WSU Vs. Arizona State: Cougs Fall To Sun Devils, 71-67

by Craig Powers on Jan 28, 2012 4:41 PM PST in 2011-2012 WSU Basketball News

Brock Motum had a career day, scoring 34 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, but also turned the ball over 6 times as the Cougars fell to Arizona State on Saturday afternoon.

ASU came out firing, knocking down their first 4 threes and led by as much as ten in the first half. WSU was able to come back, and cut the lead to 37-36 at the break. The Sun Devils built the lead back up to 11 in the second half before the Cougars cut the lead down in the last few minutes. In the end, it was too little, too late for the Cougs.

Arizona State shot well with a 63 eFG%. They turned the ball over a lot as they typically do, but the shooting and consistent trips to the foul line after reaching the bonus early in the second half allowed them to overcome that and finished with 1.08 points per possession.

Turnovers were brutal for the Cougs, as they gave it away on 27% of their possessions. ASU's defense was forcing opponents into turnovers just 17% of the time previously. The inability to get to the free throw line was also huge as WSU had just 17 free throw attempts against 49 field goal attempts. That is 35 free throw rate, lower than Wazzu's 43 FTR coming in to the game.

The loss puts the Cougars at 3-6 halfway through conference play, and 0-5 in road games. WSU will be back at Friel Court at 7pm on Thursday night against the USC Trojans.

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Sure wish you had a different story to tell, Craig

Was this our hgihest turnover % of the year?

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 28, 2012 5:09 PM PST reply actions

Sadly, no.

33% against Oklahoma and 32% against EWU.

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by Craig Powers on Jan 28, 2012 7:06 PM PST up reply actions

Despite the fact that I knew this would be a rebuilding year,

I’m still immensely disappointed in this season. Do they seriously forget how to play good basketball on the bus. The fact that UW is beating up on UA is not helping my mood. Just once in my collegiate life I would like a decent-to-good football or basketball team.

by msgp501st on Jan 28, 2012 5:58 PM PST reply actions

Maybe you should consider applying for graduate school

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 28, 2012 6:08 PM PST up reply actions

I actually am, strangely enough.

Not for sports related wishes, but rather it’s probably the only way I will make money with my degree sadly.

by msgp501st on Jan 28, 2012 8:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

This sums up my thoughts exactly.

"Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!" | Herb Brooks

by Coug999 on Jan 28, 2012 8:37 PM PST up reply actions

Not the fondest of sports memories for this years' Senior class

You had the 2008 Apple Cup, Klay Thompson, and the 2011 NIT run. Did I miss anything? You can tell you children that your college career perfectly coincided with what I am sure will be referred to as the “Wulff Era.” Not meant as a dig on CPW at all. I am just saying that in 10-15 years from now when you say, “I was there for the Wulff era,” people will know exactly what you mean.

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 28, 2012 8:54 PM PST up reply actions

Were you not in school last year?

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by Jeff Nusser on Jan 28, 2012 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

Are you trying to say he should be grateful for the NIT run?

Some people aren’t but tht was pretty cool stuff to win three games on your home floor. I think it had a better overall value than a one and done in the dance.

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 28, 2012 10:26 PM PST up reply actions

I did enjoy the NIT run

As those were some great games, but the way it ended left a sour taste in my mouth.

by msgp501st on Jan 29, 2012 9:20 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Exactly my thoughts

We got somewhere and we crapped the bed when we arrived. The way the Wichita State game went put an enormous damper on the whole thing.

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 29, 2012 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

Just saying I think that team would qualify as "decent-to-good"

And as a side note, I think you also underestimate just how good Wichita State was. That team easily could have been in the NCAA tournament. You might also want to note what they’re doing this year.

CougCenter | Cougar Sports Weekly | @NussCoug

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2012 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

Don't let me be misunderstood

Wichita State was the best team in that tournament. The MVC is no joke of a conference. Any team that wins the NIT probably could have been a NCAA tournament team. And yeah, they continue to be legit.
There is just something about being held under 50 points and losing by more than 30 that is going to leave a stain on what the Cougars accomplished to get there. When you reach that lelvel of a tournament, you assume to be somewhat competibe with your opponent. It’s no fun to be in a bar with surrounded by a bunch of empty tables with empty pitchers on them and still have 8-10 minutes left to go in the game. (My WSU vs. WSU memory)

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 29, 2012 1:28 PM PST up reply actions

I think those of us that lived through the Graham years

Scoff at the idea that last year was anything other then a good year. Since this started with the comment that they would like to see a decent to good team, trust me; last year was a decent to good team.

by 02Coug on Jan 29, 2012 2:47 PM PST up reply actions

I agree with

Many posts above I cited it as a good memory and it has to be one of the most successful seasons in WSU history. I am just saying that the tournament run was a little tainted. We are not UK or UNC, a trip to the final 4 of the NIT is a big deal.

Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.

by PullManiac on Jan 29, 2012 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

These are all valid arguments and the more I hear from people who have followed the team for decades or more, I realize that we were lucky to see a team that accomplished so much.

Believe it or not, I used to pay no attention to sports other than baseball until I showed up to WSU. I was also born and raised in Spokane and my whole family are die hard Gonzaga fans (most of my cousins who are 10-20 years older than me went there except for a couple who went to WSU, and many work there now) so I was spoiled by having a team go to the tournament every year so I guess I just came to the belief that going to the NCAA tourney was just something teams did.
In that respect, I guess I was just in for a shock when it came to postseason play for the cougs, as well as other teams. I expected the team to be good because I had never really seen a bad college team and to this day, I still wonder at how we can leave guys open on the perimeter all game long. With how close we came last year, I suppose I should have expected a dropoff, but in my mind I don’t think I truly believed it.
I think I what I’m trying to get at is this idea that we are a “good” team is in my head and I can’t understand why we don’t play like it, which is why losses such as these really tick me off. This idea of being mediocre is foreign to me and I don’t like it.

Just my .02 (or more considering the length of this post)

by msgp501st on Jan 29, 2012 5:00 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Also, sorry in advance if this is TL;DR

by msgp501st on Jan 29, 2012 5:01 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

I'm glad you're pissed.

You should be. So much better than apathy. All we’re after here is trying to avoid simple venting as much as possible, because that’s not really productive.

CougCenter | Cougar Sports Weekly | @NussCoug

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 30, 2012 9:12 AM PST up reply actions