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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baynes’ dunk delivers

John Blanchette The Spokesman-Review

PULLMAN � By now, there is a general consensus as to what basketball at Washington State is.

Also what it’s not.

What it’s not is a long-haul tractor-trailer whipping around a Bentley at the top of the Lewiston grade and then hurtling downhill pedal to the metal, challenging the limits of physics, courage and good sense.

It is not Aron Baynes, 6-foot-10 and required to stop at most interstate weigh stations, swiping an opposition pass at the high post and thundering hoopward the other way � solo � for a dunk. Off a one-legged takeoff.

We know this because WSU coach Tony Bennett stopped a Cougar workout the other day when such a thing seemed about to happen.

“He got a steal in practice,” reported teammate Taylor Rochestie. “They were running some of those plays and he was really pressuring out and somebody said, ‘Baynes, be realistic. Play the defense you’re going to play in the game.’ And he was just like, ‘Oh, OK,’ and kind of got back.

“But maybe you’ve just got to let Baynes go.”

Oh, mercy, yes.

Because you can never tell when you’ll pull out yet another one of those clenched-teeth, buzzing-in-your-head games in the Pac-10 by having Air Baynes do it up all Dr. J � which in essence is what happened Thursday night at Friel Court when the Cougs filed Arizona State down to the nub 59-47. This was for the Cougars’ ninth Pac-10 win, which suddenly has become a chic new milestone around the league, whether it’s truly meaningful or not.

Back to that in a moment. This Baynes phenomenon requires a little more attention.

Wazzu was clinging to a 43-40 lead with a shade more than six minutes to play when ASU wunderfrosh James Harden made a lazy pass to Jeff Pendergraph at the top of the key. Baynes darted � yes, darted, as a manatee darts � around to intercept and in a matter of minutes was at the other end by himself, ramming the ball through to the amazement of the world’s scientists. Naturally, it inspired curious reactions from all interested parties:

Bennett: “I could hear Chris Berman announcing that one as he was rumbling down the floor.”

Baynes: “I looked back a few times, looked at the bench and started laughing at halfcourt.”

Teammate Derrick Low: “I was just hoping that he didn’t fall down or lose the ball.”

Funny stuff with a serious message, at least for the Sun Devils, for this was the stretch where the game was won and lost. Baynes’ steal was a defensive stop, one of six the Cougs made in seven ASU possessions � broken up only by three Hardin free throws. The dunk woke the Friel crowd of 9,212 out of a slumber induced by what was often a dental appointment interspersed with dribbling, and the in turn re-energized the Cougars.

“It got the crowd in a frenzy,” said Robbie Cowgill. “It got us on the bench in a frenzy. It was hard when the timeout came (about 30 seconds later) because it’s late in the game and you’re trying to be focused and serious, but it was hard not to look at Baynes and smile, because it was just cool, man.”

But perhaps a smile was exactly what the game needed at that point.

For some reason, there was a grim vibe to Thursday’s proceedings. Maybe it was because the Friel faithful had detailed recall of what happened the last two home Thursdays. As for the Sun Devils, they’re staring at a closing schedule that’s going to make it hell getting to a .500 finish in the Pac-10, which is supposedly going to give the bearer passage in the NCAA tournament.

“I would think that’s a pretty good number,” Bennett said.

And of course there was the game’s tempo and style, in which a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress seemed to be required for a shot to be taken, much less count.

This was not at all an affront to Bennett’s sensibilities, of course. Or the players, really.

“I don’t think we mind it,” said Rochestie. “I don’t know if it’s the most exciting game, especially for the fans, but we’re a team that plays with a lot of confidence and soundness. Where the possessions mean more and are more important, I think we thrive in that situation � like I hope we thrive in the last four minutes of a game.”

Or the last four games of the season?

They can find out Saturday when they play Arizona, which unhinged the Cougs pretty dramatically a month ago in Tucson, prompting Rochestie to offer that “we owe it to ourselves” to play better.

“That was the start of a stretch for a few games of poorer basketball,” acknowledged Bennett. “People really got into the lane against us � even Oregon at home when we beat them. We kind of rode Derrick’s hot hand. We had to try to tighten things up and we’ve made strides in that direction.

“I didn’t get super concerned, but I’m always realistic.”

As are his players. Except maybe for the runaway Baynes.