AUDIO: Bone on KJR with Mitch Levy

by Jeff Nusser on Nov 10, 2009 2:24 PM PST

Just in case you can't get enough basketball today (and I'm guessing you can't), here's some audio of Ken Bone joining 950-AM KJR's Mitch Levy this morning. He talks about last night's game (he liked what he saw, but there's room to grow), Klay Thompson's potential (he compares him to Brandon Roy -- I'm not kidding), the state of the Pac-10, and more.

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I can never get enough Cougar basketball

I wasn’t aware we had a Junior on the team :)

by DrayCox on Nov 10, 2009 3:14 PM PST reply actions

Comparisons to Roy aren't so ludicrous

I know Bone was comparing him by personality, but the stats aren’t bad either.

Check here to see Thompson (FR) vs. Roy (SO), chosen because Roy didn’t play much his first year but started every game his second year.

Things that jump out: Roy had a higher offensive rating due to a crazy-high free throw rate (drive to the hoop, Klay!), Klay was the better shooter from 3 by far, the 3pt % was enough of a difference for Klay to have a slightly higher true FG%, Klay’s a better blocker but a worse rebounder… overall, they’re pretty similar. You’d have to say Roy had a better year but Klay has an extra year to improve his game. If Klay could have a Junior year like Roy’s Sophomore year… well it could be nice.

by johnnycougar on Nov 10, 2009 3:53 PM PST reply actions

Lowering expectations?

The two times I’ve heard Ken Bone talk he seems to be pretty down on our players and their talent level. He called Casto a poor man’s Brockman at the Pac-10 media day, which isn’t the worst thing in the world to say, but if I was Casto I’d be mad. He did say some nice things about Klay in this appearance on KJR, but he also says he’d just be an average player on another Pac-10 team. Is that an insult to Klay or the rest of our team? Hopefully he’s just lowering expectations for a young team coming off three consecutive post-season appearances, but it kind of annoys me how he’s doing it…

by Jimmy_Mac on Nov 10, 2009 3:57 PM PST reply actions

he also says he’d just be an average player on another Pac-10 team

That is not what he said at all. He said that if he were on a team like Cal, he’d be one of 4 or 5 really good players. Which is inarguable.

UWDawgPound

by thecassino on Nov 10, 2009 4:02 PM PST up reply actions

Really all he was trying to say is that Klay is going to get some pretty shiny numbers playing for this team

It’s the same thing we preach all the time on this site — put the numbers in context. How efficiently are the points being scored? That will be the real key.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Nov 10, 2009 8:38 PM PST up reply actions

Bone seems honest

He makes comments that are similar to what Dick Bennett would say in the same seat. I wonder if Bone was from the other “UW” like Bennett if people would have the same issue with some of the comments. I really haven’t heard much of anything that should get “us” bent out of shape about.

Just me though.

He seems to have a good take on the current roster and what it takes to be successful at WSU every time I listen to him.

by BornCoug on Nov 10, 2009 5:56 PM PST reply actions

He's a really good coach

And he knows what he’s talking about. We’ll get there, but we’re in for a roller coaster ride this year.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Nov 10, 2009 8:37 PM PST up reply actions

good interview

Aside from listening to Mitch take twice as long as necessary to ask a question, it was fine. I am impressed with what I hear from coach Bone. I did not get the sense that he was “lowering expectations.” WSU fans are so sensitive. He mentioned, for example, that in 33 games last year Klay Thompson shot only 31 free throws. He needs to get to the rim and be a scorer, not just a shooter. Sounds reasonable to me. I would have thought the sainted Tony Bennett would have emphasized that.
—I think Bone is a realist, and that’s fine with me. What I loved about Dick Bennett was that when asked a question, he answered it with a straight answer, no coachspeak b______t. I am hoping Bone is the same. From what I have read, he is a very good X and O coach, well respected, and I am glad we have him. In addition, he has a sense of humor, which our last coach lacked.

by bpcoug53 on Nov 11, 2009 2:06 PM PST reply actions