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SACRAMENTO — As a consequence of a Kelly Clarkson concert that wrapped up late Tuesday night inside the Golden 1 Center, the final touches of the official NCAA Tournament court were hurriedly finished as Utah State took the court for its open practice on Wednesday morning.
For many Aggies players, the first step onto the brand-new, sticky-to-the-touch hardwood, with "March Madness" plastered on the court, wasn't a first. Utah State played in the tournament just two years ago and five current players were on the team.
But for all intents and purposes, Thursday morning's matchup against seventh-seeded Missouri (11:40 a.m. MDT, TNT), will be a first-time experience for nearly everyone on the team.
Five players on this year's roster — Steven Ashworth, Max Shulga, Sean Bairstow, Trevin Dorius and Szymon Zapala — were on the roster for the 2021 season, but just Ashworth and Shulga played and combined for just 16 minutes and 0 points. The game was also played in a near empty Assembly Hall, and the rest of the week was spent in "the bubble" area in Indianapolis.
"I'm excited to see how it's different," Ashworth said during Wednesday morning's press conference. "Embrace the journey and see the fun that March Madness really is all about."
"I've been a part of some really good teams over the years," Dorius added ahead of the teams shoot around. "One of them came out here. And the other one would have come out here, but it got canceled. And, you know, this year with this team, I think we've got the best shot at going forward in this tournament."
The first step is getting past a Missouri team that's been galvanized by first-year head coach Dennis Gates. Hired from Cleveland State, the first step Gates took was to convince the Tigers' best player, Kobe Brown, to stay in Columbia for his senior year. He, then, reconstructed the lineup around Brown with transfers; and the result was a high-octane, fast-paced offensive team that went 24-9 and finished fourth in the SEC.
Gates, a California alum who cut his coaching teeth as an assistant at six different schools, was a Nevada assistant from 2009-11 and is familiar with Utah State.
"Ultimately, what I do remember is how good of a basketball fan base they are," Gates said on Wednesday. "It's been tremendous through the years to see the program continue to grow, although the coaches have changed."
In Year 2 of the Ryan Odom era at Utah State, there is an expectation and desire to move the program forward; and winning in March is a sure way to do that. The roster has plenty of its own motivation, too, and many players are realizing their dream this week in the Central Valley.
Graduate forward Taylor Funk never made the postseason in four seasons at St. Joseph's, let alone the NCAA Tournament. After four-wheeling with the team in the Bear River mountains on a recruiting trip in the offseason, he determined the Aggies was the best fit for him socially, and his best chance to help a great team.
"Being a graduate transfer, this is my last chance," Funk said. "Beyond blessed to be here with these guys; beyond excited. ... It definitely feels great. A lot of hard work — from start to now, all summer, just grinding. A lot of tough days, a lot of battles, a lot of days just kind of don't feel like going, but you just push through for this moment."
RJ Etyle-Rock started his career at UMBC the year after it beat Virginia, and he's heard all about the stories of that season, but he has yet to taste the tournament glory himself.
"Over the moon; it's been a special, special day so far," Etyle-Rock said. "Once we reached the arena, that was really in the tournament signs, the merchandise and everything; it was just like a dream come true."
In his fifth year, Etyle-Rock battled injury throughout the offseason, which resulted in an early season of minimal minutes and underwhelming performances. Since Rylan Jones went out with a season-ending injury in January, Etyle-Rock's production has been crucial. The British guard has slowly gotten himself back into shape and into an effective role.
Last week in Utah State's semifinal win over Boise State, Etyle-Rock scored 13 points, and his efforts on Thursday will prove pivotal for the Aggies bench.
"I feel like it just goes to show that sticking through the process and not giving up, and then look at the results," Etyle-Rock said. "I mean, I'm playing in an NCAA Tournament. So it just goes to show that, and then never give up really and just stay true to yourself."
Even Jones, a team captain who hasn't played in two months and won't play Thursday, has retained his leadership role and is an important part of the team. The former Olympus High star and Utah freshman phenom got his first taste of the Big Dance by stepping to the press conference podium on Wednesday.
"I've been on the sideline, keeping everybody up, helping people with what I see on the court," he said. "Just giving energy — whenever I can. Just experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime moment that we're experiencing as a team, I'm just enjoying the ride."
In the end, though, Utah State understands it can't stay all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. The player with the most NCAA Tournament experience, graduate transfer Dan Akin, who played 22 minutes in UMBC's win against Virginia and 17 minutes in their loss to Kansas State in 2018, has been sure to keep the team's confidence up.
"Going in there with the mentality like we belong," Akin said. "And we want to show everyone that we're a pretty good team, and obviously the score (will be) the indicator."
"I think just staying together through ups and downs — obviously, everyone has their ups and downs," Shulga said. "Because the legacy we're leaving behind, you know, never, never letting it go. Keep keeping it pushing, no matter what the situation is, and we're gonna continue doing this in March Madness."
