POSTGAME THREAD: This is how it's supposed to be done
by Jeff Nusser on Jan 8, 2010 8:13 PM PST
Email
PrintWell, this sure feels good.
The simple answer to the outcome of this game involves taking care of the ball in the second half and being purposeful and relentless in attacking the rim.
The only thing stopping the Cougs all game was themselves; they scored 35 points in the first half with 10 turnovers, but 43 in the second half with only six. Additionally, Arizona had absolutely no defensive answer for the penetration of the Cougs -- Reggie Moore got to the line 14 times himself.
Of course, as we're learning with this team, nothing's really that simple. After watching us blow leads late against LSU, Oregon and now Arizona, I'm fairly confident in saying that there is perhaps no worse team in the country with a lead late than us. I'm not sure what it is, as it seems to be a combination of quasi-breakdowns on defense and superlative individual efforts. Whatever it is, it's something that needs to be shored up.
Regardless, this is big, as any win on the road in the Pac-10 is. The Arizona team has proven it can play with a lot of people -- including whipping UCLA in Pauley last weekend -- and beating them in such a hostile environment with such a young team speaks volumes. This is why you schedule nonconference games at Gonzaga and Kansas State. (Take note, Washington, as you crap your pants again on the road tonight.)
Beat ASU on Sunday, and the start of this Pac-10 season is an unmitigated success -- bad Oregon result or not.
66 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Arizona is a pretty good defensive team.
Very nice performance on the offensive side of the ball.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
I would be shocked at the penetration they allowed, since Miller's defense is similar to Bennett's
If it hadn’t been happening all year long.
28 - 19 ASU up at half vs. UW
It’s an ugly game. And UW has no half court offense. None.
The announcers haven't gotten the update though
Because they are shocked by the score.
It's mostly reputation at this point
Just like people are trying to say the Cougs are a run-and-gun team. The Cougs are almost exactly average in pace.
By the way
I’m a little shocked by the low score, too. 19 points on what was probably around 30 possessions is bad.
Here's what one of my friends just said on Facebook
“Whatever Wazzu lacks in experience it makes up for with cartoonishly large onions. Ken Bone has produced one resilient team.”
I think we should use that as a new nickname
The Washington State Cartoonishly Large Onions
Doesn’t really roll off the tongue. But WSCLO might work as an acronym, because I need more of those in my life.
Absolutely amazing!
To think we are having this much success with one of the youngest teams in the nation is unbelievable. http://kenpom.com/height.php?s=ExpRank
by The Artist formerly known as 85 Coug on Jan 8, 2010 8:35 PM PST reply actions
WSU is 333rd, Arizona is 327th
Oregon is 321st and Gonzaga is 313th. The next team is the uw at 257. The Pac 10 is a very young conference.
My question about Romar
And this has been brought up before. But he seems great at bringing in highly rated talent (QPon, IT, and not Gaddy) but these players often struggle early under him. IT being the exeption to that.
Is it just me or is Romar bad at developing young players. Almost to the point of possibly hindering their growth.
Totally agree and I've been sayin it for the longest time
They get all these decorated recruits and it takes them forever to grasp his system or whatever it is he is doing. Gaddy is anything but an impact player and Pondexter came in as a top 50 recruit and it took him a couple years to figure it out as well.
Great recruiter and not so great at developing the talent into something useful. Yet they have been a solid team over the years, but they should have been better in my opinion.
Even Hawes did not have the season everyone thought he would
Then he left after one year anyways
by spokanecougar on Jan 8, 2010 9:03 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, they have been solid
And because of their pretty consistent play, I would never suggest that Romar isn’t a good fit. He brings in enough talent, and gets them to play at very high levels at certain times. But it takes him time.
Bottom line to me is that he’s a great recruiter and should/will be at the UW for a long time. But he’s not the greatest player developer, and his failure in that area keeps them from being a consistent top 20 or even top 10 team.
No, he's not bad at it
Dentmon, QPon, Brockman, and more. All great players by their senior season.
Remember, Gaddy is a year younger than a freshman and he’s trying to bang with the big boys. It’s just not easy for a true freshman to come in and be a stud.
Yes, but my argument is that it takes till their senior season
Other coaches bring in recruits of similar caliber and have them playing better much much earlier. Long before their senior season, when it is finally is this player ever going to get it moment.
You just can't consistently get a player to come right in and be a stud
Does it happen? Yea, but it takes special players. He’s put together some teams with players that were studs up until their senior year. Robinson, Roy, Conroy, Simmons, those type of guys. It’s just very difficult because recruits don’t always pan out, even high rated ones. But when you look at the players that have developed there, there’s some pretty impressive players on the list.
That was one of the greatest completely legal picks I've seen in awhile
IT just got dumped as he didn’t see it coming.
It reminds me of my HS coach, who was about 6’ 7" and 300 pounds. When our center would forget to call on ball picks to his guards, coach would enter the drills and just set picks. His idea was after absolutely killing us with blind picks, we would be all over our center so that he wouldn’t forget to call them out. That is still the hardest thing I have ever run into at full speed, and it was practice.
So, ASU is showing a willingness to shoot and bury the 3
And our biggest defensive weakness is defending the 3. I don’t like this
We've gotten better at defending the 3.
I’d say our biggest defensive weakness is rebounding.
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
Although I can't handle the announcers talking about the ASU zone
Teams have such trouble playing against it. Really? Is that why you lost to UCLA and USC, the amount that they struggled with your zone?
Yeah, it's good.
But I think the price of popcorn in the stadium is a direct result of the zone. It’s possible improvements to the economy will come because of this zone. And if the whole world would use the zone, we could finally achieve world peace.
Yeah, looking forward to it
And I know we shouldn’t be so hard on opposing teams announcers. But I feel like if you are broadcasting on TV, and know it’s carried in both teams markets, you should change a little of the delivery. And maybe mention that as good as the zone is, UW can’t hit an open three to save their life. It’s still pro-ASU, just mentioning it in a way that puts a little more on both teams and not just one.
Part of this is on FSN
Having the regional homers call it makes for an unpleasant experience for the visitors. The quality of FSN commentators as a whole is….bad
That was huge, in my opinion
Klay had missed one a possession or two before and Nik comes off a pick and pop and buries it
IT looks so small
He looks much smaller than his listed 5’8".
Listings are always misleading
Don’t know about him specifically but you can usually take away an inch and some weight
Very true
In football you can always subtract a 10th of a second off the 40 time.
I always get a kick when I read the listed college recruiting statistics for high school players that are all bigger and faster
than the statistics for the players at the NFL combine.
Subtract a 10th?
I think you mean, add a 10th of a second slower towards the 40 time.
Guys in BB always claim to be taller and bigger than they are while guys in FB claim to be faster and bigger than they actually show on the field.
I also want to say that my prayers are with the family of Bob Blackburn
He was the Sonic’s first play-by-play man and he passed away today.
I think it was because the uw would not let them run out the clock
and he ended up at the basket
I don't agree with the way either team ended it
UW pressed, ASU dunked at the end. They really don’t like each other
There is no teaching going on down by 15 with less than 15 seconds on the clock
I really do not think that ASU planned on trying to score. The guard dribbled all over the court for 20 seconds and the uw opened a lane directly to the hoop. The player he passed to should have held the ball, but I think you are right that ASU was getting annoyed by the uw.
Could we momentarily change the the CougCenter Tagline to read:
“Klay Thompson scores more points in a game than the Huskies score in a Half”
Good call on Williams as the player to watch, Nuss
If he didn’t foul it, we were probably in deep trouble. The kid sure can play
Who made that call again?
:-)
CougCenter WSU's second main blog
by Craig Powers on Jan 8, 2010 10:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Glad to see you're back in action
I missed your analysis as well as predictions. Williams is gonna be tough, he’s the second-best freshman that I’ve seen in the Pac-10
by Couginthepink on Jan 8, 2010 10:53 PM PST up reply actions
When mainstream writers and even the head coach are tipping their cap to you
I’d say you’ve done pretty well.
Isn’t it nice having basketball season to write about instead of the doom and gloom of football?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on CougCenter
Related FanShots on CougCenter
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
