Smith Says Aggies Excited, Determined For NCAA Tournament Game

COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the eve of his team’s appearance against Washington in the NCAA Tournament, Utah State head coach Craig Smith explained his team’s mindset on KSL Unrivaled.

According to Smith, his team is soaking in the experience of playing on the huge stage, and is enjoying being part of the festivities. But make no mistake about it, the Aggies are in Columbus to win.

“One thing you never have to worry about with me is that we’re always going to have fun,” boasted Smith. “We celebrate everything, we try to be super positive. Obviously, our guys know when to go to work.”

Smith continued to say wearing a happy expression is trademark of his mature and focused squad.

“We like to have a good time, we like to smile, we like to celebrate victories for a little while and then move on, which our guys do a great job of. And they know when we watch, when it’s time in between the line, they get after it,” said Smith.

The head coach went to say that in all his 22 years of coaching experience, that this year’s Aggie squad is as good as he’s seen at enjoying the moment and then moving on to the next task at hand.

That mentality starts and ends with the Aggies’ best player, Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Sam Merrill.

“We’ve enjoyed it, taking pictures and doing all that, but we have a determined, determined group and it starts with Sam Merrill. After we the conference tournament championship he said ‘My goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament and win when we get there’ like we had just talked about. When your best player says those types of things, and not only talk the talks, but walks the walk, that’s when amazing things can happen,” said Smith.

Broadcast Info

Utah State’s first round NCAA Tournament game against the Washington Huskies will tip off Friday at 4:50 p.m. and be broadcast on TNT.