Questions or comments? Please direct them to Jessica Schmick, Assistant Director, Athletic Media Relations, Washington State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, at jessica_schmick@wsu.edu.
Wednesday, Dec. 31 (5:40 p.m.)
Happy New Year's Eve!
I apologize for the time off from the blog, but I am back now. The team hit the court hard on the final day of 2008 for practice. The practice went a bit longer than usual and was followed with lifting in the weight room.
After two days of working on fundamentals, the Cougs spent the majority of today's practice perfecting their offensive plays and defensive sets. During defensive drills, Mike Harthun cracked the defense with his drives to the basket, while draining long-distance shots. Later, while running with the other team, Harthun continued his steady hand with more long distance shots.
WSU also spent time working on different scenarios, down by two points, up by two points, etc., with a specific amount of time on the clock.
I know it's not much, but that will do it for today. I will have more tomorrow as the Cougs continue to prepare for the Huskies on Saturday. Have a Happy New Year!
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Sunday, Dec. 28 (2:15 p.m.)
Good afternoon Cougs!
The team is off today, but arrived back in Pullman around 8:45 p.m. Saturday night following the game in Baton Rouge. The flight went fairly smoothly, as the team chartered back, making just one stop in Denver to refuel, just like on the way to Baton Rouge.
I do have a change for you all today. The official scorer LSU made a mistake yesterday and gave one of Klay Thompson's baskets (at the 7:30 mark of the first half) to Taylor Rochestie. The error has been fixed today, so now the leading scorer in yesterday's game was actually Thompson with 14, while Rochestie finished with 12 points. Thompson now is averaging 11.2 points per game this season, just 0.2 behind Aron Baynes with 11.4 points per game. Rochestie is third on the team with 10.0 points per outing. To see a corrected version of the box score, click HERE. I will make the necessary changes on the story on the website, so if you're curious, that is what happened.
I will be back later in the week with some updates as the team prepares for Washington to open Pacific-10 Conference play this Saturday. That game is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be seen on FSN Northwest.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Saturday, Dec. 27 (5 p.m.)
Welcome Back Coug Fans!
It was a real cat fight in Baton Rouge this morning/afternoon depending on where you enjoyed the game from. I hope you were all able to catch the game on ESPN2 to hear the fabulous analysis by Jimmy Dykes and Dave Barnett. Now you're in the right place to get the details they couldn't provide. Here's the Crimson ZZU post game to give you some information you won't find in the box score or anywhere else.
Player of the Game:Taylor Rochestie. The senior guard came into the game as the only Cougar with any experience against LSU. Rochestie took on the Tigers in his freshman season at Tulane and the Cougars leaned on him heavily as he played all 40 minutes. The Santa Barbara, Calif., native stayed aggressive despite shooting 2-for-9 in the first half and hit three more shots in the second half to finish 5-for-15. Two of his makes were from beyond the arc on his way 12 points. The two deep balls gives Rochestie 87 as a Cougar and puts him in 17th place all-time for career 3-pointers made. The point guard also hauled in a game-high nine rebounds. That is a season-high and WSU-high. On a day the Cougars dished out a season-low five assists, Rochestie was the only player with multiple helpers.
Honorable Mention POG:Klay Thompson. In just his second true road game as a college basketball player (the first being at Idaho), the youngster filled up the stat sheet. Thompson did most of his damage in the second half when he scored eight of his team-high 14 points. Four of those eight came from the free throw stripe as he still has not missed a free throw in his career. The freshman had five rebounds, three on offense, to help the Cougs outrebound LSU, the national leader on the glass. Thompson also had a block and an assist. Caleb Forrest. The senior got his second-straight start for the Cougs and kept them in the game during a sloppy first half. Forrest started his scoring with two free throws to continue his own streak of perfection from the line this year, and hit a jumper on the next possession. With 20 seconds left in the first half, Caleb added a put back to draw the Cougs within two at halftime. He continued his offensive outburst early in the second half with two jumpers in the first five minutes to round out his 10-point day. Aron Baynes. The big Aussie is an honorable mention selection not so much for what he did today, but because of how clear it became that the Cougars' success is directly correlated to his level of play. Baynes was relegated to the bench with two early fouls and he only played four minutes in the first half. He did mange to spread his fouls in the second half and stay in the game for 18 minutes, but was noticeably less aggressive as he was saddled with foul trouble.
Turning Point of the Game: 55 seconds between the 6:09 and 5:14 marks of the second half. After an Aron Baynes jump hook pushed the Cougars' lead to five, LSU got a steal and a Garrett Temple 3-pointer. The Tigers took Caleb Forrest's only miss of the game the other way for a transition 3-pointer and their first lead in 8 1/2 minutes. On the next Cougar possession, LSU forced another turnover and drew a foul as they attacked the basket on a fast break. Temple went to the line and knocked down 1-of-2 for a two-point lead. The Cougars would get back to within one twice, but the Tigers would not relinquish the lead as they finished on a 20-3 run.
Stat of the Game: Thievery. LSU used the length and athleticism that has become synonymous with SEC basketball to disrupt the Cougar offense today. The Tigers snatched 13 steals on their way to forcing WSU into a season-high 18 turnovers, nine in the decisive final seven minutes of the second half. Conversely, LSU only turned the ball over 10 times, none of which were WSU steals. The Cougars had zero steals in a game for the first time this season. That difference was glaring in the points off turnovers column. The Tigers turned the Cougar mistakes into 22 points while the Cougs managed just nine. That 13-point difference is hard to stomach in a 12-point loss, especially for a WSU team that is typically so sound.
Play of the Game: Caleb with a follow. With 26 seconds left in the first half, Taylor Rochestie took the ball from the left wing and slashed through the lane with a right-handed dribble. As he reached the middle of the key, Rochestie floated and switched the ball to his left to put up a teardrop. The shot bounced off the back iron but Caleb Forrest was rolling to the hoop after setting a screen for Taylor and he leaped as the ball bounced high into the air. Forrest swung his right arm out at the ball and tipped it back in for his sixth point of the half.
Thanks for reading, hope you learned something. The next Cougar game is at home a week from today agains the Huskies as the Pac-10 season gets into full swing. Check back for more from the Crimson ZZU in the coming days.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Saturday, Dec. 27 (12:57 p.m. CT)
Happy Game Day!
We're about a minute away from tip-off between the Cougars and Tigers at LSU. The Pete Maravich Assembly Center is about 3/4 full today and there is a little crimson and gray mixed in with all the purple and gold. I hope you're all able to catch the game on ESPN2 or the radio.
Yesterday following practice the team went inside LSU's Tiger Stadium to check out what the SEC powerhouse football team's stadium looks like. Following the stadium tour, the Cougars went and checked out Mike, the real-life Tiger kept in a $3 million housing facility.
WSU is going with a repeat of last Sunday's lineup, Klay Thompson, Taylor Rochestie, Daven Harmeling, Caleb Forrest and Aron Baynes. We'll be back with a postgame recap.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Friday, Dec. 26 (12:05 p.m. CT)
It's back...after a few weeks off, Freshman Friday is here at the Crimson ZZU. This week features redshirt freshman Charlie Enquist, a 6-10 forward from Edmonds, Wash.
Good morning Cougars,
I am typing to you from Baton Rouge right now and it is afternoon but I thought that most of you wouldn't be up after you ate your hearts out last night. It's weird to see the sun and warm weather after being in Pullman for the last few weeks. But we will be back soon enough to join most of you in the feet of snow that are left there.
I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and don't take it for granted. I will cherish that time with my family from now on because I have gotten such little time with them recently. I was supposed to go home on the night of the 21st for two days and then return for Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. for practice. The main words I used in the last sentence were "supposed to" but let's just say I didn't make it. After our Idaho game I was rushing to try and get back to Pullman so I could go home. But it seems our bus didn't know where the curbs were in the parking lot so it got stuck in the snow. So we sat around the Kibbie Dome eating KFC waiting for another bus. I ran to the new bus so we could get out of there. Then on our ride back to Pullman we could not make it up even the smallest hill and were forced to reverse down the hill and find another route. By then it was getting close to 9:00 so I knew I wasn't going to make it home. Then came the phone call to my mom where I told her I was not coming home. Next time I will have someone else call for me because it seemed like I was cutting off her right leg when I told her. So I stuck around Pullman for two days and did a whole lot of nothing until practice on Christmas Eve.
Yesterday was only Christmas on my phone because it said December 25th. We had practice at 9:30 in the morning and had to wait for our plane which was slightly delayed. Therefore we had to drive to Lewiston where the plane was able to land. We spent most of our time on a plane and when we got off it was hot and humid. But it was nice because we had a charter flight down to Baton Rouge with a slight stop in Denver where I wish we could have stayed there a little bit longer. During the flight Abe, Aron and I played Mario Kart against each other on Nintendo DS's. Aron plays too much so he won the most points but I want everyone to know that I took second and I don't even own a DS. Maybe Abe will beat me next time...yeah right.
So that is all for now. We have practice soon and then we are visiting LSU's football stadium which should be a cool place to see. And yes I know that I am saving Jessica Schmick (a.k.a. Mick) because she has been slacking on Freshman Friday. Don't go too hard on her.
Happy Holidays,
Charlie Enquist
Thursday, Dec. 25 (11:20 p.m. PT)
Merry Christmas Cougars!
Although it's Christmas today, the basketball team had a busy day. Everything got started with practice at 9:30 a.m. at Beasley Coliseum. Following practice, the team showered and got changed and we waited to find out if we'd be able to take our chartered flight out of Pullman or not. The team didn't have to wait long, but ended up flying out of Lewiston instead due to some fog on the Palouse. After a quick scheduled fuel stop in Denver, the Cougars arrived in Baton Rouge at 8:15 CT, just about 15 minutes later than originally scheduled. We went straight to the hotel where we enjoyed a Christmas dinner at the hotel restaurant. Nothing too eventful today, which is probably a good thing when traveling across the country.
I don't have much to report today, but will be back tomorrow with more from Baton Rouge as the team will practice down here at 1 p.m. CT. Just a reminder, Saturday's game tips off at 11 a.m. PT, 1 p.m. CT and can be seen nationally on ESPN2. Dave Barnett and Jimmy Dykes will be calling the game for ESPN2. The weekly game notes are up for Saturday's game. You can view them by clicking HERE . That's it for today.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Wednesday, Dec. 24 (10:15 p.m.)
Happy Holidays!
It's a snowy Christmas Eve in Pullman and the Cougars were back on the court this evening. The Cougs tried to get back in the swing of things after two much deserved days off from practice Monday and Tuesday. Before getting to work on their defensive sets and offensive plays, the Cougars worked on rebounding and taking care of the ball, in order to prepare for the Tigers of LSU, who lead the nation in rebounding margin, averaging 42.8 boards per game compared to 29.9 by their opponents. On top of that, LSU ranks fourth in the country in blocked shots per game with 7.4...another of WSU's opponents this season, Mississippi State, leads the nation with 10.2 blocks per outing. Saturday's game also looks to be a defensive battle as the Cougars lead the nation in scoring defense (48.0 points allowed per game) and field goal percentage defense (33.5 percent), while the Tigers rank 20th in scoring defense (57.4 points allowed per game) and fifth in field goal percentage defense (34.9 percent).
Coach Bennett held his weekly teleconference Tuesday, addressing questions about the trip to LSU and where the team is at right now. Coach Bennett was asked about the trip down to Baton Rouge, being that his wife is from there, and his motives for scheduling the game. Coach Bennett had an interesting answer: "First and foremost, we wanted to play a challenging, tough game before conference starts. It's hard for us to get people to do a home and home. When Trent (Johnson) went there, we talked to Trent, because of the relationship we have, and when he agreed to come back, we thought `let's do this.' It's hard to pinpoint when to do it, before or after Christmas. The benefit for me is that my wife and kids are there so I'll get to see them. That part will be nice to see them and be down there, but the fact that we get a return game with an SEC opponent, a well-coached team, against some athleticism to keep trying to toughen us up and prepare us for Pac-10 play, is a significant reason for that game."
Tomorrow the team will practice in the morning before heading to Baton Rouge (our fingers are crossed that the weather holds up). We are scheduled to arrive in Baton Rouge around 8 p.m. CT. I will try and get an update on the team's travels and Christmas tomorrow when we arrive in Louisiana.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Monday, Dec. 22 (11 a.m.)
Good morning Cougs!
I apologize for the delay. We had a few issues last night getting back from the game (including our bus getting stuck in the Idaho parking lot). I know the game seems like awhile ago, but here is the recap from the Crimson ZZU.
Player of the Game: Aron Baynes. The 6-10, 250 center used his size to his advantage as he pounded down low for his game and season-high 18 points on the night. Baynes added nine rebounds, also a season high, coming just one board short of his fourth career double-double and first of the season. Baynes attempted a career-high 15 field goals and made nine, just one shy of his career high set against USC, March 3, 2007, when he went 10-for-10 from the field for a career-high 25 points. For the third game this season, Baynes did not commit a turnover. On defense the Aussie held Idaho center Marvin Jefferson to four points while helping force two turnovers.
Honorable Mention POG: Taylor Rochestie. The senior point guard was the only other Cougar in double figures with 11 points, adding a season-high six rebounds while dishing out five assists. His six rebounds were one shy of his WSU best of seven set last season (he grabbed 10 boards at Southern Mississippi while playing for Tulane). On defense, Rochestie held Idaho's leading scorer (and former WSU teammate), Mac Hopson to just 10 points, seven points under his average. Marcus Capers. The birthday boy from Winter Haven, Fla. Scored four points on a perfect 2-for-2 from the field, while adding four rebounds in 14 minutes of action. Capers' performance was all about timing. The 6-4 guard used his tremendous wingspan to get his finger tips on a Klay Thompson missed three and tipped in the ball to give the Cougars a 44-38 advantage just under the eight-minute mark in the game. Caleb Forrest. Getting his first start since March 4, 2006 of his freshman season, Forrest played a season-high 31 minutes, one shy of his season high which he tied at Arizona State in his last start. Once again Forrest's statistics didn't truly reflect his performance as he used his hustle and sacrificed his body for six points, four rebounds and a steal.
Turning Point of the Game: The Cougars' 10-0 run from the 9:50-minute mark until the 5:40 mark in the second half. Trailing by two at halftime, the Vandals pulled within one off a jumper by Mac Hopson at the 11-minute mark. Over a minute later Nikola Koprivica scored his only points of the game with a timely 3-pointer off the dish by Klay Thompson for a four-point advantage. Two WSU possessions later Marcus Capers, back in the game, used his tremendous length as tipped in a missed 3-pointer by Thompson, using the very ends of his finger tips to extend the Cougars' lead to 44-38 with eight minutes to play. The Cougars remained solid on the glass and Taylor Rochestie knocked down his lone trey of the game followed by an offensive rebound and layup by Thompson to give the Cougs the 11-point, 49-38 lead with 5:40 to play. The Vandals couldn't recover from the deficit as WSU outscored Idaho, 33-21 in the final period.
Stat of the Game: Senior scoring. The Cougars' first 17 points of the second half were scored by seniors. Baynes led the way with eight of the 17 points, while Rochestie had four, Harmeling had three and Forrest knocked down a jumper for two. Nikola Koprivica broke the streak with his 3-pointer at the 9:50 mark in the second period.
Play of the Game: Capers' tip-in. Birthdays have always been big for the Cougars, and Marcus Capers kept the streak alive with a solid night of his own. With about eight minutes to play in the game, Klay Thompson took a three from the right wing. The ball bounced off slightly to the right and Capers came out of nowhere to get his hands on the ball. The freshman jumped above everyone else and got the very ends of his finger tips on the ball to score the bucket and get credited with the offensive rebound.
I will try and keep you all updated the next few days. The Cougs are off until Christmas. Happy Holidays!
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Sunday, Dec. 21
It's game day here in Moscow and you've come to the right place for in-game updates. Check in for an update at each media timeout. Before we get started though, senior Caleb Forrest is getting his first start of the season, and first since his freshman year at Arizona State (March 4, 2006).
2:30 Second Half: The Cougs have gone cold here but continue to play hard on both ends... Baynes inside, misses a dunk, gets it back, misses, goes to the floor and gets the timeout... He's now a rebound shy of his first double-double of the season and fourth career... Marcus with a beautiful drive to the hoop and a swooping up-and-under finish, that was a really quick first step... Cougars break the pressure and now the Vandals will start fouling but not in the bonus yet... Baynes is wide open on the inbounds play and throws down a monster dunk... under 40 seconds left, missed runner but the Cougars grab the offensive board and that will do it. Final score 55-41. We will be back with the post game as soon as we can.
3:57 Second Half: Klay Thompson follows a Rochestie miss and tips one in... Baynes back in after a foul on Taylor... Cougars bite on a pair of head fakes and the Vandals swing the ball to the corner where Simmons knocks down a three to end the Cougars' 10-0 run... right back into Baynes though and the he's got 16 as he drop steps to the baseline and puts it off the glass, 51-41 Cougs.
6:09 Second Half: Nice series for Nikola Koprivica as he draws a charge on one end and hits a three on offense... After a fierce battle on one side, they get Aron for a foul on the other and the Vandal crowd is loving it, they definitely don't like the big Aussie here... Marcus Capers, just into the game, shows what his length and athleticism can do for this team as he leaps high and hangs for the tip in, then challenges a fade away on defense, no block but he definitely disrupted that shot. The tip in will be a play of the game nominee... Taylor bangs home a 3-pointer from the right corner... Daven appears to have lost a contact lens and we will take a timeout with the Cougs on and 8-0 run and the lead out to 47-38.
10:30 Second Half: Taylor attacks the basket again and kisses a floater off the glass to continue the trend as now all 13 second half points have been score by seniors... five-straight points from the Vandals leads Coach Bennett to call a timeout... Baynes and Klay back into the game... Baynes back to work down low and adds to his game-high total... Luciano de Souza, a small forward from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who has a hairstyle to match his countryman Anderson Varejao, knocks down his second 3-pointer... Rochestie quiets the crowd with a driving bucket... Mac Hopson gets them right back on their feet with a jumper, 38-39 Cougs... Baynes commits the over-the-back foul going for an offensive rebound.
14:28 Second Half: The starters are the same on both sides as the teams switch directions... Back inside to Baynes on the first WSU possession and the hook is good... Kashif Watson slashes to the rim for the Vandals and gets fouled but finishes, makes the free throw for a three-point play, 23-24... Klay gets the ball on the left wing, drives to the middle and finds Harmeling in the left corner for a three, got it... little conforntation down low between Baynes and Jefferson with elbows and words... turnover Cougs but good transition defense by Klay leads to nothing for Idaho... Hopson to the hole and again a three-point play opportunity for the Vandals, and they convert... Caleb Forrest hits a jumper... Baynes inside on a nice feed from Rochestie, finishes in traffic... on the other end Baynes with a strong rebound and sends Jefferson to the deck, no foul... on offense, Cougs look inside to him and he takes it at Jefferson again, two more for Baynes and he's got 12 in the game... Timeout Vandals... Another block by Casto down low and the ball goes out of bounds giving us the first media timeout of the second half, 33-26 Cougs.
Halftime: 3-pointer by Terrence Simmons gives the Vandals back the lead, 20-18... The Cougars have missed eight-consecutive 3-pointers so they go inside to Caleb and he hits a turnaround jumper from 12 after keeping the possession alive with an offensive rebound... final possession of the half gets the Cougs a lay-up as the play was executed beautifully. The Cougars lulled the Vandals' zone defense to sleep by passing the ball back and forth out top until the clock showed three seconds left and Klay snuck behind the back line of the zone along the baseline where Taylor fed him a perfect lob pass and the Cougars take a 22-20 lead into halftime, definitely a play of the game nominee. At the half, Rochestie leads WSU with four rebounds and three assists, while Thompson has been the major beneficiary as he leads the team with seven points. For Idaho, Mac Hopson is leading the way with five points.
3:37 First Half: The ball goes into Baynes for the first basket out of the timeout and the Vandals come back to score four-straight points and take their first lead of the game, 17-16... Baynes gets it inside again and puts in a hook shot to take the lead back... Nothing is falling from the outside for the Cougars, but they are getting good looks... still 18-17 at the break.
6:43 First Half: DeAngelo Casto made 1-of-2 from the line out of the break... Cougars not allowing anything easy as Casto comes back with a nice block on Jefferson's two-handed dunk attempt, on the next Vandal possession Daven Harmeling rejected two Idaho shots ... Marcus Capers sees his first action today, on his 19th birthday... after nothing will fall on the offenive end, we reach this break at 14-13 Cougars.
11:34 First Half: Aron Baynes won the tip and on the first possession Klay Thompson knocked down a 3-pointer... Taylor Rochestie came back on the next possession and slashed to the basket like he was doing yesterday in practice to make it 5-0... Baynes throws down a thunderous jam right over the top of Marvin Jefferson who tried to draw a charge to no avail...Idaho finally on the board, 7-2... Forrest finds his usual spot along the baseline, up fake and nice finger roll from just outside the lane... Mac Hopson (the former Coug) hits a top-of-the-key three ball but Rochestie burns him on the other end for a nice lay up...Klay with a two and at the first break it is 13-11 Cougs.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Saturday, Dec. 20 (4:45 p.m.)
Hello Coug Fans!
Well it's the first day of winter break here at WSU, but there's no rest for the men's basketball team. The Cougars traveled to Moscow for practice today in order to get accustom to the lighting, depth perceptions and overall ambiance that Cowan Spectrum at the Kibbe Dome has to offer. It was my first time in the... unique building. If any of you have not made it to a basketball game at the all-purpose football, track, tennis and hoops complex, come watch the Cougars take on the Idaho Vandals tomorrow at 5:05. The peculiar set up led Daven Harmeling to joke that he was going to run a 100-meter hurdle race as part of his warm up.
Once everyone was ready to go, the team worked on a lot of shooting drills for every position. Taylor Rochestie and Klay Thompson found their stroke early and were cashing in from everywhere on the floor. When the team started working against each other, Rochestie continued to shoot well and took the ball at the hoop with a purpose. All of the guards, who continually rotated in and out, did a good job of handling the ball against pressure and finding Aron Baynes down low, and Baynes had his jump hook going today.
At the end of practice the guys let Coach Heideman walk them through what to expect from the Vandals tomorrow on offense and defense.
Once again, tip off is at 5:05 tomorrow for everyone that can make it. If not, check back here for the Crimson ZZU post game entry.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Friday, Dec. 19 (9:20 p.m.)
Happy Friday!
It's Friday, and here on the Palouse that means the end of finals week. Pullman is beginning to clear out a bit today, especially with the snow letting up some. Those still in town include the men's basketball team, which returned to the court today for practice. The Cougs practiced a bit later today, hitting the floor at 5:30 p.m. at Beasley.
The team worked on many of the same things that it had been working on this week. Among some of the drills included blocking out and 3-on-3 defensive drills. Looking solid from the floor offensively was Taylor Rochestie, who was firing on all cylinders. Also looking sharp from beyond the 3-point arch were Abe Lodwick and Mike Harthun.
I know we haven't had one in the last three weeks, but we may have a Freshman Friday tonight. If not tonight, hopefully we'll have it tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, the Cougs will practice over at Idaho Saturday before Sunday's game. Another reminder, Sunday's game is now set for 5:05 p.m., moved from the original start time of 7:05 p.m.
In other news, Taylor Rochestie was named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award today. CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School and the criteria focuses on the "Four C's," classroom, character, community and competition. For the complete release, click HERE.
That is going to do it for now, but hopefully I'll be back later with another edition of Freshman Friday.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Thursday, Dec. 18 (3:00 p.m.)
Good afternoon Coug fans!
The team hit Friel Court early today for a long practice as the players try and get their minds off studying and finals for a while and the coaches get them prepared for Idaho. The first bit of practice was dedicated to offensive moves with the guys split into groups by position, allowing the guards to shake the rust off their jumpers and the posts to get their footwork back after yesterday's break. Everyone took a little bit of time to get back into their groove, but by the end of practice, the Cougs were clicking on all cylinders.
First was Nikola Koprivica, who was taking the ball at the hoop strong all day. The Serbia-native also applied incredible on-ball pressure during 1-on-1 drills and 3-on-3 close-outs. Aron Baynes also came along early in practice, finishing hook shots and rebounding on both ends of the floor. The first player to find his touch from the outside was Daven Harmeling who, after scorching the nets from beyond the arc in Seattle, is closing in on the WSU all-time top-10 for career three-point field goals made.
Later in practice, the freshmen started to shine. First it was Klay Thompson making things happen on offense as he had his outside jump shot working and was attacking off the bounce with pull-up mid-range shots and strong finishes in the paint. During a full scrimmage towards the end of practice, DeAngelo Casto made his presence felt. Casto battled for second chances on the offensive boards and flashed new offensive moves on the block. On defense, he was blocking shots, coming up with steals and cleaning the glass.
After the scrimmage, Coach Bennett split the guys into two groups. One group got in a lot of extra shooting work while the others lifted weights. After about 30 minutes, they switched. In all, the Cougars gave a great effort for more than three hours. They will be back at it again tomorrow, be sure to check back to see how they look.
In other news, there was a recent article in the Tacoma News Tribune about former WSU student manager Mitch Reaves, who is now the director of basketball operations at Seattle U. Click HERE to find out what Mitch is up to.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Wednesday, Dec. 17 (1:45 p.m.)
Good afternoon!
It's a snowy day here on the Palouse and finals are still going on, so there's not a lot to report. The team was off today, its last day off before taking on Idaho, Sunday at 5:05 p.m. at Cowan Spectrum.
As I mentioned a few weeks back, the Cougs did a photo shoot during the first week of school in August for photos for the media guide and poster in Beasley Coliseum. First the guys got their uniforms on and we shot the non-seniors in front of the ZZU CRU. The ZZU CRU members were kind enough to come out and appear in the photo. The first photo we took ended up on the front media guide cover just below the seniors. We followed that by putting those players in the stands with the ZZU CRU and put the seniors in front. That photo was used for the poster. Finally we pulled out the non-seniors and shot just the seniors in front of the ZZU CRU for the large photo on the front of the media guide.
After that the players took TV headshots in both their jersey tops and shooting shirts. These photos are used on telecasts by the various networks throughout the season. Following that, the lighting was adjusted by our photographers Bob Hubner and Shelly Hanks and the players posed with the ball, in their uniforms, for their photo on the player profile pages. These photos were used in the guide this year instead of headshots.
Next came a wardrobe change in which the players changed into suits brought in from Myklebust's in Lewiston. We made sure the freshmen went first so they could get to an orientation meeting, as each of the guys came out dressed up for his other photo for his profile page. Overall things went pretty quickly and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
You can view the photo gallery from the photo shoot by clicking HERE. And, to check out how everything looks in the media guide, you can click HERE.
That's it for today. I will be back tomorrow from practice. Mike took his last final today, so we'll be hearing more from him this week as well.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Tuesday, Dec. 16 (5:17p.m.)
Hello Cougs!
The Cougars kicked practice off with a film session before hitting the floor just after the noon hour today. With five days before its game at Idaho, WSU spent the first part of practice working on fundamentals, including ball handling and shooting.
After stretching, the Cougars spent a fair amount of time broken up in two groups, the guards and the `bigs'. In those groups the players worked on position moves, followed by some one-on-one play. During the one-on-one drill, the guards took turns guarding each other, starting first from the top of the arc, then from half court. The `bigs' took turns going against each other, starting down low at the blocks.
The Cougs didn't run up and down the court much during practice, so afterward they hit the weight room for a light lift, followed by a pool workout to get some cardio in.
Just in case you haven't heard, the WSU game at Idaho, Sunday (Dec. 21), has been moved to a 5:05 p.m. start instead of 7:05 p.m. at the Cowan Spectrum (Kibbie Dome) in Moscow. There's no earth-shattering reason for the change, it was just something the coaches decided on as they thought it would give the students and student-athletes a chance to get out of town for break a little earlier.
Today I received the disk of photos from Jim Simpkins from the Cougar Hardwood Classic. You can view the 41-photo gallery HERE. Jim did a great job with photos and there are a lot of fun ones of the team signing autographs. Included is a photo from the proposal that took place during one of the media timeouts. I don't know the names, but congratulations to those two on their engagement.
Also, Coach Bennett held his weekly teleconference today. You can watch the All-Access footage HERE. .
The Cougs are off tomorrow for finals, but I'll be back with a photo gallery from the media guide photo shoot in August.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Monday, Dec. 15 (5:25 p.m.)
Good Evening Cougars!
After Saturday's victory, the Cougars had Sunday and Monday off from practice in order to recover from the trip and prepare for this week's finals. After the game Saturday the Cougs hopped on the bus and headed to SeaTac Airport. The scheduled 11 p.m. flight was about 45 minutes late leaving due to some snow in Seattle and the need for deicing. We flew into Spokane then bussed down to Pullman. It was very cold outside, but the bus driver did a good job of getting us back as we arrived in town around 3 a.m. Sunday morning.
Jim Simpkins, a 1981 Cougar alum, took some photos of the game at KeyArena. We'll have some more later, but he sent me these four PHOTOS.
Well, since it is finals week, the managers are busy studying for tests as well, so we will not have Manager Monday. However, I do have questions from a Q&A with Aron Baynes. Ten of the questions appeared in the Nov. 15, 21 and 25 edition of the Basketball Game Program. Here are all 15 questions, including the five that didn't appear in the program.
1. Q: What has been your favorite memory at WSU?
A: The bus ride through Pullman on our way to the NCAA Tournament both years.
2. Q: What are some of your team goals this season?
A: Play great defense and be competitive in every game.
3. Q: Do you have any personal goals this season?
A: I want to be the fittest I've ever been and stay on the court, don't commit stupid fouls.
4. Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Pullman?
A: Go to a movie or play Xbox.
5. Q: What do you miss the most about Australia?
A: The beach.
6. Q: What city do you enjoy traveling to most? Why?
A: Pullman once I've been away.
7. Q: What basketball player did you try to model your game after when you were younger?
A: Absolutely nobody.
8. Q: What arena would you want to play in?
A: Madison Square Garden.
9. Q: What are you plans after graduation?
A: I still don't know what I'm doing after next Sunday.
10. Q: What made you decide to come to WSU?
A: The coaching staff and conference.
11. Q: What was the biggest change to your game this summer?
A: Fitness
12. Q: If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you play?
A: Rugby
13. Q: What is one thing you've learned in your time at WSU?
A: Don't try and run down an icy hill.
14. Q: What's the best thing about being a student-athlete?
A: Knowing the student comes first.
15. Q: What did you want to be when you were a kid?
A: Rafael, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, I dressed up like him all the time.
Speaking of Aron Baynes, in the Dec. 2008 issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids, Baynes was named to the five-man team of college basketball's `Toughest Players'. Baynes was named the team's center and was joined by power forward Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, small forward Damion James of Texas, shooting guard Jerel McNeal of Marquette and point guard Levance Fields of Pittsburgh. Here's what the magazine had to say about Baynes: "This 6'10", 270-pound Australian is the last guy you want to run into in the paint. Baynes loves to throw his weight around, which is why he fouled out of seven games last season. But he also averaged 10.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game. Former UCLA star Kevin Love probably put it best last season when he said, `I'm not afraid of anybody, but that's one big dude'."
Alright, that's all I have for you tonight, but I will be back tomorrow with a practice report as the team hits the hardwood for its first practice of the week.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Saturday, Dec. 13 (10:30 p.m.)
Welcome back to the Crimson ZZU!
The Cougars bounced back from consecutive losses with a commanding 70-51 victory over the Montana State Bobcats in this year's Cougar Hardwood Classic at Key Arena in Seattle. There were a number of impressive performances tonight and I will try to highlight the best of the best in the post game entry.
Player of the Game: Daven Harmeling. Harmeling set the tone for the Cougars early tonight. After falling behind 1-0, the Cougs turned to the senior from Grand Junction, Colo., for an answer. Harmeling delivered with two 3-pointers and effectively shook the rust off the Cougars' jumpshots from the Gonzaga game. Harmeling worked the ball around in the Cougar offense and found DeAngelo Casto and Aron Baynes for lay-ups to help extend the Cougars' first-half lead before knocking down two jumpers of his own to give him 10 points in the half. Early in the second half, Baynes backed his defender down on the post and found Harmeling on the perimeter who continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc. Harmeling finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point land. The three makes from deep moves him into sole possession of 13th place on WSU's all-time list for 3-pointers made with 116.
Honorable Mention POG: Klay Thompson. The freshman got an early lay-up, but really found his groove at the end of the first half when he converted on a set play for him to come off a screen for a catch-and-shoot look on an inbounds play with five seconds left in the half. After the break, Thompson took the hot hand from Harmeling as he burried a 3-pointer to open the Cougar scoring in the half. He finished the game with two more 3's and a pair of tough jumpers in the lane. Thompson finished with a team-high 14 points and added a team-high six rebounds. Caleb Forrest. The senior brought another dose of energy off the bench for the Cougs tonight. Forrest ran the floor for easy buckets as he went 5-for-6 from the field on his way to 10 points while pulling in five boards in just 18 minutes of action. DeAngelo Casto. The Spokane-native was exactly what the Cougars needed in the first half on the offensive end, and denied anything the Bobcats wanted to get started in the second half. Casto came off the bench and immediately scored six-straight points on a tough fall-away jumper, an emphatic dunk and a streaking lay-up. He rejected two Montana State shots and brought down four rebounds, two on the offensive end. Casto added another flush in the second half to make him a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor as he added eight points. Taylor Rochestie. The senior point guard got back to his old self tonight as he made the defense pay for losing sight of him. Rochestie scored eight points on 4-of-7 shooting. All of his field goals were lay-ups as he attacked the rim, including one where he stole the ball and raced coast to coast when the defense had their backs turned. Rochestie also bounced back from his first no-assist game since 2006 and dished out six helpers. He also pulled down a season-high five rebounds.
Turning Point of the Game: Five-minute stretch in second half from 12:11 to 7:24. Up to the 12:11 mark in the second half, the Bobcats had neutralized every run the Cougars tried to make. Then the Cougars got the ball into Aron Baynes. With a jumper and a pair of free throws, Baynes started a 14-2 run that would essentially put the game out of reach for Montana State. Baynes also kept the next Cougar possession alive with an offensive rebound that resulted in a bucket for Klay Thompson. Next was Taylor Rochestie's steal and score, followed by Caleb Forrest running the floor for two points in transition. On the next possession, DeAngelo Casto turned in his second blocked shot and got a dunk on the other end from a nice wrap-around pass from Nikola Koprivica. After the Bobcats missed another shot, Forrest grabbed the rebound and sprinted down the middle of the floor. Rochestie spotted him and rewarded the big man for his hustle as Caleb got a lay-up and pushed the Cougar lead to 22, forcing the Bobcats to take a timeout and regroup.
Stat of the Game: Assists. The Cougars tallied 19 assists, the second-most this season, on 28 field goals. The Cougs were led by Taylor Rochestie's six dishes. It is the ninth time Rochestie has led the team this season. The sharing spirit was contagious tonight as eight different Cougars registered assists. Each starter had at least two and Marcus Capers, Caleb Forrest and Abe Lodwick chipped in one each.
Play of the Game: Caleb running the floor. With under three minutes to go in the game, Marcus Capers was forced to take a tough, elbow jumper. Montana State came down with the rebound and got out on the run. Caleb Forrest and Capers got back to force the Bobcats into a tough shot, Forrest swatted it back near half court and Capers picked it up. On the break, Capers dished it back to the trailing Forrest for a two-handed slam that brought the Key Arena crowd and Cougar bench to their feet.
The Cougs will have a break before the next game with finals this coming week. Next time they hit the floor will be the Cougars' first true road game as they travel eight miles to take on the Idaho Vandals. Check back for practice updates this week.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Satruday, Dec. 13 (7:00 p.m.)
Hello Coug fans!
I'll be bringing you updates at every media timeout from tonights Cougar Hardwood Classic. You can watch the game on FSN Northwest, but for those of you outside the region, stay tuned to see how the Cougars are doing against Montana State. Everybody be sure to check back after the game for tonight's post game entry.
Final Baynes makes them both and goes to the bench with nine points and six boards...Caleb sprints back on defense to block a free throw line jumper and gets out on the break as Marcus Capers drops it back to him for the two-handed slam...Charlie Enquist gets a block on defense...Fabian Boeke replaces Forrest and Nick Witherill also gets into the game..Boeke hits a three-pointer for the first points of his collegiate career...Abe Lodwick dribbles out the clock and the Cougars win it 70-51.
3:56 Second Half: Rochestie goes at the hole and is fouled, 1-of-2 from the line...Forrest with an up-fake on the baseline drives to the middle and puts up a runner that finds the bottom of the net..Baynes makes a couple of move...underneath to get free and is fouled, two more free throws for Baynes when we get back, 63-42 Cougars.
6:45 Second Half: Caleb Forrest gets a lay-up off a nice feed from Koprivica...Casto turns back another Bobcat shot, his second block of the game and on the other end brings the crowd to its feet with a thundering two-handed dunk off wrap-around pass from Koprivica...Caleb Forrest brings down a rebound, hustles down the middle of the floor and is rewarded by Taylor Rochestie with another lay-up, 60-38 Cougars.
8:55 Second Half: Baynes makes them both and the Cougars have their biggest lead of 14 at 50-36...MSU comes right back and score inside...Klay finds some space on the baseline and makes a pretty move to score two in the paint...Taylor strips the ball on the baseline and takes it all the way to the hoop and finishes with a finger roll...timeout Bobcats, 54-38 Cougar lead.
11:04 Second Half: Thompson comes out of the timeout, curls off a screen and puts in a nice floater in the lane...MSU answers, 43-33...Two free throws for Taylor Rochestie, the first of the game for the Cougs, and another by Baynes pushes it to a 13-point game...MSU comes back with a long 3-ball, but Baynes drops in a jump hook and it's 48-36...Nikola Koprivica finds Baynes along the baseline who's fouled as he goes up for the slam, so he'll get two free throws on the other side of the break.
14:49 Second Half: The Cougars begin their first possession out of the break by working the ball around with some dribble hand offs before Klay Thompson knocks down a 3-pointer...The Bobcats have gone to the line each of their first three possessions and are trying to force the Cougs into a turnover with some backcourt pressure...WSU breaks the press and Rochestie goes right at the hole for a lay-up, 35-23...Work the ball inside to Baynes, he kicks it out to Harmeling for another trey...MSU won't go away, continue to answer and it's 38-29...Baynes gets an offensive board and kicks it out to Klay for another three, but the Bobcats answer back, 41-31.
It's halftime in Seattle, and here are some quick tidbits for you. The Cougars are red-hot from the field shooting 58.3 percent, including 40 percent from downtown. The defense is holding Montana State to just 26 percent. Harmeling leads the way with 10 points. Back with the second-half action in a minute.
Halftime: Daven Harmeling continues his hot streak with another jumper from the left wing...Mike Harthun gets into the action, sticking one from the left corner...Casto makes an early case for play of the game with a huge swat on the other end of the court...Klay Thompson ends the half coming off a screen on an out-of-bounds play and hitting a jumper before the buzzer sounded, giving the Cougars a 30-18 halftime lead.
4:56 First Half: The Cougs got back on the court and Caleb Forrest followed a Marcus Capers miss. Rochestie madde another nifty move to get to the hoop and finished off the glass. A hook from Aron Baynes and a corner jumper from Harmeling gave the Cougars a 24-13 lead, the largest so far.
9:40 First Half: Klay Thompson got on the board out of the break and consecutive baskets by DeAngelo Casto, including a dunk, pushed the Cougar lead to 9. The Bobcast battled back behind a pair of 3's. Slashing lay-ups by Casto and Taylor Rochestie pushed the lead back to 16-11.
15:07 First Half: Cougars lead 6-1 after two triples from Daven Harmeling.
Keep it Crimson,
Mike Walsh
Thursday, Dec. 11 (11:45 p.m.)
Good Evening Cougs!
The Cougars were back on the court today after Wednesday's loss to Gonzaga. I'm sure many of you can guess the biggest point of emphasis on the hardwood today; fundamentals. Practicing over in PEB due to the upcoming graduation ceremony in Beasley this weekend, the Cougs worked on everything from ball handling to individual shooting to team defense. During defensive drills, including an intense 4-on-4 drill, the white team, consisting of the top-8, suffocated the red team with its defense. Looking particularly strong were Taylor Rochestie in the passing lanes and Marcus Capers with his extremely long wingspan.
Tomorrow morning the Cougs fly over to the West Side to prepare for Saturday's Cougar Hardwood Classic. This year will mark the fourth Cougar Hardwood Classic, pitting the Cougs against Montana State. Tip-off Saturday is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised live on FSN Northwest. Head Coach Tony Bennett and the rest of the team always enjoy the opportunity to go play in front of the Cougar fans over on the other side of the state. Bennett had this to say about the game; "Our game in Seattle is a good chance for our West Side fans to come support the Cougars." Rochestie added; "We love going over there, we love our Seattle crowd and the alumni and fans over there. They really give us a spark and they really make it a home-court advantage when we get over there."
That is all I have for tonight I will be back tomorrow from Seattle.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
WSU vs. Gonzaga Highlights
Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, Dec. 11 (1:10 a.m.)
Welcome back to the Crimson ZZU, Cougar fans. THe Cougs dropped a tough one tonight to in-state rival Gonzaga 74-52. The No. 4 Zags improve to 7-0 while the Cougars drop to 6-3. There was a lot going on in tonight's game, and you've come to the right place to get the most comprehensive coverage. Here is tonight's post game entry.
Player of the Game: DeAngelo Casto. The freshman from Spokane came into the game against his home-town team with a purpose. Casto immediately brought an aggressive presence to the floor and his first mention in the stat sheet came as he tied the game at 13 with a jumper. Two free throws by Casto at the 6:39 mark made the score 21-17 and gave WSU its largest lead of the game. DeAngelo's presence kept the Cougars at high level intensity as he chased down loose balls and pulled in rebounds. Casto finished the half with four points and three rebounds in just five minutes of action. He also noticeably increased the Cougs' level of play and countered the Bulldogs' advantage in the athleticism department. In the second half Casto was again the Cougars' biggest threat to slowing down the Zags' up-tempo style of play. In his second stint on the court after intermission he did not let Gonzaga get anything easy inside. He blocked a Josh Heytvelt dunk on one end and followed it up with a put-back layup as he was fouled. Late in the second half DeAngelo did not stop working despite the deficit. With 2:24 left, Casto turned in the play of the game (see below) when he notched the only WSU steal of the game and raced the other way for a two-handed slam. On the next Gonzaga possession, Casto blocked a dunk attempt by Ira Brown giving him 11 blocks on the year, just two shy of cracking the freshman top-10 list. Casto sunk to free throws for the final margin and to cap a 4-for-5 night from the stripe on his way to a career-high 10 points, tied for the team lead.
Honorable Mention POG: Caleb Forrest. The senior from Pagosa Springs, Colo., was an integral part of the Cougs' success in the first half. The first sub for WSU at the first media timeout of the game, Forrest made his presence felt quickly blocking a shot by Jeremy Pargo on the Zags' second possession. The 6-9 forward grabbed the rebound on the next two Bulldog shots. With the Cougars trailing 8-13, Forrest hit a jumper which sparked a 9-0 Cougar run and gave them their largest lead of the game at four points. He finished with nine points and four rebounds and has not missed a free throw shot this season, making three on the night. Aron Baynes. The Australian senior made all three of his shot attempts on the night and went 4-for-5 from the free throw line, finishing with 10 points, tying DeAngelo Casto for team-high honors. Baynes added two blocked shots on the night. Gonzaga scored first on the night with a 3-pointer, but Baynes evened it up just under the 19-minute mark with an old-fashioned 3-point play of his own. Baynes also scored first in the second half for WSU on a layup.
Turning Point of the Game: The first two minutes and five seconds of the second half. Trailing by three at 32-29 at the half, the Cougars pulled within one point on a layup by Baynes with just 39 second off the clock. At that point, the Bulldogs began to run. First, off a missed 3-point attempt by Klay Thompson, Josh Heytvelt took a pass from Jeremy Pargo for a dunk. The Zags forced back-to-back turnovers by the Cougs, taking advantage with a 3-pointer by Pargo and a layup by Austin Daye. Gonzaga went on a 9-0 run before WSU Head Coach Tony Bennett called a 30 second timeout with 17:55 to go in the half. After the timeout, things didn't get better for the Cougars as the Bulldogs extended it to a 15-0 run to the 15:21 mark for a 47-31 lead.
Stat of the Game: 3-point shooting. The Cougars hit a 3-point shot in each half for the seventh time this season. Unfortunately, they only hit one in each half. The Cougs went 2-for-19 from beyond the arc, tying a season-low in makes. The 10.5 percent performance is the lowest since going 1-for-10 against No. 2 UCLA March 31, 2007. Conversely, Gonzaga shot 43 percent from 3-point range, making 10-of-23 attempts, including three from center Josh Heytvelt. The discrepancy was most glaring in the first half as WSU was the more aggressive team but went 1-for-10 on deep balls while Gonzaga connected on 6-of-13 and took a three-point lead into the break. The Cougs were able to stay in it because of a much improved touch from the free throw line. It was an emphasis in practice this week and it paid off as the Cougars shot a season-best 84 percent from the line, going 16-of-19. They were 12-for-14 in the first half.
Play of the Game: After switching on defense, DeAngelo Casto found himself out top guarding Demetri Goodson. Playing aggressive defense, Casto took the ball from Goodson for his lone steal of the game. The freshman drove the ball all the way down the court and finished in exciting fashion with a dunk. Casto's steal caused the third-straight turnover for Gonzaga and capped off an 8-0 run by WSU.
That's going to wrap it up for the Crimson ZZU tonight. Be sure to log on tomorrow, we will have another practice recap as the Cougs prepare for the Cougar Hardwood Classic in Seattle against Montana State Saturday.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Wednesday, Dec. 10 (10:00 p.m.)
Welcome back Coug fans!
Before I get to the post game entry, I have a special feature for tonight. As most of you know, there was a large contingent of Cougar students that came out this morning and waited in line outside of Beasley Coliseum to show their support for the team and ensure themselves the best seat in the house for tonight's marquee nonconference game agains Gonzaga. For those who couldn't make it, I have put together a video to capture the atmosphere of the day. Enjoy.
Stay tuned for the post game later tonight.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Tuesday, Dec. 9 (7:15 p.m.)
Hello Coug Fans!
The Cougars hit the floor for another intense practice to gear up for tomorrow's match-up with No. 4 Gonzaga. The guys worked hard for about an hour and 45 minutes before getting home to rest up for the second game against the fourth-ranked team in the country in the last two weeks after falling to Pittsburgh in the championship game of the Legends Classic in Newark, N.J.
Today's practice began with a lot of shooting drills with the posts and guards split up. The big men worked on an assortment of post moves against Coach Sanchez and his blocking pad that he was not afraid to smack into their backs. Caleb Forrest brought a workmanlike demeanor from the start as he was the strongest and most consistent post player during the drills.
The team then got into a drill that pitted the offense against a six-man defense, forcing a lot of ball movement in order to find an open man. Nikola Koprivica looked impressive for the white team, connecting on the outside shots he was given and finding space in the lane to collapse the defense and feed his teammates. Big Aron Baynes was the beneficiary of most of Koprivica's hard work as he was left open along the baseline for dunks time after time.
The most impressive dunk of the day undoubtedly goes to Forrest though. Near the end of practice during a full scrimmage, Caleb streaked down the sideline and caught an outlet pass before driving straight at the basket and throwing down a ferocious dunk over the outstretched arm of James Watson. The throw down was reminiscent of his poster-worthy dunk against Fairleigh Dickinson earlier this season.
The red team would not be outdone though, in the scrimmage. Freshman Nick Witherill took control of the second scrimmage in the final minute and brought his team back from a four-point deficit. Witherill hit a deep 3-pointer to make the score 6-5 and then turned defense into offense with a steal and lay-up on the next possession. Then he stole the inbounds pass with 29 seconds left and the reds were able to hold on for an 8-6 win.
After the scrimmages, the team took their last set of free throws, a focal point of practice again today.
Redshirt senior forward Daven Harmeling's older brother, Mike, was on hand for today's practice and will be at the game tomorrow. Mike came to show support for his brother and the rest of the Cougars in the seniors' final regular season faceoff against the Zags. Hopefully all of you will follow his lead and come cheer on the Cougs tomorrow night. If you can't make it, the game will be on Fox Sports Northwest and KHQ for those in Spokane.
One last thing, there is All-Access video of Coach Bennett's teleconference available HERE.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Monday, Dec. 8 (10:51 p.m.)
Good evening!
Well, it's Monday, and that means another entry of Manager Monday. This week we have second-year manager Neil Stover back with us. Neil's had an interesting few days between basketball, school and apartment issues.
Before we get to Neil, let me talk to you briefly about today's practice. The Cougars returned to the hardwood today after a nice rest Sunday. In anticipation of the big battle in eastern Washington, there was a lot of media on hand at practice today to get interviews prior to the beginning of practice.
Once the team hit the court, it was in for an intense, two-plus hour practice. At the end of the practice, the Cougs participated in two separate scrimmages. Taylor Rochestie and Daven Harmeling were sharp shooters during the scrimmages, draining nearly every shot they took. Klay Thompson showed his versatility, driving to the hoop for several baskets of his own.
The Cougars ended practice with a few free throws. Making the free throws a little more costly, the team members not shooting had to choose whether or not they thought the shooter would make the free throw or not, remaining on the baseline if they thought he'd make it, moving onto the court if they suspected he'd miss it. Each player who guessed wrong had to do jumping jacks. Charlie Enquist made the majority of his teammates pay for predicting he'd miss his free throw, hitting the shot. Just a couple of teammates, including Rochestie, chose to stay on the baseline, having faith in Enquist's free throw.
That's all I've got about practice. Here is Neil's Manager Monday entry.
Hey Cougar Nation,
This edition of Manager Monday is coming to you live from the Holiday Inn Express in Pullman (due in large part to an apartment filled with black mold).
Today promises to be at least a little shorter than my last post, so rest assured this probably won't cut into your sleeping time too much tonight.
Coming off a tough loss to a very good Baylor team (who, by the way, stayed next door to my roommates and I in our hotel while they were here), the Cougs hit the court again today in preparation for Gonzaga. Gonzaga's experience, athleticism and incredible talent are sure to provide a stiff test for our team.
After that, the Cougs head over to my home side of the state for the Cougar Hardwood Classic. For all of you who have not been able to make the trip to Pullman this year, I strongly encourage you to come out and support the team next Saturday. Then it's back home for finals week. That's always a fun time of the year...
Two final points of note for you tonight: (1) Ben Cartmell continues to dominate the manager version of 7-Up (a three-point shooting game), and (2) my intramural dodgeball team is in the championship game Tuesday night. We need a victory tomorrow in order to accomplish my one main goal in college: to get an intramural champion T-shirt.
Get your rest tonight and tomorrow night, Coug fans, because we need you to be loud on Wednesday. Gonzaga should be a tremendous test for us based on what I have seen from them.
You know, I'm no Coach Bennett, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
Neil Stover
Sunday, Dec. 7 (7:07 p.m.)
Hey Cougs!
The Cougars ended up taking Sunday off after Saturday's disappointing loss at the hands of No. 24 Baylor. There's not much to talk about today, but I want to let you all know that I FINALLY got the men's basketball media guide posted online. For all of you who haven't seen it, you can check it out by clicking HERE. A photo of what the cover looks like is to the left. The concept is similar to that of the poster, but it's a bit different. If you saw the FSN telecast of the game Saturday, you saw some of the profile photos in the media guide highlighted. We've gotten a lot of feedback about the guys all dressed up in suits. I have some great photos from that photo shoot, which we did in August, but I think I'm going to save them for the week of Dec. 14-20, which is final's week, and therefore we won't have a lot to talk about at the Crimson ZZU.
Another new thing up on the website today is video from last night's post game. We have All-Access video highlights, Coach Bennett's post game interview and press conference highlights of Taylor Rochestie and Daven Harmeling.
The Cougars will be back on the court and in the classroom Monday as they prepare for a big week with Gonzaga coming to town Wednesday, the Cougar Hardwood Classic in Seattle Saturday, and then finals beginning next Monday. I'll be back tomorrow, along with our Manager Monday entry for the week.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Sunday, Dec. 7 (2:00 a.m.)
Good evening/morning Coug fans! The 8:30 tip time has made for a late night here at the Crimson ZZU but hopefully there are a few die-hards out there refreshing your screens waiting for the post game to pop up. Wihtout further delay, here it is from the Cougs hard-fought, 58-52 loss to No. 24 Baylor Saturday night.
Player of the Game:Daven Harmeling. The senior forward made timely shots for the Cougars as he was 5-for-8 from the floor en route to a game-high 14 points. After a 5-point first half, the Grand Junction, Colo., native found his groove early out of the break as he knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing. The Cougars clawed their way back into the game and at the 10:53 mark Harmeling buried his third triple of the game to tie the score at 41. WSU then went nearly three minutes without another basket until Harmeling assisted on a Klay Thompson jumper to get the Cougs back within two. Thanks to a 6-1 run, the Bears built their lead back to seven before WSU retaliated. After an Aron Baynes dunk, Harmeling drained his fourth shot from long distance to make it a two point game again, but the Cougars would get no closer. Harmeling also pulled in three rebounds and his assist to Thompson made him one of seven Cougars with helpers tonight.
Honorable Mention POG:Aron Baynes. The big Aussie matched Harmeling with a game-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. In addition to scoring, Baynes hauled in a team-high six boards, assisted Harmeling on his 3-pointer to begin the second half and recorded both Cougar blocks. He also did the little things to keep the Cougars in the game until the final buzzer, as Aron drew two charges against the Baylor big men while committing no fouls of his own. Taylor Rochestie. The senior point guard returned to his ironman status as he played all 40 minutes of tonight's game and played solid defense against the quick quartet of Baylor guards. Rochestie also scored 11 points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Rochestie added to his impressive assist-to-turnover ratio with four dishes and just one turnover.
Turning Point of the Game:Henry Dugat's dagger. With 2:13 left in the game, Daven Harmeling hit a three-pointer to cut Baylor's lead to two points at 51-53. On the ensuing Baylor possession, the Cougars played stifling defense, whittling the shot clock down to five seconds before knocking the ball out of bounds. Bears coach Scott Drew called timeout to get his players on the same page. Out of the huddle, Henry Dugat got the inbounds pass and came off a ball screen, splitting the Cougar double-team. He slashed to the middle of the key and hit a tough running jumper as the shot clock expired to give the Bears a four-point lead with just over a minute and a half to play.
Play of the Game:The first points of the game. After a see-saw defensive battle to open the game, the Cougars finally started the scoring with a thunderous dunk from Aron Baynes. He fought for position on the block and got space when his defender fell down. Nikola Koprivica found Baynes open in the post and the big fella did the rest as he jumped right over the sprawled out Baylor player under the hoop and brought the largest Friel Court crowd of the year to its feet.
Stat of the Game:Free throw shooting. The Cougars missed a season-high seven free throw attempts tonight as they went 12-for-19. The 63.8 percent performance is the second-lowest percentage from the free throw line for the Cougs this season, they shot 62.5 percent on 5-for-8 shooting from the stripe in the win against Sacramento State. Conversely, Baylor shot 84 percent, knocking down 21-of-25 attempts. The seven misses can be pointed to as a crucial difference in the six-point loss, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. While it is easy to say if the Cougars had made all of their free throws they would have won, it is unrealistic to think a 73 percent free throw-shooting team would be a perfect 19-of-19. It was the big-moment free throws the Cougars could not put in. The woes began early when WSU had a chance to get the scoring started less than thirty seconds into the game but missed his first free throw attempt and the second was nullified with a double lane violation. The Cougars only managed two points in the first four minutes while the defense held a potent Baylor offense scoreless until after the first media timeout. In the second half, more free throw difficulties hurt the Cougars' chances of pulling the upset. In the midst of a two-minute stretch that neither team scored from 8:02 until 6:05 left in the game, WSU trailed 45-47, but it could have been a different story. At the 7:07 mark, the Cougars had a one-and-one opportunity but missed the front end. The Bears proceeded to stretch the lead to six before the Cougars scored again. With 1:13 left in the game, WSU stepped to the charity stripe with a chance to draw the Cougars within two but went 1-for-2 and the Bears held on to a 55-52 lead. After the second shot missed, each team had taken 19 free throws. The Cougars had hit 12 while the Bears made 16, four more makes for the Bears in a three-point game.
That's going to do it from the Crimson ZZU. The Cougs will be back on the floor tomorrow and Jessica will give you a recap of what happens at practice as the Cougars prepare for Wednesday's game against No. 5 Gonzaga, who will most likely jump to No. 4 with Duke's loss to Michigan Saturday.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Friday, Dec. 5 (11:45 p.m.)
Happy Friday Cougar Fans!
It's finally the end of the week and just a few hours away from game day. Tomorrow the Cougs face their toughest home test of the season thus far hosting 24th-ranked Baylor at Friel Court. I expect to see nearly a full house in Beasley come tip time. An interesting little tidbit, Baylor is just the third different ranked nonconference opponent the Cougars have hosted and just the second at Friel Court. The only other time WSU faced a ranked nonconference foe at home that wasn't Gonzaga was No. 17 Ohio State, Dec. 16, 1968 at Bohler Gym. WSU dropped a close one, 75-74.
Baylor got into town late Thursday and practiced Friday afternoon at Beasley. Making the trip with the Bears was David Wesley, a 15-year NBA veteran and former standout guard at Baylor. I learned from Baylor's sports information director that Wesley left Baylor 17 credits short of his degree in 1993. He had promised his mother that when he retired from the NBA he would go back and finish his degree. So, that's what he's doing back at Baylor, finishing his degree and serving as a student manager. I caught a glimpse of him at practice today and it's obvious he's helping make the team better...he still looks good out there.
As for the Cougars' practice, they hit the floor at 3 p.m., a tad earlier than usual, as the women took on Long Beach State at Friel Court at 7 p.m. (the women improved to 4-2 with a 68-50 victory). The men continued to emphasize transition defense in practice, repeating many of the drills from Thursday. Like in Thursday's practice, Abe Lodwick kept the defense honest draining 3's in transition. Lodwick's shots weren't the only ones falling. Taylor Rochestie looked like his old self, hitting floaters from the middle of the key.
It apparently was a day of NBA veterans as Marques Johnson sat in on the Cougars' practice. Johnson is doing the color commentary for the game on FSN tomorrow. A former UCLA standout, Johnson was the No. 3 pick of the 1977 NBA draft and played in the league until 1990. Johnson, getting his first glimpse of the 2008-09 Cougars, watched intently and worked on notes for the game. Johnson will be joined by Ted Robinson courtside to call the action.
We're taking a break from Freshman Friday today, giving everyone time to catch up on their studies during this hectic game schedule.
That's all I've got for tonight. Mike will be back tomorrow for our post game recap after WSU takes on Baylor. Don't forget, tip time is 8:30 p.m. PT, and for those who can't make it, the game can be seen on FSN.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Thursday, Dec. 4 (11:45 p.m.)
Good evening Coug Fans!
The Cougars returned to action this afternoon in preparation for the heart of what Coach Bennett has called the most challenging nonconference schedule in his six years at WSU. The 24th ranked Baylor Bears come to Friel Court Saturday as part of the Big XII/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The game is a rematch of the Cougs' thrilling come-from-behind victory in Waco last season. You can find out more about the match-up in the game notes HERE. The game against the Bears is an 8:30 p.m. tip and can be seen on FSN for those of you who can't make it and cheer on the Cougs in person.
Then on Wednesday night, Gonzaga brings its No. 5 ranking down Highway 195 to Pullman as the Cougars take on ranked opponents in back-to-back regular season games for the first time since rounding out the 2006-07 turnaround year against No. 2 UCLA and No. 23 USC.
In practice, the Cougars wasted no time getting into drills to prepare them for the athleticism and up-tempo style the next two opponents will rely on. Early on, it was one-on-one close out drills. To demonstrate his point, Coach Bennett even jumped into the drill to take on Taylor Rochestie for one play. Bennetts enthusiasm and excitement was contagious as it spilled into the rest of the two-hour long practice that saw guys flying all over the court to make the hustle plays the Cougars know they will need this week.
Defense was undoubtedly the emphasis today. On multiple occasions, the team broke down into 4-on-4 groups and the offensive group would run sets similar to what Baylor is expected to show. With a lot of drive-and-kick tendencies, Coach Bennett knows the Baylor offense is going to take full advantage of any Cougar that is reacting on defense instead of jumping to the ball and staying in position. That's why Coach Bennett reminded the guys with comments like, "Don't be a ball watcher," and, "see ball and man," and, "make them make the extra pass." Nikola Koprivica was definitely the stand-out defensive player in these drills as he used his long arms to get a hand on a number of passes and apply an effective double-team at times.
Even though the drill was about defense, Abe Lodwick kept the defense honest by knocking down nearly every 3-point shot he saw. Caleb Forrest also made sure nobody forgot about the high post as he kept finding ways to get open. Another drill the Cougars ran to keep the defense on its toes was a 15-man transition drill. One five-man group would work in a half-court offensive set against a defense. On the whistle, the defense had to sprint back as a new group of five rushed on the floor and down the court.
It was a long and intense practice, but spirits were high all day as the Cougs seem intent on putting their best foot forward against two of the best teams in the country.
Before practice today, there was an interview session with some members of the media. All-Access video is available of Klay Thompson and Nikola Koprivica answering questions.
Also, wsucougars.com is excited to unveil a new feature that will make staying up-to-date with WSU athletics even easier. The new Desktop Communicator provides the latest news and notes from wsucougars.com straight to your desktop. Get yours today by clicking on the Desktop Communicator link under the Fan Center tab at wsucougars.com.
That's it for tonight. The Cougs will be back at it tomorrow.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Wednesday, Dec. 3 (10:30 p.m.)
Hello Cougars!
The team had a much-needed day off today so they could all catch up on their studies and rest a bit. If you all have seen the basketball game day programs, you have seen the 10 Questions article we have in each issue. Throughout the season each of the six upperclassmen will be featured in the 10 Questions segment. The latest issue (for the Idaho State, Baylor and Gonzaga games) features Caleb Forrest. Below we have the five questions that were not included in the program.
1. Q: How many items of clothing do you have that are camouflage?
A: Actually not that much. I probably have 12 articles of clothing that are camouflage.
2. Q: If you weren't playing basketball, what would you be doing?
A: I'd be working. Probably building or painting or plumbing, or something like that.
3. Q: What's the hardest thing about planning a wedding?
A: I leave all that stuff to her. I don't want any part of that.
4. Q: What made you decide to come to WSU?
A: The coaching staff, and Daven and Robbie had a big part in it too. They seemed like guys I could trust and what they said, I believed them. A lot of the other people that recruited me, I felt like they said something, but I was going to get the shaft when it came down to actually being there. I didn't trust them, I didn't think they were being straight with me.
5. Q: What is your all-time favorite movie?
A: The Last of the Mohicans, because when I was little I used to watch it every night and used to pretend I was doing all the fighting they did in the movie.
I realize it's short, but that's all we have for you today. The team will be back on the court for practice tomorrow, so Mike and I will check back with you then.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
Tuesday, Dec. 2 (11:30 p.m.)
Hello Coug Fans!
The Cougars returned to the Friel Court this evening to host the Idaho State Bengals. As you know by now the Cougs won 60-41 and improved to 6-1. But here is what you all have really been waiting for. The Crimson ZZU post game entry.
Player of the Game: Aron Baynes. Even though Idaho State threw a lot of big bodies at Baynes tonight in their 2-3 zone that suffocated the middle, the senior center from Cairns, Australia, refused to be shut down. Baynes made his presence felt early, sinking a jump hook, three minutes into the contest. In all, Baynes joined freshman Klay Thompson as the only Cougars in double-figures with 11 points and tied his season-high with eight rebounds, including three on the offensive end. The 6-10 force did most of his damage on the boards in the first half, collecting six rebounds in his 15 minutes. In the second half, he was nearly flawless in his seven minutes. The 6-10 Aussie took the scoring load off Thompson as he scored eight points after intermission on 2-for-2 shooting from the field and 4-for-4 from the line. Along with the offensive output, Aron had two of his season-high three blocks on consecutive possessions in the final period.
Honorable Mention POG: Klay Thompson.The freshman from Ladera Ranch, Calif., scored the first basket of the game for a 2-0 lead the Cougars would never relinquish. Thompson connected on a 3-pointer and a step-back jumper along the baseline for seven of WSU's first 10 points before cooling off. He wasn't cool for long as he missed just two shots before hitting another 3-pointer with six minutes remaining in the half. He rounded out his blistering first half with another jumper and two free throws for all of his game-high 14 points. With the two makes from the charity stripe, Thompson has still not missed a free throw in his college career.Charlie Enquist.The redshirt freshman saw just five minutes of action tonight, but made every second count. It didn't take him long to get into the scorebook as just 30 seconds after entering the game he had two points thanks to an offensive rebound and lay-up. Later, the 6-10, Edmonds, Wash., native hauled in a defensive rebound and hustled down the floor to get position on offense. He was rewarded with an entry pass and banked in a turnaround fade-away jumper from about 12 feet as he was fouled. On the next Cougar possession, Enquist grabbed his career-high third rebound off a miss by Fabian Boeke (seeing his first collegiate minutes) and followed it with another put back for a career-high six points.DeAngelo Casto.The freshman from Spokane, Wash., battled on the glass with the Bengals' bigs and came away with a career-high eight rebounds. Casto also made his length a factor as he turned in a career-high three steals.
Turning Point of the Game: The final 11:31 of the first half. WSU held Idaho State to just six points in the last 11:31 before halftime. Even though the Cougar offense only managed 16 points of its own in the final stretch against ISU's zone defense, the Cougar defense made sure the Bengals would draw no closer. By applying solid ball pressure and jumping into passing lanes, the Cougars only allowed ISU 10 field goal attempts in the decisive stretch, and the Bengals only connected on two of them. In addition to being the high scorer, Klay Thompson had a lot to do with the success of the Cougar defense as he held ISU's leading scorer, Amorrow Morgan (averaging 19.2 points per game) to just five first-half points.
Stat of the Game: Stretches without buckets. In the first half, the Bengals cut the Cougars' lead to 5 at 14-9 before the Cougar defense clamped down and did not allow another ISU field goal for 5:51. After a mini-flurry in which the Bengals made two baskets during the next minute, WSU limited the Bengals to just one free throw during the final 4:34 of the half on its way to allowing 15 or fewer points in a half for the fourth time this season. The defensive dominance didn't stop at intermission. WSU held the Bengals without a field goal for 12:04 in the second half, from the 18:50 mark until 6:46 left. During the stretch, WSU went on a 23-4 run and reached its biggest lead of the game at 32.
Play of the Game: With just over 15 minutes remaining in the game, Nikola Koprivica got the ball from Taylor Rochestie on the left wing and dribbled back to the middle of the floor as Rochestie flared to the left corner. Koprivica swung the ball over to Klay Thompson on the right wing as Aron Baynes snuck out of the post to pick off the bottom left defender in ISU's zone. Thompson sent a skip pass to Rochestie who spotted up in the corner as Baynes stood guard and knocked down his only 3-pointer of the night. The three stretched the Cougar lead to 20 in the midst of a 23-4 run that put the game out of reach.
That's it for tonight's game. Check in tomorrow for a special feature on one of the seniors. Those of you who made it to the game tonight and got a copy of the newest game program saw the Q & A section with Caleb Forrest. Tomorrow we will have the questions that did not make the cut. Be sure to look for that. Also, don't forget about the big stretch the Cougars are about to enter as they host No. 24 Baylor on Saturday and No. 5 Gonzaga next Wednesday. Tickets are still available for both games, so for those of you who don't have them yet be sure to reserve your seats now to see your Cougars take on some of the nation's elite.
One thing (or three things) to leave you with, I have the latest All-Access videos from tonight. For highlights, click HERE. For Coach Bennett's postgame comments, click HERE. And, to hear what Aron Baynes and Taylor Rochestie had to say, click HERE.
Keep it crimson,
Mike Walsh
Monday, Dec. 1 (11:05 p.m.)
Here's this week's Manager Monday...
Hey everyone,
We just had our first road trip of the year and played some talented teams. We played good team defense in our two games but just couldn't really get into an offensive rhythm against Pittsburgh. These two games were our first real test against two long and athletic teams. We held our own against Mississippi State who had the reigning national defensive player of the year in Jarvis Varnado. But Aron Baynes' size and strength neutralized Varnado's impact on the defensive end of the floor. But enough about how our team played let me tell you how life on the road is for me.
On Wednesday we practiced at 9 a.m. before we had to catch our 11:30 a.m. flight out of Pullman, I was running around getting all of our luggage ready such as the stools we sit on at full time outs, the extra gear bag, and also the players' laundry that they needed for the game. Along with packing everything up I was racing down to Denny's to order and pick up some breakfast for the whole travel party. I was so busy that I even forgot to stop and eat some of the food from Denny's. The most stressful part about traveling is making sure I don't forget anything behind. But once I got on the plane I was able to relax, psych!!! We now had a five hour plane ride across country along with a time three hour time change. There is something about being on a plane for five hours and only eating a little bag of pretzels and a sip of pop that bothered me. Seriously, why can't you just have the whole can of pop, it is a five hour flight, I need something to quench my thirst as I try to play black jack on my phone. But we finally arrived into New Jersey around 11 p.m. and got something to eat. I still needed to do laundry for our practice the next day but their were no laundry mats open at that time of night. I thought there would be some place open at that time of night; it seemed like a nice area. But I guess the store owners in the area thought differently because there were steel bars over every window. So I decided to try to get some sleep and wake up early and go find a laundry mat. But who was I kidding I was still on West Coast time. I couldn't fall asleep until three o'clock in the morning which meant I only got four hours of sleep.
I woke up and went down to the lobby to track down a taxi. I ended up about five blocks away from the hotel at this little laundry mat called Caroline's. I was lucky that it was open, being it was Thanksgiving and all. So I threw the laundry in the wash and decided to go across the street to this little bagel shop called Wonder Bagels. I had two large cups of coffee hoping that it would help keep me awake trough out the day. I also had a great bagel sandwich, which I ate as people started to pour into this little shop. I guess I picked the right place.
The laundry was done and now I had to find a way back to the hotel. So I tracked down another taxi and headed back to the hotel. The ride wasn't even five minutes and the meter in the taxi wasn't running so I thought I was going to get the taxi for free but I was wrong. The elderly lady taxi diver said it was eight dollars, I was shocked at the price but I still just gave her the money. As I walked away I though to myself, "you just got hustled by an old lady." I wasn't up for a fight so I just went on my way into the hotel.
The trip continued the same crazy and hectic pattern but I seemed to adapt well and just go with the flow. Through out the trip I was ordering food for post game meals form people I couldn't even understand. I didn't know if I was ordering pizzas or actual pies? But it managed to work out.
Every morning I would wake up and do laundry at the same little laundry mat and go eat breakfast at the same bagel shop. I was becoming a regular for the four days that we were in Jersey.
Road trips are always a little stressful but also fun. I never really know how things are going to go but they always seem to work out. I had to walk five blocks with two huge laundry bags on my shoulder and people looking at me funny, but it is all in a days work as a manager for a basketball team.
At least I didn't turn the game uniforms pink!!
Keep it Crimson,
Ben Cartmell
Monday, Dec. 1 (5:20 p.m.)
Happy Monday Cougs!
The Cougars returned to Friel Court today for practice. Although a lot of shots weren't falling during 5-on-5 drills, the Cougs didn't look too fatigued from their cross-country journey this past weekend.
Toward the end of practice, the starting five looked sharp moving the ball and using screens against the red-team defense. Klay Thompson used his speed and Aron Baynes screens to cut to the hoop for several layups. Baynes also looked sharp moving to the basket and taking advantage of his size.
There have been a lot of questions about Fabian Boeke and John Allen. Both are battling back problems, but contribute when they can. Boeke is back participating in drills, while Allen does a lot more of the shooting drills. Both were in New Jersey on the trip with the team.
One note for anyone coming to the game tomorrow, or the women's game on Friday. The Cougar women's soccer team is collecting "new tube socks" at both of those games. There will be donation locations at both the main entrance and the student entrance to Beasley Coliseum. The socks will benefit Hope House and House of Charity in Spokane.
The latest notes are up on the web. You can read them by clicking HERE.
I will be back later tonight with Ben Cartmell's Manager Monday entry. Don't forget the Cougs take on Idaho State Tuesday at 7 p.m. Those in the Northwest that can't make it to Pullman can catch the game on FSN Northwest.
Keep it crimson,
Jessica Schmick
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