This ‘Rivalry’ Decidedly One-Sided WSU, Gu Are Neighbors, But In Hoops, Cougs Have Been Bullies Of The Block
Although he would like to feel otherwise, Gonzaga University men’s basketball coach Dan Monson is forced to respectfully disagree with those who consider today’s matchup against Washington State the renewal of a rivalry.
“It’s certainly not a rivalry,” Monson explained, “because to be a rivalry, you have to have won some games.”
Actually, GU has won a few games from the Cougars - 38 to be exact - in a series that dates back to 1908. But the Bulldogs have lost the last four and, because of a stretch from 1989 to 1995 when the teams didn’t play, haven’t beaten WSU since 1988.
That was Monson’s first of nine seasons as a GU assistant under Dan Fitzgerald, the man he replaced last season. So it’s understandable how that one victory is nothing but a distant memory these days.
“Washington State has always caused us problems,” admitted Monson, whose Bulldogs bring a 2-2 record into today’s 1 p.m. showdown in the Arena. “They really understand what we’re trying to do offensively and they’ve always dictated the shots we have to take.”
That, and the fact GU was coming off an exhausting 12-day, seven-game road trip, explains why a very average Cougars team handled the eventual West Coast Conference champion Bulldogs so easily last year in Pullman. The final score was 85-70 in a game many figured GU would win. But the Cougars, who would go on to finish last in the Pacific-10 Conference, outmuscled the Bulldogs from the opening tip.
“They played us well and they played us tough,” recalled GU point guard Matt Santangelo, who scored a game-high 24 points. “They believe they can use a physical style of game to disrupt our offense, and that’s exactly what they did last year. That’s why it was such a lopsided win.”
This year, WSU is 1-3 following an unimpressive win over Central Washington in its opener and a disastrous 0-3 in the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The Cougars might once again seem vulnerable to a Gonzaga team that is 2-2 and returns four starters from last year’s 24-10 team that advanced to the second round of the NIT. But Monson, whose team has been plagued during the early season by poor shot selection, is skeptical of any talk of his Bulldogs being favored.
“Now we’re facing a team that’s more familiar with us and, traditionally, has done a good job (against us) defensively,” Monson said. “We have to shore up some things if we’re going to be successful.”
Monson hopes a sense of urgency helps.
“It’s a game I think our players would like to play better in than they have in the past,” he said. “It’s important for players to have had success against another local team at some point in their careers, and right now none of ours can say that.”