Here's a feature I wrote last week on WSU basketball player Caleb Forrest ...
By Josh Wright
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
PULLMAN - Caleb Forrest was raised on a 35-acre spread in one of the most remote sections of America, a town so secluded that he didn't have a clue summertime AAU basketball existed until late in his high school career.
The scrappy Washington State forward, however, was far from isolated in Pagosa Springs, Colo., at least in a familial sense. Along with his parents and three siblings, Forrest grew up with a flock of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents within walking distance.
"We all live on this property," said Bayard Forrest, Caleb's uncle and a former NBA player, "so we're close."
That tight-knit upbringing made last weekend in Denver all the more memorable. Not only did Caleb help the Cougars march into the Sweet 16 for the first time, he strung together two sturdy performances in his home state with 40 to 50 family members and friends on hand.
After the initial euphoria wore off - and the scores of media requests died down - he labeled beating Notre Dame "definitely the highest point of my athletic career that I've witnessed or been a part of."
Three years ago, merely getting a chance to come to WSU - a Pac-10 program with a losing tradition at that point - was a big enough thrill for the 6-foot-8 post. He thought he was destined for the University of Denver or Wyoming, two schools that offered close-to-home comforts but not the sort of competition he was craving.
Deep into the recruiting process, though, things started clicking for Forrest. He stumbled upon an invitation to play in an AAU tournament in Denver, then was asked to join a Colorado Select summer team. After realizing it would cost $2,500, he eventually joined another offseason squad - one that paid for everything and showcased his fledgling talents.
That led to a recommendation from another coach to Tony Bennett, then the top assistant under his father at WSU.
"... Still sometimes I think about the amount of things that had to go right in order for me to get here," the junior said. "There were so many coincidences ... . And I'm a Christian, so I believe God had a big part in that."
Situated in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Pagosa Springs (population 1,600) is slightly closer to Albuquerque, N.M., than Denver. So it's understandable why recruiters - and even AAU coaches - weren't aware of Forrest at first. Yet some of them had surely heard of Bayard, his uncle who played two seasons (1977-79) with the Phoenix Suns.
Caleb and Bayard share similar skills on the hardwood, though the younger Forrest has far less natural ability. Bayard, who now goes by Bay, was an agile 6-10, 235-pound center who averaged 4.1 points per game before sustaining a career-ending back injury.
He's now a Christian speaker who skips between churches and religious conferences throughout the country.
"I think the one way Caleb has changed his game some in a real positive way is he has become a lot more aggressive and plays a lot tougher probably than what I did," Bay said when reached by cell phone. "He has worked his tail off to get to the point he's at. I was kind of spoiled because I had a 35-inch vertical, you know, and so I could really get up."
While Caleb might not have eye-popping athletic ability, he's earned playing time with a nonstop motor and keen mid-range shooting stroke. This season, he's provided quick buckets and solid rebounding in spurts while scoring 3.5 ppg.
One of his finest moments came Saturday. He buried two key jumpers as WSU surged ahead of the Fighting Irish in the first half. He also hauled in five rebounds before fouling out.
Thursday, he and the fourth-seeded Cougs (26-8) will get another chance to extend their season when they meet No. 1 North Carolina in the East Regional semifinal in Charlotte, N.C. Tipoff is slated for 4:27 p.m. Pacific.
"He doesn't move the smoothest," Bennett said, "but he was aggressive, loosening up (the defense) and knocking down shots at very timely times ... .
"He gives you all effort."
After Saturday's win, the quiet yet affable Forrest was besieged by media in the Cougars' locker room - more, in fact, than he's ever had focus on him. Communicating with so many reporters added to the special day.
But does he want to repeat it?
"I don't usually get that much (attention)," he said, "and I don't ... necessarily want that much."
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The Palouse a perfect fit for Bennett
Here's a column about Washington State basketball coach Tony Bennett. He turned overtures from Indiana, which has since hired Marquette coach Tom Crean ...
By Josh Wright
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
At the end of an exhilarating ride that lasted deep into March, Tony Bennett scoffed at the notion - uttered in the media and elsewhere - that the Washington State men's basketball program had topped out by going to the Sweet 16.
The Cougars might play in a conference chock-full of programs rich in resources. And they might have the disadvantage of being located in Pullman, 75 miles from any sort of metropolitan area. But none of that seems to sway their single-minded coach.
Not even a little bit.
"I understand that a lot of people say there's a ceiling at Washington State, but I don't buy that," Bennett said after losing last week to North Carolina in the NCAA Eastern Regional semifinals.
Then, in a move akin to an up-and-coming WSU professor turning down a job offer at Yale, Bennett affirmed his stance by spurning Indiana, one of the nation's top-shelf programs.
What exactly is going on here? Does this coaching prodigy know something others don't?
Well, the likely sanctions at IU after the Kelvin Sampson debacle probably played a part in Bennett's decision. But here's another possibility: Maybe he realizes he can make a lasting mark at Washington State, a school where he'll always be doubted but nevertheless a place capable of producing a consistent winner.
In some ways, he's an ideal candidate to hang around a while.
With the Cougars, the 38-year-old head man doesn't have to worry about pressure - at least, not the type of pressure he would face with the Hoosiers. He's already accomplished more on the Palouse than Coug fans could expect.
In Bennett's two-year reign, WSU has won a school-record 52 games, finished second and third in the Pac-10 and bagged three victories in the NCAA tournament. That's the same number of wins the program had tallied in the 66 years before last season.
After that much success, Bennett has plenty of wiggle room. He can take time rebuilding the club after the departure of three key seniors - Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. And he can be selective in targeting future players.
Bennett and his staff have already made inroads in the recruiting department. The five-player class set to come to campus next year is viewed favorably in scouting circles, especially with the emergence of Klay Thompson, the son of former NBA standout Mychal Thompson.
Aside from personnel, though, there are other reasons to stay. Chief among them: WSU is a natural second-class program. That may sound odd, but Bennett is like his father - he flourishes in overlooked spots.
At one time, Dick Bennett was viewed as one of the sharpest basketball minds in the country. But he never made quick jumps to bigger programs. He spent 11 years coaching at the high school level and nine seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a one-time NAIA school, before moving to UW-Green Bay.
Then, in maybe the oddest move of the elder Bennett's career, he came out of retirement three years after leading Wisconsin to the Final Four to take over the Cougars, a team in shambles after the forgettable Paul Graham era.
As UNC coach Roy Williams said last week in regard to the Bennetts, "That acorn didn't fall (far) from the tree."
Dick and Tony are made in the same mold, and both seem to have an underdog mentality in their DNA. Which is why not bolting after two seasons makes sense for Tony.
Next season, most experts won't expect much out of the Cougs. They'll have lost the sweet shooting stroke of Low, the leadership and interior defense of Cowgill, the versatility of Weaver. And they'll be relying on at least a few of their freshmen.
Yet amid all the question marks, you get the sense Tony Bennett will be right where he wants to be.
---
Wright is a Tribune sports writer. He can be contacted at (208) 844-2277 or jwright@lmtribune.com
By Josh Wright
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
At the end of an exhilarating ride that lasted deep into March, Tony Bennett scoffed at the notion - uttered in the media and elsewhere - that the Washington State men's basketball program had topped out by going to the Sweet 16.
The Cougars might play in a conference chock-full of programs rich in resources. And they might have the disadvantage of being located in Pullman, 75 miles from any sort of metropolitan area. But none of that seems to sway their single-minded coach.
Not even a little bit.
"I understand that a lot of people say there's a ceiling at Washington State, but I don't buy that," Bennett said after losing last week to North Carolina in the NCAA Eastern Regional semifinals.
Then, in a move akin to an up-and-coming WSU professor turning down a job offer at Yale, Bennett affirmed his stance by spurning Indiana, one of the nation's top-shelf programs.
What exactly is going on here? Does this coaching prodigy know something others don't?
Well, the likely sanctions at IU after the Kelvin Sampson debacle probably played a part in Bennett's decision. But here's another possibility: Maybe he realizes he can make a lasting mark at Washington State, a school where he'll always be doubted but nevertheless a place capable of producing a consistent winner.
In some ways, he's an ideal candidate to hang around a while.
With the Cougars, the 38-year-old head man doesn't have to worry about pressure - at least, not the type of pressure he would face with the Hoosiers. He's already accomplished more on the Palouse than Coug fans could expect.
In Bennett's two-year reign, WSU has won a school-record 52 games, finished second and third in the Pac-10 and bagged three victories in the NCAA tournament. That's the same number of wins the program had tallied in the 66 years before last season.
After that much success, Bennett has plenty of wiggle room. He can take time rebuilding the club after the departure of three key seniors - Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill. And he can be selective in targeting future players.
Bennett and his staff have already made inroads in the recruiting department. The five-player class set to come to campus next year is viewed favorably in scouting circles, especially with the emergence of Klay Thompson, the son of former NBA standout Mychal Thompson.
Aside from personnel, though, there are other reasons to stay. Chief among them: WSU is a natural second-class program. That may sound odd, but Bennett is like his father - he flourishes in overlooked spots.
At one time, Dick Bennett was viewed as one of the sharpest basketball minds in the country. But he never made quick jumps to bigger programs. He spent 11 years coaching at the high school level and nine seasons at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a one-time NAIA school, before moving to UW-Green Bay.
Then, in maybe the oddest move of the elder Bennett's career, he came out of retirement three years after leading Wisconsin to the Final Four to take over the Cougars, a team in shambles after the forgettable Paul Graham era.
As UNC coach Roy Williams said last week in regard to the Bennetts, "That acorn didn't fall (far) from the tree."
Dick and Tony are made in the same mold, and both seem to have an underdog mentality in their DNA. Which is why not bolting after two seasons makes sense for Tony.
Next season, most experts won't expect much out of the Cougs. They'll have lost the sweet shooting stroke of Low, the leadership and interior defense of Cowgill, the versatility of Weaver. And they'll be relying on at least a few of their freshmen.
Yet amid all the question marks, you get the sense Tony Bennett will be right where he wants to be.
---
Wright is a Tribune sports writer. He can be contacted at (208) 844-2277 or jwright@lmtribune.com
Monday, March 24, 2008
A defining win for Bennett Ball
Defensive principles instilled by Dick and Tony Bennett have led to unprecedented success for WSU, including win over Notre Dame
By Josh Wright
Monday, March 24, 2008
Call it sleep-inducing. Call it crawl ball. Call it whatever you like.
No matter how monotonous Washington State's slow-down style may seem, the Cougars have flourished the last two years by holding tight to an unwavering system. Never has that been more evident than Saturday night at Denver's Pepsi Center.
WSU disrupted Notre Dame's free-flowing offense with clinical efficiency, holding the Irish to half their average output in a 61-41 beatdown in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Cougs, 26-8 and ranked No. 21 in the nation, have garnered an unprecedented bounty of success behind the defensive principles Dick and Tony Bennett brought to Pullman five years ago. They've bagged a school-record 52 wins in two seasons, finished in the top three of the Pac-10 in back-to-back years and made consecutive NCAA tournaments for the first time.
And Saturday, they became the only team in program history to crack the round of 16 in the NCAAs. They'll square off with top-ranked North Carolina on Thursday in the Eastern Regional semifinals in Charlotte, N.C.
What makes WSU's philosophy so effective?
For one thing, the Bennetts convinced a cast of unheralded recruits - Kyle Weaver, Robbie Cowgill, Daven Harmeling, etc. - that the program could be resurrected if they followed their simple but proven tactics. The Cougs rarely push the ball up the court, and they almost always stick to prickly man-to-man defense. It isn't a glamorous method, but it works.
"Honestly, Dick and Tony just deserve all the credit for ... bringing us in here when nobody else wanted to recruit any of us," said Harmeling, a redshirt junior forward. "We bought into their thing. I feel so good for Dick and Tony. It's unbelievable."
Another key factor in the Cougs' blossoming has been the ability to take opponents out of their comfort zone. The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 1 in Division I in assists per game (18.9) and 14th in scoring (80.6), never settled into their typical up-tempo flow.
Stalled by WSU's halfcourt D, they struggled through their worst offensive performance in a quarter-century, missing 40 of 53 shots and compiling a meager seven assists.
Asked how the club was able to stymie Notre Dame, Cowgill replied, "I think first and foremost, just getting back (in transition). They love to run. They want to score in the 80s. They want to push the ball and take quick shots (and) open 3's early. So we knew if we had a chance at this game, we were going to have to get back and make them play halfcourt offense against our set halfcourt D."
All told, the fourth-seeded Cougs surrendered 81 points in the first two rounds. Their next task will be to find a way to reprise the success they found in Denver against the mighty Tar Heels. Led by Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, a master of the high-speed transition game, UNC trounced Arkansas 108-77 on Sunday.
It was the Chapel Hill club's eighth 100-plus point effort of the season.
"Why not?" Weaver said after Saturday's game. "Let's go. Let's do it. We're at North Carolina. It's an away game. We've won games on the road. We played in the Pac-10, and hopefully it got us prepared for this situation."
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
By Josh Wright
Monday, March 24, 2008
Call it sleep-inducing. Call it crawl ball. Call it whatever you like.
No matter how monotonous Washington State's slow-down style may seem, the Cougars have flourished the last two years by holding tight to an unwavering system. Never has that been more evident than Saturday night at Denver's Pepsi Center.
WSU disrupted Notre Dame's free-flowing offense with clinical efficiency, holding the Irish to half their average output in a 61-41 beatdown in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Cougs, 26-8 and ranked No. 21 in the nation, have garnered an unprecedented bounty of success behind the defensive principles Dick and Tony Bennett brought to Pullman five years ago. They've bagged a school-record 52 wins in two seasons, finished in the top three of the Pac-10 in back-to-back years and made consecutive NCAA tournaments for the first time.
And Saturday, they became the only team in program history to crack the round of 16 in the NCAAs. They'll square off with top-ranked North Carolina on Thursday in the Eastern Regional semifinals in Charlotte, N.C.
What makes WSU's philosophy so effective?
For one thing, the Bennetts convinced a cast of unheralded recruits - Kyle Weaver, Robbie Cowgill, Daven Harmeling, etc. - that the program could be resurrected if they followed their simple but proven tactics. The Cougs rarely push the ball up the court, and they almost always stick to prickly man-to-man defense. It isn't a glamorous method, but it works.
"Honestly, Dick and Tony just deserve all the credit for ... bringing us in here when nobody else wanted to recruit any of us," said Harmeling, a redshirt junior forward. "We bought into their thing. I feel so good for Dick and Tony. It's unbelievable."
Another key factor in the Cougs' blossoming has been the ability to take opponents out of their comfort zone. The Fighting Irish, ranked No. 1 in Division I in assists per game (18.9) and 14th in scoring (80.6), never settled into their typical up-tempo flow.
Stalled by WSU's halfcourt D, they struggled through their worst offensive performance in a quarter-century, missing 40 of 53 shots and compiling a meager seven assists.
Asked how the club was able to stymie Notre Dame, Cowgill replied, "I think first and foremost, just getting back (in transition). They love to run. They want to score in the 80s. They want to push the ball and take quick shots (and) open 3's early. So we knew if we had a chance at this game, we were going to have to get back and make them play halfcourt offense against our set halfcourt D."
All told, the fourth-seeded Cougs surrendered 81 points in the first two rounds. Their next task will be to find a way to reprise the success they found in Denver against the mighty Tar Heels. Led by Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, a master of the high-speed transition game, UNC trounced Arkansas 108-77 on Sunday.
It was the Chapel Hill club's eighth 100-plus point effort of the season.
"Why not?" Weaver said after Saturday's game. "Let's go. Let's do it. We're at North Carolina. It's an away game. We've won games on the road. We played in the Pac-10, and hopefully it got us prepared for this situation."
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
WSU NOTES: Seniors won't be short-changed
Here's a sidebar I wrote Saturday night ...
By Josh Wright of the Tribune
Sunday, March 23, 2008
DENVER - As time crept along before Saturday's game, Kyle Weaver scrawled a two-word message on a board inside the Cougars' locker room.
"Do more," it read.
The simple memo was directed to all his teammates, but Weaver might as well have been looking his two fellow seniors in the eye. This was their time, he said, to take control. Which is exactly what they did.
Weaver, Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill were masterful in Washington State's 61-41 rout of fifth-seeded Notre Dame, accounting for 45 points and 16 rebounds. The victory pushes the fourth-seeded Cougars into the NCAA tournament's round of 16.
The veteran trio has helped usher in the most successful two-year span in Cougar basketball history, but another early exit from the Big Dance would have been tough to stomach. Last year, the club was vanquished in double overtime by Vanderbilt in the second round.
"They wanted to win," WSU center Aron Baynes said. "We were in this position last year and we lost it. But this year, we knew what we had to do. I think our thirst was even (greater). The seniors really pulled us through (in) this one."
Added junior Taylor Rochestie, "Our seniors stepped up. It was win-or-go home for all of us, but ... it made it real sweet to just to see them just have a great game together."
Low, Weaver and Cowgill seemed to have an extra dose of intensity throughout the game. There were a couple moments, though, where it really showed.
Midway through the first half, for example, Weaver sent a nifty pass in the direction of the hard-charging Cowgill. As he released the ball, Weaver thought the Cougars were certain to get two easy points out of the exchange.
There was only one problem: Cowgill misinterpreted Weaver's move and stopped cutting to the basket. The ball was deflected out of bounds.
And that's when Weaver lit into his senior teammate, chastising him for not making the right move.
"Me being a senior, I can talk to a senior like that," Weaver said. "I feel like I can be on Robbie. 'Hey, let's get it together.' And I expect the same from him - for him to be on me when he feels like I'm not doing something I should be doing. ... That play just showed how much we wanted to win the game tonight."
Watching the seniors achieve their goal was particularly satisfying for Dick Bennett, who recruited the group to the Palouse. It even topped taking Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000, he said.
"This is about as happy as I've been," the former Cougar and Badger coach said, "and it's better to be happy for others than yourself."
ROCHESTIE'S DEFENSE - For the second straight game, Rochestie summoned a worthy defensive performance against a dangerous player.
Thursday, he shut down Winthrop's Michael Jenkins, holding him to two points. And Saturday, he limited potent guard Kyle McAlarney to 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
"He really worked," WSU coach Tony Bennett said. "I think he was a little fatigued offensively. (He) didn't have a typical game."
While Rochestie tallied just six points, he doled out seven assists.
OLD STOMPING GROUNDS - The Cougs will play North Carolina or Arkansas on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., a place that holds extra meaning to Bennett. The second-year coach met his wife, Laurel, while playing there for the Hornets of the NBA.
"That will be very special for our family to go back," he said. "But I'm just very thankful right now for what I've had the opportunity to be a part of."
Etc. - The Cougs won Saturday despite going 4-for-17 from beyond the arc. It was their second-lowest percentage from 3-point range this season. ... This is the second time WSU advances to a third game in the NCAAs. The last time came in 1941, when it lost to Wisconsin in the national championship game. Only eight teams took part in the event back then.
By Josh Wright of the Tribune
Sunday, March 23, 2008
DENVER - As time crept along before Saturday's game, Kyle Weaver scrawled a two-word message on a board inside the Cougars' locker room.
"Do more," it read.
The simple memo was directed to all his teammates, but Weaver might as well have been looking his two fellow seniors in the eye. This was their time, he said, to take control. Which is exactly what they did.
Weaver, Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill were masterful in Washington State's 61-41 rout of fifth-seeded Notre Dame, accounting for 45 points and 16 rebounds. The victory pushes the fourth-seeded Cougars into the NCAA tournament's round of 16.
The veteran trio has helped usher in the most successful two-year span in Cougar basketball history, but another early exit from the Big Dance would have been tough to stomach. Last year, the club was vanquished in double overtime by Vanderbilt in the second round.
"They wanted to win," WSU center Aron Baynes said. "We were in this position last year and we lost it. But this year, we knew what we had to do. I think our thirst was even (greater). The seniors really pulled us through (in) this one."
Added junior Taylor Rochestie, "Our seniors stepped up. It was win-or-go home for all of us, but ... it made it real sweet to just to see them just have a great game together."
Low, Weaver and Cowgill seemed to have an extra dose of intensity throughout the game. There were a couple moments, though, where it really showed.
Midway through the first half, for example, Weaver sent a nifty pass in the direction of the hard-charging Cowgill. As he released the ball, Weaver thought the Cougars were certain to get two easy points out of the exchange.
There was only one problem: Cowgill misinterpreted Weaver's move and stopped cutting to the basket. The ball was deflected out of bounds.
And that's when Weaver lit into his senior teammate, chastising him for not making the right move.
"Me being a senior, I can talk to a senior like that," Weaver said. "I feel like I can be on Robbie. 'Hey, let's get it together.' And I expect the same from him - for him to be on me when he feels like I'm not doing something I should be doing. ... That play just showed how much we wanted to win the game tonight."
Watching the seniors achieve their goal was particularly satisfying for Dick Bennett, who recruited the group to the Palouse. It even topped taking Wisconsin to the Final Four in 2000, he said.
"This is about as happy as I've been," the former Cougar and Badger coach said, "and it's better to be happy for others than yourself."
ROCHESTIE'S DEFENSE - For the second straight game, Rochestie summoned a worthy defensive performance against a dangerous player.
Thursday, he shut down Winthrop's Michael Jenkins, holding him to two points. And Saturday, he limited potent guard Kyle McAlarney to 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
"He really worked," WSU coach Tony Bennett said. "I think he was a little fatigued offensively. (He) didn't have a typical game."
While Rochestie tallied just six points, he doled out seven assists.
OLD STOMPING GROUNDS - The Cougs will play North Carolina or Arkansas on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., a place that holds extra meaning to Bennett. The second-year coach met his wife, Laurel, while playing there for the Hornets of the NBA.
"That will be very special for our family to go back," he said. "But I'm just very thankful right now for what I've had the opportunity to be a part of."
Etc. - The Cougs won Saturday despite going 4-for-17 from beyond the arc. It was their second-lowest percentage from 3-point range this season. ... This is the second time WSU advances to a third game in the NCAAs. The last time came in 1941, when it lost to Wisconsin in the national championship game. Only eight teams took part in the event back then.
Looking sweet
Here's my latest game story on Washington State's impressive win over Notre Dame ...
Cougars turn their focus to round of 16 after taking offensive strut out of Irish
By Josh Wright of the Tribune
Sunday, March 23, 2008
DENVER - The Cougars have squeezed a bushel of unforgettable moments into the last two seasons, but this was it. This was the most glorious scene any of them had experienced.
They were coasting against Notre Dame, making its high-powered offense look as feeble as a Ford Festiva. And in the background, Washington State fans were already partying.
In the midst of the merry romp, Taylor Rochestie decided to take a second to bask in the limelight. As Derrick Low launched a picture-perfect 3-pointer from the left wing, he started to backpedal. Then, with the ball sailing through the net, the junior point guard thrust two clenched fists heavenward in exultation.
Eight minutes remained, but Rochestie was sure of this much: For the first time ever, WSU was Sweet 16 bound.
Thanks to Low's dagger and a defense that operated at peak precision, the Cougars smothered the Fighting Irish 61-41 on Saturday in front of 19,299 at the Pepsi Center. The overwhelming victory came in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
"Man, it's a great feeling," Rochestie said. "... For someone like me that just dreams of coming to the tournament as it is, it's kind of indescribable."
It was even more special for the WSU seniors and coach Tony Bennett, all of whom slogged through two straight losing seasons - part of 10 in a row for the once-beleaguered program - before breaking out last year. When the game was over, Bennett took time to rejoice with his father, Dick, who started the rebuilding project in 2003.
It was a performance that left the elder Bennett beaming.
The Cougars (26-8) strangled the Irish in every conceivable way, holding a team that came in averaging 80 points per game to their lowest point total in 25 years. Notre Dame made only 13 of 53 field-goal attempts (24.5 percent), and star sophomore Luke Harangody was handcuffed into a 10-point outing on 3-of-17 shooting.
"(The defense) couldn't be any better," Dick Bennett said from the stands afterward. "They were just on top of it from start to finish."
Now it's on to the Eastern Regional semifinals, where the Cougs will meet the winner of today's North Carolina-Arkansas game. A time for Thursday's contest in Charlotte, N.C., has yet to be determined.
It seems likely WSU will match up with the top-ranked Tar Heels in their backyard. By every measure, it would be the season's stiffest test. But Notre Dame players won't be discounting the Cougs.
"They could go all the way," Irish guard Kyle McAlarney said. "... We were one of the best offensive teams in the country coming into this tournament. We believe that. I think they knew that. So the way they played us tonight, it just shows the rest of the country how good they are."
Wazzu was locked in from the start. It crafted a 32-17 lead with 11 seconds left in the first half when Low sank a fadeaway 3 - a picturesque rainbow shot with two Irish players in his face. Rob Kurz followed with a basket in the lane right before the break, but it was still by far Notre Dame's worst offensive first half of the season.
The previous low mark came against Georgetown, when it managed 25 points. And if you combine Saturday's first half with Winthrop's dreadful second half, WSU yielded a meager 30 points in 40 minutes of NCAA tournament action.
"Man, it feels like a dream right now," said Kyle Weaver, a four-year starter who rang up 15 points and nine rebounds. "I'm still, you know, trying to take all this in as we speak."
Weaver was merely one of several Cougars who put together a clutch effort. Low registered 18 points and played the best defense Tony Bennett said he had seen from the senior. Rochestie came up with seven assists and just two turnovers while Robbie Cowgill finished with 12 points.
There there was Aron Baynes, who made up for a subpar offensive game with 11 rebounds and glimmering defense on Harangody. Notre Dame's powerful 251-pound forward hauled in a career-high 22 rebounds, but he was clearly frustrated by Baynes and the constant traps on the low block.
"It was all right," the 270-pound Aussie said when asked to judge his defensive performance. "I think the team did a real good job on him. There's always room for improvement for myself, but the team defense (was) unbelievable."
Before tipoff, Bennett showed his players a picture of the blank scoreboard before last year's second-round game with Vanderbilt, which the Cougs lost in double overtime. He wanted to remind of them of what it felt like to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
"I said, 'You were in this spot last year before the game,' " Bennett recalled for the media. " 'Remember the thoughts going through your head?' I said, 'What can you do better to get us one step further? What have you learned from this experience?' "
The motivational ploy worked so well that Bennett was able to rip the picture in half in a jubilant locker room after the program's first back-to-back tourney wins in 67 years.
"It's unbelievable, man, just thinking back to last year at this time," reserve forward Daven Harmeling said. "The contrast of feelings of losing to Vandy and now this. Last year's experience makes this so much sweeter because we were right on the edge of the door and we got turned down. But today we just broke through with our defense."
NOTRE DAME (25-8)
Kurz 3-8 2-2 8, Hillesland 0-2 2-2 2, Harangody 3-17 4-4 10, Jackson 2-7 2-2 7, McAlarney 5-13 0-1 12, Nash 0-0 0-0 0, Proffitt 0-0 0-0 0, Peoples 0-0 2-2 2, Abromaitis 0-0 0-0 0, Zeller 0-2 0-0 0, Ayers 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 13-53 12-13 41.
WASHINGTON ST. (26-8)
Weaver 6-11 3-5 15, Cowgill 6-7 0-0 12, Baynes 2-7 2-4 6, Low 6-15 4-4 18, Rochestie 2-8 0-1 6, Koprivica 0-0 0-0 0, Abercrombie 0-0 0-0 0, Cross 0-1 0-0 0, Harmeling 0-1 0-0 0, Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Forrest 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 24-54 9-14 61.
Halftime-Washington St. 32-19. 3-Point Goals-Notre Dame 3-17 (McAlarney 2-8, Jackson 1-2, Harangody 0-1, Ayers 0-2, Zeller 0-2, Kurz 0-2), Washington St. 4-17 (Rochestie 2-6, Low 2-9, Weaver 0-1, Harmeling 0-1). Fouled Out-Forrest. Rebounds-Notre Dame 38 (Harangody 22), Washington St. 37 (Baynes 11). Assists-Notre Dame 7 (Harangody, Jackson 2), Washington St. 14 (Rochestie 7). Total Fouls-Notre Dame 16, Washington St. 15. A-19,299.
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
Cougars turn their focus to round of 16 after taking offensive strut out of Irish
By Josh Wright of the Tribune
Sunday, March 23, 2008
DENVER - The Cougars have squeezed a bushel of unforgettable moments into the last two seasons, but this was it. This was the most glorious scene any of them had experienced.
They were coasting against Notre Dame, making its high-powered offense look as feeble as a Ford Festiva. And in the background, Washington State fans were already partying.
In the midst of the merry romp, Taylor Rochestie decided to take a second to bask in the limelight. As Derrick Low launched a picture-perfect 3-pointer from the left wing, he started to backpedal. Then, with the ball sailing through the net, the junior point guard thrust two clenched fists heavenward in exultation.
Eight minutes remained, but Rochestie was sure of this much: For the first time ever, WSU was Sweet 16 bound.
Thanks to Low's dagger and a defense that operated at peak precision, the Cougars smothered the Fighting Irish 61-41 on Saturday in front of 19,299 at the Pepsi Center. The overwhelming victory came in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
"Man, it's a great feeling," Rochestie said. "... For someone like me that just dreams of coming to the tournament as it is, it's kind of indescribable."
It was even more special for the WSU seniors and coach Tony Bennett, all of whom slogged through two straight losing seasons - part of 10 in a row for the once-beleaguered program - before breaking out last year. When the game was over, Bennett took time to rejoice with his father, Dick, who started the rebuilding project in 2003.
It was a performance that left the elder Bennett beaming.
The Cougars (26-8) strangled the Irish in every conceivable way, holding a team that came in averaging 80 points per game to their lowest point total in 25 years. Notre Dame made only 13 of 53 field-goal attempts (24.5 percent), and star sophomore Luke Harangody was handcuffed into a 10-point outing on 3-of-17 shooting.
"(The defense) couldn't be any better," Dick Bennett said from the stands afterward. "They were just on top of it from start to finish."
Now it's on to the Eastern Regional semifinals, where the Cougs will meet the winner of today's North Carolina-Arkansas game. A time for Thursday's contest in Charlotte, N.C., has yet to be determined.
It seems likely WSU will match up with the top-ranked Tar Heels in their backyard. By every measure, it would be the season's stiffest test. But Notre Dame players won't be discounting the Cougs.
"They could go all the way," Irish guard Kyle McAlarney said. "... We were one of the best offensive teams in the country coming into this tournament. We believe that. I think they knew that. So the way they played us tonight, it just shows the rest of the country how good they are."
Wazzu was locked in from the start. It crafted a 32-17 lead with 11 seconds left in the first half when Low sank a fadeaway 3 - a picturesque rainbow shot with two Irish players in his face. Rob Kurz followed with a basket in the lane right before the break, but it was still by far Notre Dame's worst offensive first half of the season.
The previous low mark came against Georgetown, when it managed 25 points. And if you combine Saturday's first half with Winthrop's dreadful second half, WSU yielded a meager 30 points in 40 minutes of NCAA tournament action.
"Man, it feels like a dream right now," said Kyle Weaver, a four-year starter who rang up 15 points and nine rebounds. "I'm still, you know, trying to take all this in as we speak."
Weaver was merely one of several Cougars who put together a clutch effort. Low registered 18 points and played the best defense Tony Bennett said he had seen from the senior. Rochestie came up with seven assists and just two turnovers while Robbie Cowgill finished with 12 points.
There there was Aron Baynes, who made up for a subpar offensive game with 11 rebounds and glimmering defense on Harangody. Notre Dame's powerful 251-pound forward hauled in a career-high 22 rebounds, but he was clearly frustrated by Baynes and the constant traps on the low block.
"It was all right," the 270-pound Aussie said when asked to judge his defensive performance. "I think the team did a real good job on him. There's always room for improvement for myself, but the team defense (was) unbelievable."
Before tipoff, Bennett showed his players a picture of the blank scoreboard before last year's second-round game with Vanderbilt, which the Cougs lost in double overtime. He wanted to remind of them of what it felt like to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
"I said, 'You were in this spot last year before the game,' " Bennett recalled for the media. " 'Remember the thoughts going through your head?' I said, 'What can you do better to get us one step further? What have you learned from this experience?' "
The motivational ploy worked so well that Bennett was able to rip the picture in half in a jubilant locker room after the program's first back-to-back tourney wins in 67 years.
"It's unbelievable, man, just thinking back to last year at this time," reserve forward Daven Harmeling said. "The contrast of feelings of losing to Vandy and now this. Last year's experience makes this so much sweeter because we were right on the edge of the door and we got turned down. But today we just broke through with our defense."
NOTRE DAME (25-8)
Kurz 3-8 2-2 8, Hillesland 0-2 2-2 2, Harangody 3-17 4-4 10, Jackson 2-7 2-2 7, McAlarney 5-13 0-1 12, Nash 0-0 0-0 0, Proffitt 0-0 0-0 0, Peoples 0-0 2-2 2, Abromaitis 0-0 0-0 0, Zeller 0-2 0-0 0, Ayers 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 13-53 12-13 41.
WASHINGTON ST. (26-8)
Weaver 6-11 3-5 15, Cowgill 6-7 0-0 12, Baynes 2-7 2-4 6, Low 6-15 4-4 18, Rochestie 2-8 0-1 6, Koprivica 0-0 0-0 0, Abercrombie 0-0 0-0 0, Cross 0-1 0-0 0, Harmeling 0-1 0-0 0, Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Forrest 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 24-54 9-14 61.
Halftime-Washington St. 32-19. 3-Point Goals-Notre Dame 3-17 (McAlarney 2-8, Jackson 1-2, Harangody 0-1, Ayers 0-2, Zeller 0-2, Kurz 0-2), Washington St. 4-17 (Rochestie 2-6, Low 2-9, Weaver 0-1, Harmeling 0-1). Fouled Out-Forrest. Rebounds-Notre Dame 38 (Harangody 22), Washington St. 37 (Baynes 11). Assists-Notre Dame 7 (Harangody, Jackson 2), Washington St. 14 (Rochestie 7). Total Fouls-Notre Dame 16, Washington St. 15. A-19,299.
---
Wright may be contacted at jwright@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
