AP
Washington's David Crisp (1) and Utah State's Sam Merrill (5) battle for the ball in the first half during a first round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When talking earlier in the week about trying to replicate Washington’s 2-3 zone defense during practice, Utah State head coach Craig Smith joked that maybe he should have broke out “some of those swimming pool noodles.”
Smith meant that might have helped the Aggies’ scout team better simulate the Huskies’ length and athleticism, but halfway through the first half of Friday’s 78-61 loss in the NCAA Tournament, the Aggies might have wanted to use them as a flotation device after being swamped by UW’s zone.