OGDEN -- Both teams have four returning starters from a year ago and were picked at the top of their respective conferences in the preseason polls. Both teams send in the offensive plays on flash cards held by assistant coaches on the bench, sometimes with a decoy play on a second card in an attempt to fool opponents.
Those are just some of the many similarities between Weber State and Utah State, who tip off the college basketball season tonight against each other in the Dee Events Center.
"It makes it exciting, all those similarities," said WSU forward Kyle Bullinger. "But in the end it's two teams that know each other well and play at a tough pace, so hopefully it'll be as good of a game as it is on paper."
The obvious reason that the Wildcats and Aggies are so much alike is the connection between WSU coach Randy Rahe and USU coach Stew Morrill. The two great friends, who often talk about how they don't really like playing against each other, spent 13 years together when Rahe was Morrill's assistant at Colorado State and Utah State.
Because Rahe spent so much time coaching with Morrill, he is very familiar with what the Wildcats will see tonight on the court,
"You just know what you're going to get from coach Morrill's teams," Rahe said. "It never changes. They're just so well-coached.
"They'll execute their stuff better than any team we'll play all year long, maybe better than any team in the country."
Six of Rahe's seasons with Morrill were at Utah State, and during that time Rahe learned something special about the Aggies.
"You just know every time you line up against them you better bring it," Rahe said.
The Wildcats hope to bring it tonight in front of what should be a big crowd at the Purple Palace.
With seniors Steve Panos and Nick Hansen back in the starting lineup with sophomores Bullinger and Damian Lillard, the Wildcats have the look of a veteran squad.
However the Wildcats are still a relatively young team, with just the two seniors, and will face a very mature side tonight in Utah State.
"I think it's a great challenge for us," Rahe said. "We're playing against an extremely experienced team, a bunch of men."
As they do every week, Rahe said he and Morrill talked earlier in the week and Morrill told Rahe that the Aggies' average age was almost 25. The Wildcats don't have a player older than 23.
Along with the four returning starters WSU also welcomes back post players Trevor Morris and Darrin Mahoney, who payed last season, as well as Matt Washington, who spent last year as a redshirt.
The Wildcats also hope to have an immediate impact from junior college transfers Franklin Session, who rounds out the starting five, as well as Lindsey Hughey and Josh Noble.
"We've got some great guys coming in and filling the spots," Panos said. "They've stepped up huge and filled the spots nicely."
The Aggies are led by veterans Jared Quayle and Tai Wesley.
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