Hello Followers.
Hope you’re having a great weekend.
Well, tonight portends to be a MAJOR swing game for both our little Cougies as well as the dreaded UW.
Where the puppies are concerned, a win helps them build a case for an at-large birth in the Dance should they make the finals of the Pac-10 tournament.
Where our Cougies are concerned, well, tonight could vault us toward a possilbe #5 seed in the Pac-10 conference tournament (assuming we win out and other things happen).
At the same time, a loss tonight would place us IN DEAD STINKING LAST in a very weak Pac-10. Want to read my keys to the game? Then read on..
Followers, out of all the games to disect in the world, this one is BY FAR the easiest. Heck, even a caveman could do it.
Here are my five keys:
1) Hold Quincy to under 15 points. Pretty tall order in my view. But, we have NO matchup for Q. Last year, against ASU, we threw Casto at James Harden for a good chunk of the game. Obviously, it would be great to see Casto guard Pondexter, but we know that won’t happen. So, I expect to see some Capers, some Nick, and maybe even some X against Q tonight. For us to win, we have to guard, and Q has to be off. WAY off.
2) Moore and Xavier have to go off (as in 30 between them). I know, I know, everyone is gonna look for Klay to play well. And certainly, Klay is important. But Xavier and Moore are much more important to this game. Neither Gaddy or Thomas match up well with our main point guard and his primary substitute. So, for us to be in the game, both have to play at the top of their games–and that means making free throws and staying out of foul trouble.
3) Casto, Casto, Casto. DeAngelo doesn’t have to play GREAT for us to win. But, he does need to be aggressive and stay out of foul trouble. As a result, the “sub-key” for Casto is whether our guards keep Thomas and others from getting to the glass. If we force them to take jump shots, then I think Casto can play his game. The more he does, the better off we are.
4) Senior Time. Its Nick Night in Pullman and we need him to step up. If you remember, at our last game in Seattle, Nik hit his first three 3-pointers of the night. And when he did, everything opened up. I’m also looking for Abe to come out gunning tonight. Lets hope he does. And lets hope that Nik is feeling it.
Final thoughts: I am not expecting to see a whole lot of Brock and Watson tonight. But, I’d really like to see them in stretches. In particular, I really want Klay to sit in that 10-15 mark in the second half. So, I’m hoping that the game is even enough that we can get BOTH Watson and Motum in during the first half. If we do, and if they play well, then we will be able to use them in the second half. The more you see us use our bench early, the better off we are.
Prediction: Not a toughy here. Top to bottom, there isn’t much talent difference between the teams. But, there IS a huge difference in the toughness and experience of the game’s stars. Simply put, you can BANK on the fact that Q will go off tonight. And when he does, his teammates will follow. Conversely, I think Klay will struggle, and if his teammates cannot create for him by creating for themselves, then we’re in deep trouble.
Dawgs extend their hoops win streak to 4: UW 84-WSU 68
“We” will be back after the game.
Lets go Cougs
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