Utah State basketball: Aggies’ losing streak in Big Dance reaches 10

Utah State’s pained drought in the NCAA tournament has reached 10 consecutive years, with the Aggies’ most recent outing coming in 2011. The squalid sequence, which began in 2009, has been marked by close calls and near-misses, exacerbating the anguish of the program’s fan base.

The Aggies’ futility in the Big Dance has been particularly excruciating in recent seasons, with the squad coming up short in a litany of nail-biting matchups. Utah State has been eliminated in the first round of the tournament in each of its last five appearances, the majority of which were decided by slim margins.

The disappointing results have been a source of frustration for the team’s supporters, who have seen their beloved Aggies succumb to defeat in some of the most heart-wrenching circumstances. While the squad has managed to remain competitive in most of its matchups, it has failed to come away with a victory at the most crucial juncture in its season.

Despite the dearth of success on the tournament stage, the Aggies have had plenty to celebrate in recent years. The program has enjoyed a string of regular season successes, culminating in back-to-back Mountain West regular season championships in 2019 and 2020.

Utah State has also seen its share of individual achievements, with several players earning recognition from the conference and national media. In 2020, guard Sam Merrill was named the Mountain West Player of the Year and forward Justin Bean was named to the All-Defensive Team.

The Aggies enter the 2021 season with renewed optimism, hoping to end their tournament drought and return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade. Led by a talented core of veterans, the team is looking to make a statement this season and prove that it is capable of competing with the best in the nation.

It remains to be seen whether the Aggies will be able to put an end to their agonizing skid, but one thing is certain: Utah State’s fans will be eagerly waiting to see if the team can finally break through and taste the sweet success of postseason glory.