COUGARS
FROM PHOENIX — We made it to the airport, and have time for our quick overview of the game before our flight leaves for Spokane. Read on.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME — Regardless of the fact that his team lost, Brock Motum dominated this game. He scored 34 points on 13-19 shooting — and I think Ken Bone would like to see him get that many attempts a few more times — ande made all of his six free throws. Though he did turn the ball over six times. Still, it was a career night for Motum, who did everything he could down the stretch to help the Cougars claw back.
PLAY OF THE GAME — Hard to really point to just one, as ASU kind of wore the Cougars down over the second half and never really had one big turning point. The play that sticks out in my mind, though, was when Chris Colvin missed a layup and rebounded it himself and scored. That put ASU ahead 66-60 with 1:14 remaining, instead of the Cougars taking over with a chance to trim the lead to one possession. Kyle Cain's strip of Brock Motum looms large, too.
KEY STAT — At first, I was going to go with ASU's first-half 3-point shooting percentage. But I think the turnover department was also critical. WSU turned it over 18 times — 12 in the second half — and became the first ASU opponent to have more turnovers than the Sun Devils in a game this season.
QUOTABLE — ” … I don’t know, man. If I have zero points and we win, I’ll be way happier than … this. Just losing. I don’t know. Winning’s the only thing. That’s what I care about.” — Motum, asked about his 34-point performance.
NEXT UP — A welcome return to Beasley Coliseum, where the Cougars will host USC on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple
7:28 p.m. Jan 28
Man! What stands out to me is how little depth the Cougs currently have. We need Ladd and Aden back in the line-up.
Motum, Moore, Capers, Lacy all played over 30 minutes. Shelton played 21 minutes and Kennich-Drew had 12 minutes.
Worst of all was Lodwick who played all of 14 minutes, fouled out, and had -0- points.
Granted, ASU has man power problems too but they played 8 players with the minutes very evenly distributed.
Not good.
Go Cougs!
9:19 p.m. Jan 28
Can we have a contest to finish Christian’s headline/sentence?
You know, the one which begins with “The game that was”?
Okay, I’ll go first:
The game that was…embarrassing.
The game that was…forgettable.
…a piece of [crap]
…garbage
…disappointing
…the same as last game
Hmm, not as fun as I thought. It might be better if profanity was allowed on this blog.
Go [Blanks]!
9:05 a.m. Jan 29
I know that sometimes fouls are deliberate and justified but I’m tired of the fouling by Lodwick and Capers. When you are guarding a +70% free throw shooter there is no point in fouling (obvious fouls we are talking) to prevent a shot. I love both of these guys but……. Great game by Motum although he has been losing the handle a lot lately (its tough to take the ball through traffic sometimes.)
5:42 p.m. Jan 29
HOW ABOUT ‘EM COUGS!!
I suspect that those predicting a 3-0 win run with ASU yesterday and UCLA and USC at home next week are checking their crystal balls!!
Motum carries the scoring, etc. with 34 and the rest of the players score 33 together…and Ridgetop “critics” him for losing a ball or two…there’s about 7 others players on that team that did absolutely “NOTHING” yesterday…those are the fellas that need some counseling!!
I wonder if I can stand to watch next weeks games…not being local…will they be on TV…maybe I should just check a computer feed…that way I can exit easlily!!
OK…well, football signing is coming on Wednesday…maybe, we get a surprise or two there…anyway…
GO COUGS!!