vs UCLA today

[COUGinNCW]

Bruins were looking beatable but then they went into Seattle and stole one from uw. Hopefully they are feeling satisfied with that win and show up in Pullman lacking energy.

Speaking of energy, school doesn't start in Pullman until January 13th so expect another non-existent student section. Thanks Pac12 for that handy bit of scheduling. On the other hand, I finally have no valid excuse to stay away from Pullman so there will at least be 2 fans there. Hope a few more decide to make the drive and the locals decide to show up.

It doesn't sound like Cannon or Shead will be back so depth will be a major issue if anyone gets into foul trouble. I do like what I've seen from Tony Miller and Noah Williams so that mitigates things a bit. I also see no way Elleby and Bonton shoot as horribly as they did last game so with the same type of effort on D and in taking care of the ball, the Cougs should be competitive in this game with a pretty good chance to win.

 

[7ICoug]

Not really the Pac12's fault that WSU starts school in August and takes the huge semester break.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Not really the Pac12's fault that WSU starts school in August and takes the huge semester break.

But I don't understand how hard it is for the conference to just make those away games...plus the weather is rough as it is.

WSU football should always play an away game weekend before Thanksgiving and WSU basketball should be on the road to start conference play.

 

[COUGinNCW]

But I don't understand how hard it is for the conference to just make those away games...plus the weather is rough as it is.

WSU football should always play an away game weekend before Thanksgiving and WSU basketball should be on the road to start conference play.

Or at least every other year. Maybe it’s just me but it seems like the Cougs open at home with no students just about every year.

 

[bogusto]

Bruins were looking beatable but then they went into Seattle and stole one from uw. Hopefully they are feeling satisfied with that win and show up in Pullman lacking energy.

Speaking of energy, school doesn't start in Pullman until January 13th so expect another non-existent student section. Thanks Pac12 for that handy bit of scheduling. On the other hand, I finally have no valid excuse to stay away from Pullman so there will at least be 2 fans there. Hope a few more decide to make the drive and the locals decide to show up.

It doesn't sound like Cannon or Shead will be back so depth will be a major issue if anyone gets into foul trouble. I do like what I've seen from Tony Miller and Noah Williams so that mitigates things a bit. I also see no way Elleby and Bonton shoot as horribly as they did last game so with the same type of effort on D and in taking care of the ball, the Cougs should be competitive in this game with a pretty good chance to win.

At least in Elleby's case, SC covered him like a blanket all game long and that was the main reason he couldn't hit anything. Shouldn't have taken near as many contested shots as he did. If UCLA defends him the same way, you will see the same results.

 

[COUGinNCW]

21% Fgs at half. Ouch.

 

[SaveFerris]

Going zone and to Rapp/Williams has been really big in the second half game. Bonton has had a better second half as well.

 

[SaveFerris]

Up 7 in OT with 3 to play. Wow!

 

[Dusty.Hooper]

What a great game for Williams !

 

[95coug]

Really scrappy 2nd half and OT. This ain’t Wooden’s UCLA, but still a solid performance and a conference win by a team nobody expects much from. Well done.

 

[Coug1990]

The second half was fun. If this team can get a little offense, they can be a nuisance. Reminds me a little of Dick Bennett's first team. This team plays hard.

 

[SaveFerris]

The second half was fun. If this team can get a little offense, they can be a nuisance. Reminds me a little of Dick Bennett's first team. This team plays hard.

They defend and take care of the ball. They had 10 turnovers in an OT game. Elleby with a huge 3 to send it to OT. Rapp was huge. Williams can do so many different things. Miller was really efficient and continued to get make more plays as the game went on.

Scrappy win reminded me of Dick's first year as well. It's night and day in terms of preparation this year over last year.

 

[TrumpCoug]

Awesome win!! Great all around team effort. Switching to zone with 8 minutes left in the game was key.

 

[Coug1990]

They defend and take care of the ball. They had 10 turnovers in an OT game. Elleby with a huge 3 to send it to OT. Rapp was huge. Williams can do so many different things. Miller was really efficient and continued to get make more plays as the game went on.

Scrappy win reminded me of Dick's first year as well. It's night and day in terms of preparation this year over last year.

It really is night and day. This team is already better coached and plays better than at any time than the last few years. I can really see this team being very good when this freshman class are juniors and seniors. Cougar basketball is watchable again no matter the ultimate record of this team.

 

[Glad Cougar]

It really is night and day. This team is already better coached and plays better than at any time than the last few years. I can really see this team being very good when this freshman class are juniors and seniors. Cougar basketball is watchable again no matter the ultimate record of this team.

Absolutely right. The coaches are preparing this team to compete and the players are giving ultimate effort. Can't ask for much more than that. And when you talk about that freshman class, don't forget that Smith got a late start on recruiting yet it appears at least a couple of players were very good gets. Hopefully he can follow it up with an even better class the next couple of years.

Great win tonight!!

Glad Cougar

 

[Rich Lewis]

Rapp provided the spark. He came in and immediately hit a couple of buckets. Completely changed the momentum.

 

[SaveFerris]

Rapp provided the spark. He came in and immediately hit a couple of buckets. Completely changed the momentum.

Agree he was the spark in this one. I wondered if one of the reason they went to a zone was because of Rapp. He's done some nice things on the offensive end when he's had some minutes but the other end might be the issue at this point? I don't see it long-term as he gets stronger and the IQ is there. He can definitely shoot and he has a really nice feel for the game.

 

[COUGinNCW]

Bruins were looking beatable but then they went into Seattle and stole one from uw. Hopefully they are feeling satisfied with that win and show up in Pullman lacking energy.

Speaking of energy, school doesn't start in Pullman until January 13th so expect another non-existent student section. Thanks Pac12 for that handy bit of scheduling. On the other hand, I finally have no valid excuse to stay away from Pullman so there will at least be 2 fans there. Hope a few more decide to make the drive and the locals decide to show up.

It doesn't sound like Cannon or Shead will be back so depth will be a major issue if anyone gets into foul trouble. I do like what I've seen from Tony Miller and Noah Williams so that mitigates things a bit. I also see no way Elleby and Bonton shoot as horribly as they did last game so with the same type of effort on D and in taking care of the ball, the Cougs should be competitive in this game with a pretty good chance to win.

Well that was a fun game to go to. There was even some actual energy in Beasley the last 10 minutes and you could see the team feeding off it. Throw in a couple thousand students and another couple thousand of us non students and Beasley will really start rocking again. If they can pick up at least a split in the bay area the Oregon series could Be really fun.

 

[etowncoug]

Agree he was the spark in this one. I wondered if one of the reason they went to a zone was because of Rapp. He's done some nice things on the offensive end when he's had some minutes but the other end might be the issue at this point? I don't see it long-term as he gets stronger and the IQ is there. He can definitely shoot and he has a really nice feel for the game.

Wonder if we were trying to slow the game down with Elleby in foul trouble. I think we caught UCLA off guard and really disrupted the flow of their offense. Don't think think they had much film of us running a zone and they reacted poorly. The guy who really impressed me down the stretch was Noah Williams. He hasn't gotten enough praise for poking out that ball to end the half. That's a big time play.

 

[SaveFerris]

Wonder if we were trying to slow the game down with Elleby in foul trouble. I think we caught UCLA off guard and really disrupted the flow of their offense. Don't think think they had much film of us running a zone and they reacted poorly. The guy who really impressed me down the stretch was Noah Williams. He hasn't gotten enough praise for poking out that ball to end the half. That's a big time play.

Definitely huge coming over to help and not fouling. He also had a steal toward the end of OT. His potential is really intriguing. I don’t want to live in the pst but it’s amazing the last staff according to brandx poster was on the fence with whether to offer him.

 

[Coug1990]

Agree he was the spark in this one. I wondered if one of the reason they went to a zone was because of Rapp. He's done some nice things on the offensive end when he's had some minutes but the other end might be the issue at this point? I don't see it long-term as he gets stronger and the IQ is there. He can definitely shoot and he has a really nice feel for the game.

I find it ironic that many on here were calling for Rapp to redshirt, as he could not be good enough yet to play and that thinking had nothing to do with his injury. If not for missing all of training camp, I think he likely

would ​

have been getting regular rotation minutes.

 

[Glad Cougar]

Rapp missed 11 weeks with injury, basically the entire fall pre-season practices and early games. So redshirting him was certainly an option. In fact, Smith himself said he would've liked to redshirt most, if not all, of his 4 freshmen but the roster was too thin for that to happen. Personally, I'm glad all of them are playing and getting valuable experience. Wish there were more minutes for all 4 but I think whatever game time they get will greatly help them down the road.

Glad Cougar

 

[Coug1990]

Rapp missed 11 weeks with injury, basically the entire fall pre-season practices and early games. So redshirting him was certainly an option. In fact, Smith himself said he would've liked to redshirt most, if not all, of his 4 freshmen but the roster was too thin for that to happen. Personally, I'm glad all of them are playing and getting valuable experience. Wish there were more minutes for all 4 but I think whatever game time they get will greatly help them down the road.

Glad Cougar

I made point that people didn't think he was good enough to play this first season, regardless of the injury. This was the talk on here before the team met for the first practice. Considering the injury, sure, redshirting was a possibility.

 

[Glad Cougar]

I made point that people didn't think he was good enough to play this first season, regardless of the injury. This was the talk on here before the team met for the first practice. Considering the injury, sure, redshirting was a possibility.

I didn't intend my post to sound like I was disputing you, because I wasn't.

Glad Cougar

 

[Coug1990]

I didn't intend my post to sound like I was disputing you, because I wasn't.

Glad Cougar

No worries. I look forward to seeing the team improve throughout this year. I don't expect them to be good, but it is nice that the young players are beginning to show a little more each game.

 

[Portlandcoug74]

Do we see Papa Dennis in the stands this year or next?