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I'm tired of talking about how awesome Washington is. Aren't you?

I'm about talked out with regards to this game, but before we look ahead to Oregon, how about we enumerate some of the things that were awesome about the Cougs yesterday? Because there was plenty:

  • Klay Thompson's foul trouble caused him to play his fewest minutes (28) since the blowout win against Montana State (Dec. 15) and completely screwed up our rotation, yet we were still able to stay in this game until the end. Think about some of the combinations that were on the floor at times. If you're not marveling at this fact, you're just not remembering how offensively atrocious some of those combos were. That would not have happened earlier this year.
  • We actually had just two fewer free throw attempts than Washington (23-21), and the margin basically came down to the intentional fouls at the end. This, in a building where the Huskies had averaged 17 more free throw attempts than their opponents. (So put that in your pipe and smoke it, guy who was sitting in front of me!)
  • Aron Baynes scored 16 points on five shots. That is efficiency my friends. I know we'll lament the fact that he didn't get more shots, but as I mentioned in the comments, it's awful tough to make an opposing defense play your big man honest when there was often only one perimeter threat in the game.
  • Oh, and Baynes also had 11 rebounds -- four offensive -- three blocks and a steal in 39 minutes, all while holding Jon Brockman to seven points. And don't even try to discredit his performance by pointing to Brockman's rebounds; I'd say at least three of them were in a situation where someone else tipped the ball and Baynes had position. Not his fault.
  • Taylor Rochestie has the most guts and heart of any Cougar I've seen in a long time. Say what you will about some of his late-game decision making this year, we are not even sniffing success yesterday without his 23 points and four assists. I know he had five turnovers, but I think at least a couple of those could have gone to guys who weren't ready to catch the bal. The bottom line is that Taylor further cements his place in Cougar lore with each passing game.
  • Washington shot just 2-of-10 from 3-point range.
  • "Player of the Year" candidate Justin Dentmon and freshman of the year in waiting Isaiah Thomas combined for just 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting. Dentmon had 12 of those.
  • Thomas didn't shoot a free throw. He is 8th in the Pac-10 in free throw rate, and it was only the second time that's happened this year.

I know sometimes it's hard to see the big picture when you don't win -- and especially when that loss likely seals your NCAA Tournament fate -- but we played a heck of a game yesterday. Don't lose sight of that.

0 recs  |  Comment 14 comments |

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Awesome Post

You backed up my feelings about the game with cold hard facts. With all the bad things we could focus on, its great to see how much better this team is now than two or three months ago. Who knows, if this game was played in Pullman, maybe we win.

by Broberg on Mar 8, 2009 10:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That's the hard thing about college basketball

If this were the NBA, we’d be talking about how exciting the rest of this season would be. But with a 30-game sprint, the margin for error is so darn small. But it’s what makes it pretty cool, too.

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 8, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks Nuss

Going to miss Taylor and Aron. Those guys are fantastic. Let’s hope we have lots more games to see them left!

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Dancing Football on Mar 8, 2009 11:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Also, yes I am tired of talking about UW being good

Let’s hope they play two more games:
1) A loss to the the 8/9 seed in the Pac 10 tourney
2) A loss to a 12/13 seed in the NCAA tourney

Then we don’t have to talk about them anymore and we all feel better about ourselves!

As for me, I expressed my opinion on all things UW during the 2005 Apple Cup:

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Dancing Football on Mar 8, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Early Exit

Your vindication may come early in the Big Dance when UW bows out in the 2nd round. :)

by I Remember Richie Zisk on Mar 9, 2009 12:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I know it's what a lot of Cougs want

But I just don’t see it. They are playing so well right now. If they play as hard as they did on Saturday, they’re going to be tough for anyone to beat. The thing they have going for them is that they don’t rely on outside shooting, and they crash the offensive glass. Toughness and rebounding generally don’t have off nights, you know?

The only way I see them going out early is with a really bad matchup — like Michigan State or something. A team that can match both their athletic ability and toughness.

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 9, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You Might Be Right

But I just don’t see these guys playing with their heads enough. Plus, the field is so wide open in the first couple rounds, a tough match-up could easily come their way. I’m guessing UW will be a 4 or 5 (maybe a 3 but would have to win the PAC 10 tourney convincingly) and play a gritty team in the 2nd. I think we’ll see more than the normal number of 3-5 teams fall early this year.

by I Remember Richie Zisk on Mar 9, 2009 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm really interested to see how they do against....

Either a Big East team like UConn, who they want revenge against, Pitt, who we hung with for quite some time, or Kansas, who’ll destroy their press. All have big men in the middle that could dominate if Brockman is put on an island. Oklahoma and UNC are teams that would be hard for them to match up with too. That’s just off the top of my head. There are a few others too, maybe even Gonzaga, which seems to be hitting their stride right now.

I think Washington does well until they meet a team like any of those. They might prosper against teams where they don’t get exploited in the middle. As good as Brockman is in his own way, he’s not athletic enough to handle a good big man without help. I’m also interested to see how the officiating works for them. I doubt they go to the line 17.5 more times than their competition.

It’s all about matchups. It really helps to have a good, athletic big man but guard play is a key too. When someone like Louisville pressures them to death, I think they have serious problems. We don’t play that style in the Pac-10 and a team with the athletic ability Washington possesses, that knows how to apply pressure, might be problematic for them. Overton and Dentmon are not great ball handlers, effective but not great.

The better the Pac-10 fares in the tournament the better it makes us look, IMO. As much as I hate Washington, it’s hard for me to root against them under these circumstances. I think the Pac-10 may be down star-wise from last year, but I’m tired of hearing how good many of the other conferences are. Same thing as in football. Go Pac-10 as far as I’m concerned.

by SW WA Coug on Mar 9, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

unless uw ends up playing duke...

i won’t have an issue rooting against them.

by displacedcoug on Mar 9, 2009 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Cements his place in Cougar lore"

I’m saying you stole that from a text I sent you after the UCLA game. I just found it in my phone. I have it for proof!

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Dancing Football on Mar 9, 2009 4:04 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That's funny

I forgot you wrote that. Must have been such a great line, it was implanted deep in my subconscious.

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 9, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cheese often makes things great

And that line is extra cheesy

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Dancing Football on Mar 9, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Even though I was sick seeing us lose to the dogs...

I found myself focusing on the positives of that game more than anytime I can remember previously.

We were in a very bad spot with Thompson on the bench, and our defense was playing really tough.

Too bad Caleb got called for that charge on the Brockie flop. Too bad Caleb missed the open 17 footer when we were down by two. Too bad Nik didn’t understand his limitations and pass up on the open 3 ball he took late in the game.

We are going to miss our seniors next season…particularly TR and AB. I think we have to be realistic that it’s going to take another season before we can get into the upper half of the Pac-10.

by westsidecougar1 on Mar 10, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

A lot of it depends on the state of the Pac-10 next season

For example, who would’ve thought Cal had a chance to get up where it did? Who would’ve thought OSU could win seven games? A lot of that had to do with the Pac-10 not being as good as it was last year, when it was as strong, top to bottom, as it’s ever been. We could be in for a similar situation next year.

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 10, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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