June Daugherty is a smart, hard-working, classy coach. I’m glad to see these notices (like the one for womens’ soccer) here. No one seems to comment, but the joy at mid-court the women displayed in Tempe was every bit as satisfying as tonight’s men’s win.

This is the first game that I watched this year. I watched two games last year (both losses). Last year I was surprised just how undisciplined this team was. They played at almost a Paul Westhead coached team pace. It was all run and gun and they threw up bad shot after bad shot. They dribbled into traffic and turned the ball over constantly. But, most of the team were all newcomers, so I kind of understood.

Watching yesterday’s game and knowing WSU was 0-10 in the Pac 10 season, I was not expecting much. On the face of it, I saw a lot of the same thing. They had way too many turnovers (28, ASU had 29). At least half were unforced; they were just careless plays on WSU’s behalf.

Now, I know I have been negative so far. But, what I actually saw yesterday I was encouraged. This team will get things turned around. I do not think it will be this year. Look for them to make a big jump next year.

First, there is talent and depth on this team. WSU was noticeably faster than ASU. Cook, Perkins and Moore are extremely talented. Knowing that they were 0-10, I expected them to be as undisciplined as last year. They weren’t. They at times take way too many bad shots. But, it was nowhere to the extent that I saw last year. I expect them to be even more disciplined next year.

Cook scored 33 and was outstanding. She was 13-18 from the field.

Moore has a different body type, but she reminds me of a John Stockton type player. She always has her head up looking to make a pass. She made several passes that were reminiscent of Stockton-Malone fast breaks (including a half court bounce pass through traffic for a Cook lay in). She had 13 turnovers, which needs to be cleaned up and watching her play, it will. She will be good, very good.

I am going to stop and make a comment here. My dogs can referee a Pac 10 women’s game as well as the jokers they had ref this game. At least four of the WSU TO’s were because the WSU player was taken out. Katie Grad grabs a lose ball along the baseline. The ASU defender going for the ball dives into the legs of Grad knocking her over like a bowling ball hitting a pin. The ref who is stationed right there calls a travel. I think it was Perkins who grabbed a rebound near the baseline. Simultaneously, the ASU player runs into her and knocks her out of bounds. The Saints or Colts would be happy with a tackle like that. Ref calls out of bounds. There were several more calls like that.

So, why is WSU 1-10? They have no inside game at all. No scoring and no rebounding (ASU had 10 more). Losing the two bigs to graduation along with Oestrichter and Muir not being there has hurt this team. Noyes(0 pts) is not physically ready to play Pac 10 ball yet, especially when she is the only post player.

So, after watching this game and listening to the halftime talk (FSN went into the locker room), I am still in June’s corner. She will get this team turned around.