One of the first signs of the Bennett turnaround happened in Seattle three years ago, when an otherwise unremarkable Cougar team mopped the floor with Utah, 69-42. The Utes had a winning record coming in, and few expected that kind of a performance from a WSU offense that had never really picked up steam under Dick Bennett.
It led Tony Bennett, the associate head coach at that time, to proclaim to the media that we made ugly look pretty darn good that night.
So here we are again, heading to Seattle and reeling from a blowout loss to the Zags, just like we were when we played Utah.
This team, without a doubt, has to regain its discipline. Has to come out and force its will on Montana State. We have to make it ugly.
Montana State isn't exactly a pushover - beating Colorado and Oregon State on the road, by three points each. They just beat Josh Akognon's CSU Fullerton team by 14. Their losses are to Nevada, Boise State and Eastern Washington.
The player to watch is Bobby Howard, a 6'7" forward out of Great Falls who averages 14 points per game. This isn't the Citadel - the Cougars will have to play well if they want to get a blowout win from this one. If their game is off - well, let's hope that doesn't happen.
WSU
G Rochestie
G Thompson
G Koprivica
F Harmeling
C Baynes
MSU
G Bynum
G Navarre
G Rush
F Howard
C Mbunga
Line: WSU by 15