Cougs-Zags: ‘a huge deal’

Find your game.

It sounded a little like an old advertisement for a brand of golf clubs, which is somewhat appropriate since Tony Bennett possesses a formidable golf swing, as the Washington State men’s basketball coach discussed keys to tonight’s showdown with Gonzaga at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

“When you go into their backyard, it really tests your team, your poise,” Bennett said. “It’ll be who can get in their game and settle in. I’ve found that to be important: Do what you do when there’s a lot of electricity (in the arena), home or away.”

WSU found that comfort zone late last year, reeling off 14 of the last 15 points to knock off No. 18 Gonzaga 77-67 in front of 10,755 at Friel Court. The victory propelled the Cougars toward a magical season that ended with 26 wins and spiced up a neighborhood rivalry that had become one-sided. GU had won the previous seven matchups.

Exactly one year to the date after last year’s contest, the teams collide again with both ranked for the first time in series history. The Cougars (7-0) are No. 8 in the Associated Press poll, No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today rankings. Gonzaga (7-1) is 17th and 19th, respectively. The game marks the second time two ranked teams have squared off on GU’s campus. The other came when No. 18 Gonzaga thumped No. 8 Washington 97-77 last year.

“It’s a huge deal,” Gonzaga senior forward David Pendergraft said. “We’ve got the sixth-ranked team coming into our building, trying to beat us.”

Much has changed in the last year. WSU’s projected starting five includes four repeaters from a year ago (Robbie Cowgill, Aron Baynes, Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver). Daven Harmeling started last year – and scored 20 points – but he’ll probably come off the bench. Taylor Rochestie rounds out the starters.

Gonzaga’s starters a year ago: Sean Mallon (graduated), Josh Heytvelt (hurt), Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes (transferred), Derek Raivio (graduated) and Jeremy Pargo, the lone holdover. Current starters Matt Bouldin, Abdullahi Kuso and Pendergraft came off the bench in the GU-WSU game. Starting forward Micah Downs sat out the contest under NCAA transfer rules. Austin Daye and Robert Sacre were recruits, not yet Bulldogs.

“That was one of my first real road games against a hostile crowd,” said Bouldin, who has averaged 16.8 points and made 54.2 percent of his shots in the last five games. “They played out of their minds. I mean they played great. I’m just excited for them to come in here this year.”

Here is the McCarthey Athletic Center where GU is 42-1 since opening the doors, including a 67-53 victory over the Cougars two years ago.

“The fans were just crazy,” Weaver said. “Once they got a little momentum, it’s hard stopping a team like that.”

GU coach Mark Few is glad to be at home, particularly after five straight road/neutral-court games, but he said the home-court advantage might not be as big a factor, given WSU’s considerable experience.

“They’re such a veteran team and they’ve had a lot of big wins on the road,” Few said. “Their performance doesn’t seem to (change) road or home.”

Guards have provided the bulk of both teams’ scoring. Low, Weaver and Rochestie, who combined for 47 points in last year’s game, produce 38 points on average. Pargo, Bouldin and Downs team up for nearly 36 points.

“People are going to see some great basketball,” Pargo said. “I’m not going to sit here and say we’re the better guards or they’re the better guards. I’m looking forward to playing and I wouldn’t trade these guys for the world.”

Pargo stressed the importance of GU playing within its system for 40 minutes. Rochestie offered a similar theme for WSU.

“They have a different system than we do,” Rochestie said. “If we get to our game plan and don’t have the crowd be a factor, then I think we have a good chance.”