Utah State Lights Up Vegas
Utah State smoked New Mexico last night...here are some thoughts:
Funk was unbelievable.
He scored the first 13 points of the game for the Aggies and basically drowned the Lobos before the game even really got going.
He finished 6-of-9 from three, and even when they blitzed him, he'd just shoot it over the top of the defender. He seemed very comfortable in the William & Mack and was clearly the best player on the floor last night.
New Mexico fans travel.
The crowd was probably 70/30 in favor of UNM.
Logan to Las Vegas is 7 hours.
Albuquerque to Las Vegas is 8 hours.
New Mexico hasn't been good since the Kenny Thomas days, yet their fans are one of the best fanbases in the West.
Here's the other thing...no students.
Utah State had a healthy student section.
New Mexico had zero student section.
So all of their fans were alumni or New Mexicans just there to support the Lobos.
It's remarkable how many of these commuter schools can't put a decent student section together for tournament games. I understand not being able to travel to road games during the regular season, but this is Vegas and a tournament.
Utah State fans had one drunk dude and he happened to sit right next to us.
The rest of Aggie Nation was stone cold sober and I can't tell if that helps or hurts them.
I lean towards helps them. The student section is locked in the whole game so that's a bonus, but the New Mexico fans were louder and more belligerent.
Congrats to the Aggies, but I was very impressed with UNM"s fanbase.
Here's an awesome scene at the end of the game:
USU will take on Boise State tonight in the MWC semifinal.