Katz's thoughts on the Cougs and the Pac 10

by peaty411s on Dec 24, 2008 3:10 PM PST Comment 7 comments

"Reason to worry: Washington State. The Cougars desperately need to beat LSU in Baton Rouge on Saturday for a nonconference win that will stand out in March. The Cougs had a difficult stretch, but losses to Pitt in New Jersey and Gonzaga and Baylor at home help the power rating, if not the image, of a possible NCAA team. Washington State did beat Mississippi State in New Jersey, but the Bulldogs aren't looking NCAA-ready now.

Who's going dancing?: UCLA and Arizona State should make it with some room to spare. Arizona is playing well enough to likely warrant a spot. USC is figuring out how to defend, freshman DeMar DeRozan is improving and the Trojans will likely be a tough out. OK, so that's four spots the Pac-10 likely can count on in March. Stanford and Cal have done enough to be in position to earn bids if they can challenge for a top-five finish in the league. Washington State and Washington have work to do. "

the rest of the article with more detail on the other teams is here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3790205

I don't like to think that we are tied with UW for 7th right now. But hopefully we can go 5-1 in our next 6 games (@LSU, UW, Stan, Cal, @OR St, @ OR). Then we would be 13-4 with a tough 6 game stretch upcoming. Either way it will be nice to play like competition, not top 5 teams and Montana States. After we play the next two, we will know quite a bit about where we stand.

This FanPost does not necessarily reflect the views of the site's writers or editors, who may not have verified its accuracy. It does, however, reflect the views of this particular fan, which is just as important as the views of our writers or editors.

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next 6

ya, the next 6 look nice on paper. i bet 5 of those games end up coming down to free throws and taylor shooting better than 20% from 3. should give me a good idea if i’m getting a nice vaction in march.

by donkeyjon12 on Dec 24, 2008 11:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Based on how well the Cougs are playing offensively

every game for the rest of the season, save 2 v. OSU will be tough. Even the best teams in the country will lose a game every once in a while when they can’t put the ball in the basket.

Unless we see something drastically different on saturday than we’ve seen thus far, the Cougs could be anywhere from 3rd to 9th in the Pac-10 by seasons end. It’s funny, because from a fans perspective, the season so far has proven absolutely nothing.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 26, 2008 8:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Don't overlook Oregon State this year.

That’s all I’m saying. Just don’t overlook them…

by cfred on Dec 29, 2008 9:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well,

The Cougs showed us nothing different against LSU, and they lost. The Cougs have played a complete and total piece of crap against everyone who isn’t a complete and total piece of crap. I don’t see them making the Tourney. I hope they don’t fall into the OSU trap.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 30, 2008 7:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

easy jo-jo

The teams we have lost to are a combined 41-5, with Gonzaga likely being the weakest on that list by seasons end. The only teams in our conference on par with the guys we have lost to so far are UCLA, ASU, and Arizona. The big question, can we beat teams that our equal to us or a little below us on the road? And can we beat one of those top teams at home? I’m nervous, but am looking at this glass half full until we know the results of that UW game.

by donkeyjon12 on Dec 30, 2008 9:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Gotta place

in the top 4 in the pac to guarantee a spot in the tourney. If we place 5 or 6 we are on on the bubble. Any lower, forgetaboutit. I think we need 11-7 or better. That would be 19-11, not counting the pac-10 tournament. one thing to remember is there are no elite teams in the pac-10 this year. That means we, or anyone else could surprise and win the tournament.

by peaty411s on Dec 30, 2008 3:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Donkeyjon

It isn’t about compairing the competition. It’s about looking at how the Cougs have played. LSU is not that great of a team, regardless of what their record says. I’m not one of these people who look at all the opponents and tries to rationalize why the team has lost to them, I look at how the team is playing. And they are playing poorly.

The NE Patriots just went 11-5 and missed the playoffs. Does that mean that the Cardinals are better than them? I don’t care what records are, if the Cougs don’t figure out how to put the ball in the basket they will lose. They’ve looked unimpressive offensively against some really awful teams so far this year. If you can sit there and watch this Cougar team play, and critically observe that offense, and then justify the lose because of the other teams record, then you’re seeing something that I’m not.

The Cougs lost to a team with a good record. Great, but that isn’t what I’m basing my statements on. Take a look at how they played. Look at HOW they lost that game. It was completely rediculous. I was not very impressed with LSU at all, Pitt/Baylor/Gonzaga would crush that team. That game was a measuring stick for what the middle of the Pac-10 will probably look like, and the Cougs crapped themselves.

So, UNLESS THINGS CHANGE, this team will struggle with it’s conference schedule.

by Jo-Jo on Dec 30, 2008 4:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs