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WSU has a lot of work before Pac-10 starts

Posted by Vince

Dec. 28, 2008 9:27 a.m. • 23 comments

COUGARS • UPDATED: 3 P.M.

Pac-10 play starts in less than a week. WSU will enter conference 8-4, which is exactly what we thought as we doped out the schedule before the season started. Read on for more thoughts and links.

••••••••••

• As we said in the intro, we penciled in WSU with four nonconference losses this season (and a 9-9 or 10-8 conference record, depending on how the freshmen developed during the preseason). Those four games – Pitt, Baylor, GU and yesterday at LSU – all appeared before the season began to be tough wins for a Cougar squad that would be relying heavily on at least three freshmen.

But losing is one thing. Losing because of what happened in the second half against GU and the final 9 minutes against LSU is another.

Those stretches – along with a short stretch late against Baylor – were not WSU basketball, or at least not WSU basketball as defined by Tony Bennett. When the Cougars lost to Pitt, they were in the game until the Panthers hit a couple late shots to get separation. Against Baylor, the Cougars had every opportunity to win, but the Bears made more plays down the stretch.

But the 29 minutes combined between the Gonzaga and LSU games? Those minutes were mystifying. In both, WSU played soft. Soft on the boards, soft on defense and, most glaringly, soft when making passes and shooting. Some of the turnovers Saturday came on passes thrown without confidence, lazy passes that the neighbor kid would have picked off.

And that’s not how WSU usually plays. This is a group that needs to grow tougher, to enjoy the tight moments that come down the stretch in close games. Right now, most of the Cougars seem to be shying away from them, hesitant to make a decision and a key play. The hesitation causes fumbled rebounds, slow passes, stolen dribbles, short shots. There are four practices left before Pac-10 play starts. The toughness quotient needs to grow in that time or this group is in trouble.

• I mentioned in my story Taylor Rochestie was credited with two points that were actually scored by Klay Thompson. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I also made a mistake yesterday when I listed WSU with 19 turnovers. The Cougars were officially credited with 18. My bad. I fixed it on the on-line story.) My understanding is the scoring mistake was pointed out to LSU’s official scorer at halftime, but he refused to change it. Just to let you know, I’m on a mission to get this corrected or, failing that, at least get someone in Baton Rouge to admit to the mistake. I really don’t want to be bringing up these lost two points in three years as Thompson climbs the WSU career scoring ladder, but I will.

• UPDATE: Just heard from Jessica Schmick in the WSU Soprts Information office and the official tally was changed. Klay Thompson has been credited with the two points, giving him 14 for the game, and Taylor Rochestie has two less. This is the right decision.

• OK, now on to links, of which there are two. The first is from the News Tribune which, like us, cobbled together a story from different sources. The other is from the Advocate in Baton Rouge, whose story, of course, has a LSU bent. One football note: Skyline wide receiver Gino Simone, who committed to the Cougars in August, has seemingly reaffirmed his commitment. Stay tuned.

• That’s it for this morning. I heard a rumor the ESPN2 announcers called Aron Baynes a lumberjack. Is that true? I was listening to the radio while watching the broadcast, so I didn’t hear it. Let me know. We’ll be back this week as events warrant. Till then …

23 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

CougMish on December 28 at 11:18 a.m.
Yep, they said Lumberjack a lot at the end when talking about how LSU couldn’t handle Baynes’ size. You could really tell that these announcers knew nothing about WSU. Everything came from the media guides (like Caleb Forrest’s interests)or had been said before (like “These players have a lot more offensive freedom than they would have under Tony’s father Dick”).
Ted on December 28 at 11:49 a.m.
I’m not sure that I understand the comments in past posts that Tony Bennett was out coached. If the players don’t perform as they have been instructed, does that still mean that the coach was out coached? At the beginning of the season, Tony said that this year would go as well as the newcomers meshing with the veterans. It seems obvious that that has not happened. And this group of seniors are not playing at the same level the seniors did last year. If these guys figure it out, they will do OK in the Pac-10. If they don’t………….
JugHead on December 28 at 12:34 p.m.
I was actually somewhat impressed with the analyst’s knowledge of WSU’s pack defense…he gave a much more detailed explanation of it than any of the hacks at FSN have ever managed. I have been watching Bennett ball for years on FSN and came away from this telecast with new info. That may speak more to the horrible FSN telecasts than it does for the greatness of the ESPN crew, but either way I thought they did an admirable job. Even managed to pronounce the names correctly and not call us “Washington”, something FSN guys just can’t seem to manage. If anything they were skewed to WSU’s side of things a little which almost never happens outside the NW. I did get a little tired of their overuse of the “22% shot” deal and the “lumberjack” and “hoss” stuff when referring to Baynes.
gslbball on December 28 at 12:55 p.m.
It’s a fair description of Baynes and his game. Little or no finesse. He’s built for power, not speed. Not a slam on him, just a fair description.
RobH on December 28 at 5:13 p.m.
UW game is huge.

It is not a time for everyone to freak out on the season. WSU has not lost to a team that will not make the tourney, most likely, And they have not beaten a team that will make it. Had their chances vs. Baylor and LSU, but didn’t convert.

They need to sweep the bottom two P10 schools OSU and probably Oregon. Win 3 of four from the next two, probably Stanford and probably SC, split with the next two, probably Arizona and UW (maybe switch Cal and AZ here), and get a win in six chances vs. the top three Cal (or Az), ASU and UCLA. That is ten wins, and you are in the tourney.

There is a long way to go.
coug79 on December 28 at 7:51 p.m.
Great update, Vince.

Anything on Harmeling? His performance against LSU was really mystifying.
MikeSequim on December 28 at 7:58 p.m.
Thanks for the update Vince, sorta helps me along as I watch the Team develop.

I believe the UW is playing very well right now and they have some very good athletes. Should be a dandy in Pullman.

Mike, Sequim
garlandcoug on December 28 at 8:02 p.m.
Very true about the announcers descriptions of the pack defense. I was especially impressed with the keeping shooters out of the elbows discussion. I had not heard that before. I would agree they were much better that the FSN crews, but I always turn to Bud down the stretch. Thanks for the post Vince
rufus on December 29 at 7:22 a.m.
cougars - have great young talent. the seniors need to play under control– looks like the NIT this year— which would be great.
GaryRCox on December 29 at 9:50 a.m.
I too enjoyed the ESPN Crew’s commentary/analysis of the game at LSU on Saturday, very informative. I also found it telling that Trent Johnson has the Cougars number and used it to the max in beating the Cougars repeatedly over the last few years.

To wit: using beautiful screens for post up shooters on the wings to nail uncontested threes, for remember that you only have to hit @ 33% on these to = 50%+ on twos for the game (and Bennett Ball means defense limiting to below 40% for the game).

Brillant, and it will become a recipe for PAC-10 teams to follow in the course of the season to beat the Cougs. Of course, not every team has the shooters to pull this off, but unless the Cougs learn how to protect the ball at the end, it will not matter all that much, eh?

One last observation, where was Harmeling shooting 3’s on Saturday and where are all those sharpshooting guards that Coach Tony has recruited when you need them? No doubt that the ‘Lumberjack’ can nail the jump hook at will, but who can get him the ball and once a defense packs in to cut this option off, who can nail the 3 from the pass back out to the perimiter to make them pay for it?

Looks to be a long season that will sorely test Coach Tony’s ability to teach Bennett Ball, but as always the future is so bright, we gotta wear shades.

Go Cougs!!
TommyCoug on December 29 at 9:57 a.m.
We have watched Dick and Tony Bennett coached basketball for several years now. And I have mentioned it before…the current crop of newcomers (freshman and redshirts) are “not” playing that kind of ball. Plus, Weaver and Cowgill were both good at assisting Baynes on the boards and along with Low could help ignite the offense and drive to the hoop. However, this bunch lacks all of that along with really good defense and fine passing abilitly against a good opponent. The basketball fundamentals I have come to appreciate from a Bennett coached team, on offense and defense, just aren’t here at this moment in this season.

Baynes has a easier and a greater percentage shot from 3-6 feet from the basket than all this long distance 2 and 3 point shooting. It was evident when they got back in the LSU game in the 2nd half…then they ceased going to Baynes and when they did try the passes were absolutely horrible, along with some Baynes mishandles…and by some guys who have been around awhile N. Koprivika! Plus he missed at least one layup by shooting it clear over the basket…holy cow!!

I was absolutely stunned watching, the last 2-3 minutes in particular, of the LSU game. LSU is a fair team…but, we will be playing at least 6 teams or more better than them in the Pac-10.

Better wake up Coug players and fans or it’s going to be a long, long season!!

GO COUGS!!
Tom_R on December 29 at 1:46 p.m.
I just don’t understand why the basketball isn’t tossed into Baynes more often. Good things happen when he has the ball. Coach Bennett as complained about it, but darn, he should let the players know in no uncertain terms that it needs to be done!!!!! I thought Rochestie played very well for the first 17 minutes of the second half, so there is a good deal of hope there. I still think he caves in under pressure and tries to do too much in those situations rather than just keep playing a controlled game. He will eventually get it, but he needs to get it NOW with the PAC 10 games starting. WSU will have to do very well in league games; not winning any of those four big non-league contests didn’t help their chances any. Forrest has been a real bright spot on this team. There is still a decent chance the Cougars can make the NCAA. It is still a very fun team to watch even with some of the misery that goes with it.