When Utah State point guard Drake Allen left his team’s game against UC San Diego a week and a half ago, the Aggies were worried.
There were fears that Allen could miss four to six weeks because of his injured shoulder.
But the Aggies may be opening a late Christmas present this weekend.
Allen was back practicing with the team this week and will be a game-time decision when Utah State visits No. 20 San Diego State on Saturday, head coach Jerrod Calhoun said.
“He’s made a great comeback, a really good seven-to-10 days,” the coach said.
The Aggies could certainly use the senior’s floor leadership in Viejas Arena against the 8-2 Aztecs.
“It’s a credit to him. He’s worked. He’s been in his building for 24 hours,” Calhoun said. “I also heard complaints from his wife on Christmas that he didn’t come out of his room, that he was doing exercises to get himself ready.
“That’s what type of kid Drake is and hopefully he’ll be ready to go.”
Like Allen, the Aggies seem to have shaken off the ill effects of their meeting with UC San Diego. USU followed that upset defeat with a big road win against Saint Mary’s last weekend.
USU sits at 11-1 heading into the start of Mountain West Conference play.
“Shoulda, coulda, woulda on one game. But at the end of the day, you can’t get it back,” Calhoun said. “Our guys didn’t sulk and pout. They went on the road and beat a really good St. Mary’s team.”
Add to that wins over St. Bonaventure and Iowa in nonconference play and Utah State currently ranks 29th in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
“I’m excited where we’re at,” Calhoun said. “I told the guys I’d give them an A [for their preseason]. … With a whole new group, to me, that’s an A performance.”
But San Diego State should provide the Aggies with their toughest test yet. Senior guard Nick Boyd, who helped lead Florida Atlantic to a Final Four appearance last season, now leads San Diego State in scoring with 13.4 points per game average.
“It’ll be a good test for us,” Calhoun said. “We just went on the road and did it and now we have to do it in the conference. We have to be ready.”
How to watch
Utah State at No. 20 San Diego State
At Viejas Arena
Saturday, 4 p.m.
TV: Fox
