OPEN GAME THREAD: Washington State at Gonzaga
by Grady Clapp on Dec 2, 2009 5:58 PM PST
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PrintEnough leadup. Let's do this for real.
Cougs
Moore
Capers
Thompson
Lodwick
Casto
Zags
Bouldin
Goodson
Gray
Sacre
Harris
Why it's important: Eastern Washington supremacy! Also, a quality win for someone's tournament resume.
Players to Watch:
Gonzaga - Matt Bouldin. An exceptional perimeter shooter, good passer, and surprisingly good rebounder, Bouldin is a young man who can put up points in a hurry. And with the Cougars' inability to defend the three-point shot at times this season, it's imperative they keep an eye on him.
Washington State - Reggie Moore. Not Klay? For shame! Ok, we all know how important Klay Thompson is. We know he has to score. But what if he comes out cold? What if the Zags throw everything and the kitchen sink at him? Then it's going to be up to Reggie Moore to stay aggressive in the lane, find open shooters, or get to the line and keep our offense afloat. If not, Wazzu runs the risk of being blown out for the second consecutive year.
X-Factors:
Zags - Elias Harris. The Cougs don't have a lot of size, but neither do the Zags, and that's where Harris becomes key for GU's frontcourt. Harris is 6'7" and 215 out of Germany, and has already proven he has the talent to log big minutes for a ranked team. He can provide a huge lift to the Bulldogs if he can secure boards and score a few points on Casto.
Cougs - Xavier Thames. Like a Reggie Moore 2.0, Thames can come in off the bench and provide the Cougs with a lift by shooting and passing the ball. And that's good since Moore probably won't play 40 minutes tonight. Gonzaga's one of the few teams that can claim a considerable advantage in guard play over us - X can help alleviate that.
The Zags when if... They shoot the ball well and continue to dominate the defensive glass.
The Cougs when if... They defend the three-point shot and stay away from turnovers. Oh, and they still might need another scintillating performance by Klay Thompson.
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If you have KHQ on cable the game is not on FSN, because KHQ has the rights to it.
I’m pretty sure that’s what’s happening.
FSN on time warner
has the UCLA game on in the 4th quarter? WTF?
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions
oh good ehlo and friends
This games gonna go on mute fast
by Brian Floyd on Dec 2, 2009 6:03 PM PST via mobile reply actions
It's unfortunate we have the Zag announcers
What’s that you say? Ehlo went to WSU? No, that can’t be true. Cougs don’t sell out their university.
ha, loving the Run This Town promo...
because there aren’t any bigger gangsters than Bone and Few
it's it great
having jitters watching a coug game again?
Lodwick...
Gotta draw a foul if you get a guy to go for the pump fake that hard.
Thought the same
I also think Casto needs to come back to his man a lot sooner. He gave Sacre an easy 2.
I'm loving the D
Everytime the ball leaves the hands of a Bulldog the Cougs have their hands all over it.
i think once they settle down a bit
they’ll be ok. playing like they know this is a big away game. they just need to play like its another game
Moore
He seems like one of the few that is relaxed.
Finish and hit open 3's
Capers has a nice drive but couldn’t finish. Abe has an open 3 that barely catches the rim.
I thought Tony was the only one who left
but apparently he took Dick with him.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:16 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Then you are going to flip a lot
because it will be mentioned throughout the season
Wow Reggie Moore with 2 already... that is horrible!
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 6:16 PM PST reply actions
He's taken a ton of abuse
He’s looked a lot better this year without question.
cbs has the best one
im sure someone has the link
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:19 PM PST up reply actions
Klay is forcing it.
And that’s a BS call of over the back.
nah, he was moving
shouldn’t have lowered his shoulder though
wow
Thought that was a charge. Got away with one in K2. that doesn’t happen often.
No, it was a good call.
The replay shows he was moving
Coach Boone?
Herman Boone. Remember the Titans.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:21 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
one of my favorites.
“You’re overcookin’ my grits, Coach.”
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe we can get Hayden Panetierre to narrate our season
I probably spelled her last name wrong
Panettiere
had to run to my neighbor’s room to look at the poster
it always creeps me out seeing her in that movie
shes super hot in real life, but shes only 8 in that movie. i feel so dirty
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:26 PM PST up reply actions
people would plead guilty
just to avoid hearing ehlo talk.
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
You can lower your shoulder as long as the guy is moving in your way
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 6:22 PM PST reply actions
True, it wasn't the lowering of the shoulder that caused the foul
it was the moving in Nik’s way
Confidence
He looks more comfortable and 2 years out from the knee.
This is all with a lot of the bench in
Kop, Thames, Watson. Good to see
Kopreetza!
The team’s playing very smoothly with him on the court this year
The Cougars are attacking the basket
The Zags are playing on the outside
Leading after 8 minutes
No points from Klay Thompson. Nice!
We are not looking like 9.5 point underdogs!... Started out 13 point underdogs!
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 6:28 PM PST reply actions
Wow, we look comfortable
And it’s making the Zags nervous
I know nothing about the X's and O's of basketball
But I do know we have been plugging up passing lanes all night
Pace yourself
Long way to go…in both the game and the season.
oh i know
but im used to bennett ball. not this break neck pace. not that im complaining, its just gonna take some getting used to
by Kyle Rancourt on Dec 2, 2009 6:35 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, it's an adjustment.
Just have to remember that possessions are not nearly as valuable…but we still need to take care of the ball.
charlie just got knocked over setting a pick
steroids at the training table….
that was a really bad call
he didn’t do anything
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:34 PM PST up reply actions
We should change our name to the Seawolves.
Sounds ferocious.
replay showed it was all ball
but that motion of running with him beggs for the call
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:37 PM PST up reply actions
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This is an important 5 minutes
The Cougars need to play hard and not let the Zags back into the game before the end of the half.
him in there with 3 fouls at this time
shows how much Bone wanted to play him. Now, goodbye till 10:00
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:43 PM PST up reply actions
Guys, stop compaining about Ehlo
He is what he is and he is going to be calling the rest of the game. Enjoy the game and don’t think of Ehlo
I love the up tempo offense
But I hate it when guys like Harthun take horrible shots like he did there.
Bouldin just bulled his way through
and got the call
Yeah, you can't call that
Hope it’s not a sign of what’s to come with the calls.
Whistle happy refs are going to hurt us because I bet the Zags have more depth than us
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 6:44 PM PST reply actions
18 to 7 rebound edge
I wasn’t expecting that. 8 to 2 on offensive rebounds.
Never thought we could out rebound Gonzaga
They are so much bigger than we are, but man, we are fighting for everything and winning
DON'T MOVE!
And don’t ever speak of this again. It’s like talking to you pitcher in a no hitter.
It's a Zag broadcast
even though this is FSN and Ehlo played at WSU
Bouldin is single handedly keeping Gonzaga in the game
Otherwise the Cougars are up 15-20
Home team with a long layoff, came out sluggish, couldn't shoot to save their lives
Disjointed offense in general, road team playing a zone. It’s all there.
Only real difference is WSU isn’t turning the ball over like Montana did.
And the thing keeping Gonzaga in the game is their star
Q-Pon was a large part of your problem. Bouldin is keeping them in it.
Just like the Husky D kept them in it
I didn’t say it was a mirror image, just a lot of similarities.
Other than the
absence of a crappy team
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:54 PM PST up reply actions
halftime plus/minus
Capers 16
Koprivica 16
Casto 14
Thompson 12
Thames 6
Harthun -10
Moore -12
Watson -12
Enquist -14
Lodwick -16
Nik was amazing at the start of this game
He kept us in this at the start
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 6:56 PM PST up reply actions
So, keep the big men not named casto off the floor?
Watson, Enquist, Lodwick all bad in that stat
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 6:57 PM PST up reply actions
Capers
4 pts. 5 Reb. 1 ass.— lay off Roy… his D is great and his spacing in the zone press is vital; yes he lacks a shooting touch, but does so many other things…
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
Weaver Jr.
Remember Weaver couldn’t shot either until his junior year
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 6:58 PM PST up reply actions
That's great...
Bottom line is he shouldn’t shoot until he can shoot. Weaver rarely took mid-range jumpshots until he was real comfortable with them.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 6:59 PM PST up reply actions
I saw Capers and Moore at Safeway two days ago... I almost asked Capers why he wasn't working on his J
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:00 PM PST up reply actions
I'm sure he works on it.
But shooting in a game is confidence. I’m sure he took that shot because he was making it in practice, but got tight in the game.
I still have never seen Capers make a jump shot...
Take shots in the second half of a blowout… I was at the exhibition game when he hit the side of the backboard with a midrange shot
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:04 PM PST up reply actions
I thought the two stars of the first half were Nik and Casto
Also, special mention to Thames for coming in and doing well after subbing when Moore got foul trouble.
rebounds are an effort stat
And for the first time this year, WSU is playing hard on both ends
It's cuz Gonzaga is trying to get back on defense and a lot of our misses are from in close where we have position
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:05 PM PST up reply actions
?
We are beating the Zags on the offensive glass cuz the Zags are not trying to get offensive rebounds cuz they are getting back on defense… 2 parts to beating someone in a rebound stat.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:11 PM PST up reply actions
i got lost in there
i thought we were talking about us cleaning up on the offensive end.
ESPN's stats look different that the ones they have on tv
by like 3 reb. for both teams!
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions
quicker guards
our ‘littles’ are faster than Bolding and Gray and it shows some- gotta get in the face of Matt B though— the kid is $$ on the open trey
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
WSU doesn't want to force getting him shots unless the rest of the team goes cold
If that happens, the you start running him through pick after pick to get him open
I like the balance
We are better off if Klay doesn’t have to carry the offense.
I think he goes off in the second half
First half though makes me really feel good about this team now that we know other players can step up when Klay is not carrying the team.
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions
great team board work
Capers 5, Casto 6, Klay 4, X 3— keep it up!
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
It's only a no call if backing into a jumping player isn't possibly going to die
You can’t tell me risking a players welfare isn’t a foul
wow, I butchered that initial sentence
But think my point was somewere in there
There is only one logical thing that they can be talking about here...
They must be talking about the whole “Is 0 a number thing”
uhh....
just got one there
No, i don't think so
I’m guessing that since he was attended to on the court, he might have had to come out.
Moore is scaring me with his dribbling...
Tech that 3 clown up!
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:17 PM PST reply actions
The refs are making it a point of emphasis this year
to call the aggressive bodying of th the ballhandler
Here is where we need Thompson
to carry the load
Was just typing that
This is were your star steps up
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 7:19 PM PST up reply actions
exactly
were having trouble getting shots elsewhere
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:19 PM PST up reply actions
I like Thompson bringing the ball up
If they deny him so actively, it gets him involved and settles everyone down.
nonononononononono
thompson bringing the ball up is a TO waiting to happen…
The fouls are evening out
That happens when you are aggressive and go towards the hoop
Out of all the great white hype gonzaga players ... is john stockton the only guy who ever amounted to anything?
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:23 PM PST reply actions
Dickau was in the league for a long time.
Not a Stockton, but still.
Yeah, but there are a lot of players in college b-ball.
And not a lot of NBA players. To be blunt, Gonzaga has put many more guys in the NBA then we have in the last 10 years.
Of course they have but just as many of them have amounted to something as us in the last 10 years.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions
What is your judgement of amounting to anything?
Multiple years, starting, playing well even for short stretches. Multiple Zags have done that.
And I hate Dickau as a person, he set his HS school single game scoring record against me. I resent the way he did it. But I respect that he played in the league, started off and on, and made it longer then the average for players. And if that is “not amounting to much,” well I would love to have not amounted to much.
...
I am strictly talking about guys never amounting to the pick where they were drafted at… If Dickau was taken late in the 2nd round I would be praising him as a great underdog story.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:31 PM PST up reply actions
He was great in college...
Not a 1st round draft pick
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:24 PM PST up reply actions
speak for yourself...
My heart has never beat so fast…
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:25 PM PST up reply actions
I have not had this fast heartbeat since I think rochestie hit that long 3
I never had it once this football season
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:27 PM PST up reply actions
yeah a treat
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Dec 2, 2009 7:25 PM PST up reply actions
Harris is really hurting us
Quick, athletic, long long arms. Casto is having a lot of trouble with him.
this looks like some of my old intramural teams
just kinda run around and see what happens
indeed
Reggie may become the best point guard we’ve ever had. And i don’t think i’m exaggerating.
You definitely aren't exaggerating
He has as much natural talent as anyone we have seen at the point.
Really though...
How can he get better? I can’t think of anything except be a little more aggressive
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 7:29 PM PST up reply actions
he might be the best PG we've ever had already
i just didn’t want to go THAT far without thinking it all the way through….
might just be the scotch talking.
If you would have told me that before the game
I would have said we will lose. big.
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
Not sure what few is doing
That GJ guy and Olynyk are not the answer….
We have to get more looks for Klay, they have to get more looks for Bouldin
Goodson has 4
Sacre has been taken a bit out of the game.
I am really loving this team right now
Everyone is stepping up and Klay has been quiet…..this is amazing
Hopefully that gets him off
That was a great looking mid-range shot
Wrong move by Few
Klay is gonna go off like crazy
Few seems lost
with the lineup to put on the court to get them back in it
well to be fair to few, the lineup to beat wsu
is to play charlie enquist
dammit casto
stupid stupid stupid foul
speed is the difference
we’re faster and they aren’t prepared or have personnel to stop that
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
We haven't used the bench much in the 2nd half
We could be getting a bit tired.
3 fouls?
Casto is listed as having 1 on a tracker- – my cable hosed me and went to the AZ UNLV game aargh
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
I wrote during half time not to force shots for Klay
But, that is what is happening
still can't get over
the announcer saying “i hope gonzaga’s shooting 2 here”
Klay really needs to step up as a leader
take better shots and score some points now, take over the game like he can
isn't it great?????
I said the same thing about football for for completely different reasons
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:44 PM PST up reply actions
This is great
and will help us down the line
I haven't felt this nervous watching a game this school year
I certainly didn’t during football season
I've seen more on the ball screens byt the Cougars in this game
that I saw during the previous six years
I don't really want him shooting, but we don't have much of a choice
by spencer peaty on Dec 2, 2009 7:53 PM PST up reply actions
true
hey cannot even hit his free throws
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
Unfortunately, Bouldin is in the zone
and Thompson is not.
It always has, even under the Bennett's
I remember Patty Mills going off last year in the NIT
It's a growing moment for us
Gotta learn to hold a lead. And Bone has to learn how to manage a team of this level.
No Way! Gonzaga scored after a ton of our time out calls... that is unacceptable..
We never called a time-out to stop momentum…
I haven’t seen them run a play for anyone, guys forcing shots up now that its crunch time
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
bone didn't turn the ball over on 6 of 8 possessions and miss more than half our free throws
by BigWood on Dec 2, 2009 8:03 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Coach is supposed to implement something to prevent turning the ball over that many times after they do it on 2 straight possessions!
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
Not running a play for Klay where there are 2 Cougs causing there to be a damn near triple team on the guy who was obviously going to get the ball!
DVR and rewind it! They run a play for Klay right where Casto and Moore are!
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:07 PM PST up reply actions
We should have managed the second half better.
That’s on the coach and on our youth.
I think we got a bit tired
Thompson and Capers played a ton of minutes. Kop as well. We may have lost our legs a bit.
If this game was played in Pullman, the Zags don't come back
but, it was played in Spokane and they earned the victory
we haven't got a call the last 10 minutes
but GU has outplayed us in the second half
They did
But we totally collapsed the last 8 minutes. Also, Klay couldn’t make a shot if his life depended on it in this game
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 8:05 PM PST up reply actions
What is that now?
Turnovers in 6 of last 9 possessions?
i think its 8 of 11
and one of the ones we didn’t turn the ball over was a ridiculous turnaround jumper by klay
My only criticism of Bone
He is on crack if he thinks this team is better with Nik at the 4 than Lodwick
He stuck with Nik a long time
Nik had a good first half but the substitution pattern in general was interesting the 2nd half.
wait, why?
Koprivica gives us more offense, and maybe slightly better on ball defense.
But he also turns the ball over a lot more and is a worse rebounder.
Guess what hurt us so much in those final minutes? Hint: it’s turnovers.
Getting ugly
wow, what happend the last part of this game. We gave this game to them on a platter
Bone will learn from this game
We were up because we were making shots. When they stopped falling the defense couldn’t stop them.
matchups
I think bone stuck with nik (and capers) for too long in the 2nd half. However I think Nik brought a spark in the 1st half that ignited our run.
I guess I was disagreeing with your statement as if it were deninitive. Switching back and forth creates matchup problems and riding the horse to the ground isn’t helping us…
by BigWood on Dec 3, 2009 10:20 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
matchups
I think bone stuck with nik (and capers) for too long in the 2nd half. However I think Nik brought a spark in the 1st half that ignited our run.
I guess I was disagreeing with your statement as if it were deninitive. Switching back and forth creates matchup problems and riding the horse to the ground isn’t helping us…
by BigWood on Dec 3, 2009 10:24 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
grrr...mobile commenting
This was in response to grady upthread
by BigWood on Dec 3, 2009 10:28 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Lets hope this is not a sign of the future for Klay
He was shut down by the first good team we have really faced and the first good defender he has faced all season, I hope this is not a sign of how it might be now that we will start facing some better teams and bigger players who can push him around.
He was 3 of 7 from the line
No one guards him there. It was just an off night for him. It happens.
At least 9 or 10 of those shots were forced
He needed to calm it down and let the game come to him.
Against all of those crappy teams Bone just gave Klay the red-light... Klay had so many ill-advised shots it was silly...
Needs to coach up to the competition! Run plays! Klay just looked stupid out there.
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:12 PM PST up reply actions
Casto is not quite right
He seems to have lost a lot of explosiveness. He doesn’t look 100%.
Really not that bad of a loss
Our offense just fell apart in the second half. A lot like the Eastern game only Eastern was a bad enough team that we still one.
Still… just a five point loss to a GREAT ball club on the road. Nothing to get to down about.
I just dont understand
why Thames and Enquist(?!?!?!?!?!) were in in crunch time.
I am not that upset
I think this team is better then any of us thought it would be this year. It was really only the last 8-10 minutes were we fell apart, the other 30 we were the better team. I think this will greatly help this team down the line, they know they can play with a top 20 team, and they do not need to totally depend on Klay Thompson……now they need to learn how to finish.
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 8:19 PM PST up reply actions
sad plus/minus totals
Thames 15
Casto 13
Harthun 7
Koprivica 3
Thompson 1
Watson 1
Lodwick -3
Enquist -9
Capers -11
Moore -17
and that's why plus/minus is a joke in basketball
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:20 PM PST up reply actions
Agree with that
Moore was not the worst player in the game and Thames was not the best player
by spokanecougar on Dec 2, 2009 8:22 PM PST up reply actions
and how does thompson wish 3 turnovers 6/20 shooting and as many missed FTs as he had have a positive influence?
by Roy Weaver Stuckey on Dec 2, 2009 8:24 PM PST up reply actions
Because that's how the stat works
Doesn’t it? We outscored them by 1 when he was in.
actually
we were outscored by 2 when he was in, and outscored by 3 when he was out.
but we went on our scoring run in the first half
when thames was in, and we got rolled in the second half when moore was in.
there are some outliers from game to game, but over the course of the season, it evens out
Cougs need
to learn to slow it down once they achieve those big leads. Spread the floor and make the D come out- Moore and X and Klay get room to move or FT out of that, and the opposition’s ‘bigs’ are forced out of their comfort zone and frequently into foul trouble. Also- you get the back door jams… as we saw late once the Zags got a lead and spread and passed the ball. Nearly every game now this young squad has blown a 10 point lead (or better) – gotta use clock and possessions to shorten the game once you get that advantage.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
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