San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AGGIES’ SMITH ON TO UTAH
Craig Smith, who quickly turned Utah State into one of the nation’s best mid-major programs, was hired Saturday as Utah’s basketball coach.
The Utes said Smith will replace Larry Krystkowiak, who was fired this month.
Smith led the the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament twice in three years. Utah State won the Mountain West Conference Tournament title in 2019 and 2020, but didn’t get a chance to play in the
NCAA Tournament last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Utah State won 20 games and received an at-large NCAA bid before losing 65-53 to Texas Tech in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Smith has been an adept recruiter in Logan, bringing in players like Sam Merrill, now with the Boston Celtics, and Portuguese big man Neemias Queta.
He previously coached four seasons at South Dakota before being hired by Utah State in 2018.
Utah State fired Krystkowiak on March 16 after he went 183-139 during 10 seasons in Salt Lake City.
Notable
Duke senior Jordan Goldwire plans to leave the Blue Devils as a graduate transfer.
In a statement Saturday, the guard said he would enter his name into the transfer portal to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to players due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Goldwire called his time with the Blue Devils “one of the best experiences of my life.”
He made the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-defensive team as a senior, ranking second in the league with 2.3 steals and seventh in assists (4.0).
NIT
Memphis 90, Colorado State 67: Landers Nolley II scored a career-high 27 points with seven of the Memphis’ season-high 14 made 3-pointers, and the Tigers (19-8) advanced to their first NIT championship game since winning the title in 2002 by beating Colorado State in Frisco, Texas. David Roddy had 18 points and Isaiah Stevens 17 for Colorado State (20-7).
Mississippi State 84, Louisiana Tech 62: Iverson Molinar scored 25 points and D.J. Stewart Jr. had 23, with the guards combining for nine 3-pointers, as Mississippi State (18-14) led throughout to beat Louisiana Tech (23-8) and reach its first NIT championship game, today at 9 a.m. on ESPN.