Hello Followers. Happy Sunday to you all.
Well, in the wake of one of the most valient and heartbreaking performances we’ve seen in a long time, the question facing all of Cougar Nation again is “now what?”
Want to check out my post-UCLA and pre-UW thoughts? Then read on…
Before I get to the bulk of my post, you all should know that we had a rather large shin dig at Chez Sutra last night. As a consequence, I was able to see only the first half of the game without interruption. From there, I caught important pieces/stretches of the second half and overtime. So, some of my insights on the game need to be tempered with all that in mind.
For starters, I must say that the first half of basketball yesterday was about as moving a performance that I have seen in some time. In fact, when Abe hit his three from the top of the key to put us up 13, the smile and unbridled joy that was on his face actually brought tears to my eyes.
And for good reason.
For 20 minutes last night, WSU found a way amidst all adversity, to play basketball the way the game was meant to be played. We played hard, disciplined, unselfish, and played wonderful patterned basketball. It was a real thing of beauty. But of course, we couldn’t sustain it.
And truly, I thought that Bone and the players did an absolutely fantastic job. However, because the game was decided essentially by 1 point, there were a few decisions that were sprinkled in there that I think cost us the game. And the biggest issue surrounded how it was that we came out in the second half..
Followers, with a 13 point first half lead, my thought was that we were about 6 minutes from winning that game. And so, I was really dismayed by Bone’s decision to start the second half going man-to-man. Mind you, Bone’s thinking was more than understandable: He KNEW that Howland and company would spend the entire locker room session coaching up the Blue Bears to attack us along the baseline and in the post. And so, Bone understandablly made the decision to stymie that halftime preparation by showing them a different look.
However, for me, that type of decision making was WAY too cute for the team that we had on the floor.
And we know what happened from there: UCLA started the second half on a 16-3 run and tied the game up in a hurry. And while our lads certainly played their hearts out, in my view, that first 5 minute stretch of the second half was where the game was lost. Had we stayed in the zone to start the second half, I truly believe we would have held the lead long enough to pull it out. Oh well.
(Other notes: To be sure, one more made free throw would have done the trick; the decision to provide full-court pressure which allowed the open three with 50 seconds left and Lee’s drive to the basket were also critical; the lack of a ball screen to help free Faisel at the end of regulation didn’t help, but that’s just basketball!).
So, with that all in mind, the question again goes to “how should we view our fortunes for this week?”
And for me, its pretty simple:
1) The play of Abe, Motum, and even Diirio gives room for lots and lots optimism.
So far, the WSU folks have been eerily silent about Reggie Moore’s ankle. And given my own experience with those types of sprains, you either get better in the first couple of days, or you’re out for weeks. So, unless we hear something positive on Monday, I think we’re going to be hardpressed to see Reggie until around two weeks from today…
That said, I thought that the confidence displayed by our fours was something that can and should be built upon. While many of you have been frustrated by Abe’s shooting over the course of the year, what we saw last night–as well as the games which preceded them–is that both Abe and Motum have real potential to put the ball in the hole. What’s more, when they play with that type of confidence–and when we move the ball–we move from being a team with “potential” to a pretty darn good basketball team–one that is quite tournament worthy. So, in the next few days, we’re going to need those guys to play as if it was yesterday all over again. If they can play that aggressive AND maintain control, we’re going to be just fine.
Toward that end, I thought Diiorio did a really good job (as did Loewen, but he can’t play against UW for reasons cited later). And so, I think we have a nice opportunity to advance if we can find a way to win on Thursday night.
2) Beat Washington.
I told Seanhawk yesterday via text that a big reason we were in the game yesterday (and stayed there) was because UCLA is truly one of the weaker teams we’ve played when it comes to ball pressure in the backcourt; which is why Loewen was able to give us such, wonderful minutes yesterday. And so, were we to advance to Friday night, I think that we’d have a pretty good chance of knocking off UCLA–assuming that Klay is able to play (which he should, by the way).
Of course, Washington is the master of ball pressure. And certainly, their depth is going to pose a whole lot of challenges to us both down the stretch as well as throughout the game.
But, here’s the deal: Washington is NOT playing well right now. In fact, their play is so suspect, they have actually lost two of the last three at home. What’s more, while others seem to have them penciled in as a lock for the NCAA’s, I happen to agree with John Wilner: Lose to WSU for the third time and I think the Huskies are NIT bound. I really do.
So, for us, we beat the UW THREE times, and then beat UCLA, we steal UW’s bid. Its really that simple.
Now, can we beat Washington? I don’t know.
But what I do know is we’re going to have to stay in that damn zone until such time that they show they can beat it by beating us on the final scoreboard. So, instead of looking for a new defensive wrinkle, I think Bone and company need to make UW show once and for all that they can beat what we’ve shown them.
Of course, for us to win on Thursday, Klay Thompson is going to have to be perfect: He’s going to have to shoot extremely well at the same time that he allows his teammates to move the ball, even it means he doesn’t get it back. If he and the rest of the fellas do that, we’ll play the type of team basketball that has allowed us to become a VERY GOOD basketball team over the last two weeks.
So, keep the expectations high, Cougar Nation. This team is inches away from being the team we all that that they could be.
Congrats for playing with trememdous heart for the third consecutive game, Cougies. Do it for two more, and we’ll find ourselves Dancing a week from today.
All for now. Go Cougs.
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