if we can get up and down with them.”
UCLA ranks 301st in adjusted tempo according to KenPom, with a plodding offense and a defense that thrives in longer possessions. Utah State, meanwhile, ranks 160th in adjusted tempo, but wanting to play faster. The Aggies rank 56th-fastest on average in offensive possession length.
While the game on Thursday is of the upmost priority, it wouldn’t be March without Utah State worrying about whether it will have a head coach by the time April rolls around. And, despite Calhoun having not yet spent a full season in Logan, his name appeared in coaching carousel rumors that spread like wildfire across Aggie Nation.
The madness began with Indiana hiring away West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries, leaving the Mountaneers with a vacancy for their program. Calhoun has significant ties to that program, having spent six years with West Virginia as an assistant coach under its long-time head coach Bob Huggins. The Mountaineers made runs to the Sweet 16 and Final Four while Calhoun was an assistant and this year he has repeatedly referenced those successes as valuable experience that’s helped him as a head coach with Utah State.
Calhoun’s name came up almost instantly in connection with the vacancy at West Virginia, some going as far as considering the move done and speculating on which coach the Aggies would find to fill Calhoun’s place. Utah State has sought to sign Calhoun to an extension, and USU radio play-by-play voice Scott Garrard noted on social media that an extension has been put before Calhoun that would make him the second-highest paid coach in the Mountain West.
San Diego State’s Brian Dutcher, is currently the highest paid head coach, with a 2025-26 salary of $2.7 million with Niko Medved at Colorado State being the second-highest with his salary next year being $1.75 million.
