Utah State brining momentum, chip on its shoulder to first-round matchup with Villanova | Sports
SAN DIEGO — The unrelenting ride toward March has finally reached its first official stage. Utah State’s men’s basketball team arrived in San Diego earlier this week, memories of holding two Mountain West championship trophies fresh in their minds. Ahead is a new foe. The Villanova Wildcats. It’ll be the first non-MW opponent for the Aggies since December, but also the biggest test of the season. And it will occur on the biggest stage college basketball has to offer. It’s time for March Madness. There’s a mix of the familiar and unfamiliar for Utah State in this trip to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The opponent is one the Aggies knew next to nothing about when they saw their team listed next to eight-seeded Villanova on Selection Sunday. However, the venue is quite familiar. Viejas Arena is a building they’ve played in once this season with multiple players on the team having played twice or even three times surrounded by the red seats. “Viejas is a great venue,” USU forward Karson Templin said. “San Diego State does a great job when we’re playing here. It’s always fun to come and play. But they’re a fellow Mountain West team. So,
