Completely and utterly embarrassed

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 10, 2008 9:15 PM PST in Cougar Basketball Comment 19 comments

I'm writing this with 11:46 to go in the game and the Cougars down 57-33, and I'm turning the game off because I can't watch this anymore. By the time you read this, the game will be over. (Although, it's already over, since there just aren't enough possessions left in the game for WSU to come back.)

I am utterly devastated by the second half. Yes, Gonzaga deserves some credit for their ability to convert their transition chances, but let's not kid ourselves: The Cougs absolutely gave this game away. They puked on themselves in every possible way, and there is no legitimate explanation for it. Gonzaga went on their run with exactly one freshman on the floor for WSU.

It's not just that we're getting run; it's that with the turnovers, bad shots, horrendous transition defense and terrible defensive rebounding, I do not recognize the team I'm watching right now. That is what makes me so sick.

Gonzaga may very well prove to be a very good team this year, but tonight was an embarrassment. I know the guys try hard, but man ... I was incredibly emotionally invested in this game, and to have it turn out like this ...

I sure hope I'm over this by tomorrow so I can write something coherent. But I'm having a hard time thinking straight right now.

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As you should be...

We can only hope that it will teach you and the rest of your fellow Zag bashers some humility. Say what you want on your posts but Zag fans don’t need to bash the Cougs or anyone else to feel better about themselves. Sure some Zag fans think their team is the greatest even when we are not … but that is school pride … don’t confuse that for arrogance like your comments. As for the best program in the state I think you can ask Romar or Bennett and they will both say the Zags have been for awhile. Does that mean we have had the best team the last two years or that we will continue to be the best program? No. What I can say for sure is that I hope both the Cougs and the Zags can continue to have successful programs so this rivalry can last for years.

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 8:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'll be that guy

I hate the Zags. I hate everything they are about. I think they showed very little class last night, fans and players alike. I lost some respect for Mark Few last night as well.

You comment defines what I hate about your school/program/imported fanbase; you come on here talking about humility while you gloat. Typical.

The Zags have an outstanding basketball team. Without a doubt they are one of the best in the country this year. So enjoy your season. But what your team lacks in class and character will come back and bite them after they get complacent in the WCC schedule. That team will fall on it’s face and fail to meet expectations just like it has for the past 5 years. The only question remaining, in my mind, is whether they will fall with dignity, or act like the self entitled brats that they have proven to be in recent seasons? I think the answer is obvious.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 11, 2008 9:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Comments like this are just sad and further reinforce my point that SOME Cougs feel the need to bash Gonzaga. Please explain the lack of class last night…because the Zag fans chanted up by 30 or this is our house???? C’mon, it is a basketball game. The Coug fans would have done the same thing if the score were reversed…It happens at Duke, North Carolina, everywhere… Even if you don’t like our fans, what did Mark Few or the GU team do last night that showed little class? Beat you by 20 points? I don’t get it. Nuss was way off-base and so are you. It sucks to lose which we know as well as anyone with all our tourney losses that you point out but it sucks even more to be a sore loser…

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 10:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

we did beat you in your house last year…and I was there. We didn’t huddle at mid-court on your logo at the end of the game nor did we chant “this is our house” I don’t think the margin of victory would have changed that.

For what it’s worth, I don’t hate the zags, I’m more upset that our team shot 10% from three and that Nik Kop should not be starting but is.

by MLips on Dec 11, 2008 10:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Did they really change "Our House"?

Who? The team? The fans? I’m just wondering because I didn’t see it at the end of the game.

I give the Zag’s all the credit for coming out in the second half and taking it to WSU. I’m not going to allow myself to have a problem if they did do that chant. There’s a saying though: “Act like you’ve been there”. If the Zag’s are the best program in the state then they should show it. It is what it is.

by BornCoug on Dec 11, 2008 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Chant, not change

sorry about the typo

by BornCoug on Dec 11, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How am I being a sore loser by giving respect to the team?

“The Zags have an outstanding basketball team. Without a doubt they are one of the best in the country this year. So enjoy your season.”

I am simply stating what I hate about Gonzaga, which is an opinion that I am intitled too. And it has nothing to do with being a loser, because I felt the same way before the game as do right now, and maybe I’m just the guy who is willing to be honest. I’m not going to stroke your formerly cute little program because I am a Coug fan, not a Zags fan. I have not ever been a fan of Gonzaga and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

As as far as class goes; well sure, your boys are aces. Leaving an all-american center in the game to drain threes with a 30 point lead against the Cougs bench with 5 minutes to go and then continuing to press the 3/4 court on defense? Real classy.

So, if you can’t handle the fact that I don’t like your team, then bugger off. Nobody found me talking a bunch of mess on an Idaho State blog site last week after the Cougs won a game. Gonzaga is a really good, they won, congratulations. It doesn’t mean I have to like them, and I have every right to that opinion. And if you don’t like the reason why I don’t like them, then I’m sorry. But I could give a rip what people think of Washington State basketball, it doesn’t concern me. So the question I have for you is; why do you care what I think? It’s not like you’re in need of more supporters. Do you really need to feel like you have my approval of your team? ‘Cause if you’re waiting for that, it’s not going to happen.

I hate Gonzaga. I’ve stated why. I don’t really care if you disagree, because it has nothing to do with you. So get over yourself.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 11, 2008 10:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm buggering off now...

and you are right, you are entitled to your opinion and I don’t really care what you think. It is just too bad you hate Gonzaga for no good reason…Go Cougs and Go Zags the rest of the way…

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 11:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My reasons are good enough for me.

It doesn’t concern you.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 11, 2008 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In response

Nothing is going to teach me humility, because I already have it. My post was not about boasting, and not about making myself feel better. I already feel pretty good, thank you very much. The entire message was that Gonzaga fans would do well to learn a little humility and express a little thankfulness — not coincidentally two of Tony’s five pillars of the WSU basketball program — and learn how to win with class. Not surprisingly, that clearly didn’t happen last night (from either the team or the fans) and I think that tells you all you need to know.

I love my team, and am incredibly thankful for all the amazing memories they’ve brought me over the past two-plus years. Last night was tough, and this post was an emotional response from a guy who invests a lot of emotion in his teams. But we’ll be back.

We do have one thing in common: I, too, hope Gonzaga stays good, because it’s a heck of a lot more fun when everyone is playing at a high level. But man, I just wish it could happen the right way.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 11, 2008 10:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough...

Yes, our team was humbled last night. Go ahead a gloat a little. But, you’d better not gloat too much. Just remember, next season there is no more Pargo and no more Heytvelt to rely on. Your humble pie may come even sooner than that, given the zags last three NCAA tourney washouts.

We’ll see you again very soon.

by '03CouveCoug on Dec 11, 2008 8:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not gloating

Just happy we didn’t lose to give Nuss and his supporters fuel to add to the fire.

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 10:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, you gave me more fuel than a win would have brought

Trust me on that one.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 11, 2008 10:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You only brought it on yourself…

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

By "you" I meant fans and players in general last night

I was not talking about “you” zag401.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 11, 2008 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Humility...ironic you bring that up

since your fans were chanting “up by 30” and “this is our house” last night…not to mention Austin Daye’s chest pounding when he made a three…when you were up by 18. We beat Mississippi Valley State by 50 points, our students must not be creative enough to come up with an “up by 50” chant. You are #4 in the nation, you are supposed to win right?

Also, Grady wrote a post about how he is a huge zag fan except when he plays us, so you can’t fairly include him when saying “you and your fellow zag bashers”

I’m not too sad about this loss since your whole roster will go to the NBA at the end of this season.

Go Cougs. Still bitter.

by MLips on Dec 11, 2008 9:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

RE:

We were supposed to win and we did. My comments are only intended for Nuss and his supporters. I also support the Cougs except when they play the Zags which is why I said I hope both programs continue their success so the rivalry can continue…

by zag401 on Dec 11, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

“I’m not too sad about this loss since your whole roster will go to the NBA at the end of this season.”

ooooohh… good one. Wow, is that supposed to be an insult?

I am quite happy with a team of Meech, Bouldin, Gray, and Sacre next year. Plus, if Daye comes back GU will be a top 10 team next year. If not, it will definitely be a bit of a down year but we will be back to the top soon.

I just hope Bennett truly does like Pullman. He is a great coach and losing him would be the end of your program.

by zag3 on Dec 11, 2008 10:13 AM PST reply actions 0 recs