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I think the difference is Jackson. His presence changes the entire offense. They actually seem to have a little confidence in him..Finally a real post presence..
Yes it’s a combination. Yak has been phenomenal today and his presence is getting other guys good looks
Make sure Noah's fat little girlfriend is now his fat little ex-girlfriend.
Former coach Pete Gillen (Xavier, Providence, UVA). I caught that as well and it made me laugh. Gillen's an east coach guy but oops! He took some getting used to, but I actually enjoyed him as the game went on. Might be alone on that feeling through.
He made a very astute comment … what wsu lacks is a true point guard. They lost close games because they didn’t have one.
Let's face it: the cougs haven't had a legit point since Flynn transferred. In my opinion, one of the most pressing needs Smith needs to fix. Would think if would be easier to find a good point than a good big, but it seems to have eluded us for a while now. Maybe it comes down to what a coach values most.
We have gone after some good ones, but they go elsewhere. Tahj Eaddy (USC) is one example that comes to mind in past years. Never seemed we were really in it for him, and he went to SC. If you look closer at the bigs we get they all came in with some red flags. No question they were all worth whatever their risk but Efe, Gueye, and Jackson all had some injury history plus needed time to develop. It's one thing to do that with a big, another when it's a guard.
Isn't it funny how for a lot of fans this season has felt disappointing, yet the Cougars finish no worse than a tie for 5th and possibly tied for 4th if Colorado loses. First winning conference record since the Sweet Sixteen team, I believe. I think all those close losses, especially in non-conference play, made it seem like we should have done better. But I'll take the results on the whole.
Interestingly enough, it took Sampson until his 7th year to have a winning conference season, at 10-8. Smith has a winning conference season in his 3rd. He has also clinched his second winning season, and has yet to have a losing season in the Palouse. If they can get a good PG in the portal, next year's team sets up to be very good. Hopefully, we see the Williams that we saw last year, and today.
This is so true. So many people have little objectivity, and even fewer are logical. There were quite a few people on this and brand x ripping players, and the coach.
Nah, it was the what... 5 game skid?
It was different in those days. Teams were older, players didn't transfer as much, and "mid-major" were a bit of an afterthought. Not that it isn't still tough today because it is. We need to keep the core together and stay healthy. Hopefully a lead type PG emerges from the portal. Getting a couple wins the Pac 12 Tournament and even an NIT wouldn't hurt.
Dick Bennett always said third year in program was always the hardest . He said players don’t play within themselves and always try to do too much . Noah perfect example . While frustrating cause this is a top 16 team in country, they hit bunberous land mines .
It was different in those days. But, it is different for all teams. So, I don't think it matters that it was different. If building a team were easier now, then Ernie Kent still would be coaching the Cougars.
I remember that, and I agree with him. The players on the team were very inconsistent, and it led to a lot of close losses. Experienced players become more consistent.
Of course it matters for a program like WSU in a "P5" conference because the factors weren't equal team to team within the conference. Still isn't the same but I wasn't suggesting it's a lot easier now to build in Pullman. Some of those difference from back then actually hurt us more today. Mid-major programs having a much bigger impact today make it tougher for us. The impact of facilities and resources for things like charters and now NIL deals make it tougher on us than back then as well.
You still haven't convinced me. There are advantages, and disadvantages, just like there were 30, 20, 10, years ago. So, what has really changed?
End of the day it's just my opinion. Some things that come to mind are the impact of early entry players to the NBA on UCLA-type programs. Media exposure (Pac 12 Network) and the impact of technology in general. Increased if not explosion of coach and player movement to different programs. Increase recruiting pools in areas that weren’t as deep 30 years ago (rural/International).
