Cougars’ Victory Revealing
It was only an exhibition, but Washington State’s first public performance yielded several clues as to what type of basketball team coach Kevin Eastman has this season.
Kab Kazadi, a quick 6-footer from Hutchinson College in Newton, Kan., put it most bluntly: “We definitely have to be a hustle team, because as far as talent, I don’t think we’re up there with the top Pac-10 teams.”
The Cougars had enough talent to hold off a touring team known as NBC Thunder, posting a 77-72 victory Thursday night before a sparse crowd at Friel Court.
Chris Crosby and Rodrigo de la Fuente led WSU with 18 points apiece. Carlos Daniel, the Cougars’ top returning player, added 16 points and 11 rebounds, although he hit only 4 of 11 free throws.
Such balanced scoring was a rarity last season, when the Cougars relied heavily on all-conference guard Isaac Fontaine. This season, Crosby and de la Fuente, along with sophomore point guard Blake Pengelly, must take on more substantive roles.
“Ike did a great job last year leading the team because we were so young,” said Daniel. “This year we have Blake and Chris, both sophomores, and Rod’s a senior. They all have a year of experience and they know what they can do.”
Crosby showed improved versatility, scoring from the perimeter as well as off the dribble. The 6-foot-7 forward was almost exclusively a 3-point shooter last season, but he made several mid-range shots Wednesday and has clearly benefitted from a year in the weight room.
Pengelly finished with six points and eight assists, but wasn’t as aggressive as he’ll need to be. NBC point guard Tyrone McDaniel, who outweighed Pengelly 195-162, finished with 17 points.
“He took Blake into the lane a couple of times and rose up,” Eastman said. “Blake’s got to be ready to combat that.”
De la Fuente, a returning starter and one of only two seniors on the team, played well despite an Achilles injury that has slowed him during practice. The 6-6 senior hit 8 of 14 from the field and also had three steals.
For NBC, Former Montana State star Nico Harrison, a Spokane native who played high school ball in Portland, scored 19 points for the Thunder. Shann Ferch, a Gonzaga University professor and former player at Pepperdine, also scored 19.
, DataTimes