Well, quasi-preview. Since the team has already played one exhibition and one preseason game, you’ve already had a chance to “view” them. That’s my bad… kept putting off the preview edition of my men’s hoops coverage until all the rankings were in and then got steamrolled by work and school. That being said… I have time now, so let’s get to it.

The Other Guys

The other guys meaning those places with a way better reputation than little old me. Right now, Wazzu is ranked 9th in the AP and USA Today/ ESPN polls; they started out 10th but I think Michigan State’s exhibition loss to Grand Valley State affected the polls just a bit. Otherwise, the Cougs are ranked 13th by Rivals.com, and the ranking I was worried the most about, and put the most weight on, is the 8th ranking given by Storming the Floor. Overall, this is a far cry from last year’s preseason when no one gave the Cougars any credit and they had to work their way to the top game by game. The only way that I see this making a difference is that WSU is no longer floating just below the radar; everyone’s going to be up for their game against the Cougs. We should get every team’s best every game, and ultimately that could wear down WSU come tournament time.

Team Breakdown

WSU embodies the team concept through and through. They beat teams by slowing down the game and never, never giving their opponent an easy look. Some analysts see the numbers and say that WSU can’t compete inside because of their lack of offensive rebounding. Watch a game and its plain to see that the Cougars’ strategy is to concede more than a few offensive boards in exchange for having 5 guys back on defense and completely taking away fast breaks and quick scores. Their opponents have to work for each and every point they get.

Furthermore, this is a veteran team full of role players; few guys could be considered stars on their own. Each player fills a role, and all those roles are important to the team. But leadership is what is not lacking on this team, and everyone who will be getting major playing time has been there, done that. Three seniors (Kyle Weaver, Robbie Cowgill, and Derrick Low) and three juniors (Aron Baynes, Taylor Rochestie, and Daven Harmeling) are the six who should get the majority of playing time. The six is incredibly versatile too, as Kyle Weaver can double as a small forward and guard. One key to the Cougar offense is the ability to play with 3 guards and beat their opponents defensively with their speed, and create offensive opportunities with that same speed.

The team returns their top 3 scorers, so they realistically have a great chance this year. If they can sweep their preseason schedule of 12 games and go, at minimum 9-9 in conference play, they stand 21-9 at seasons end; last year every team that was .500 or better in conference play made the Big Dance. So looking ahead, the Cougars really just need to be able to beat the teams they are supposed to (Washington, Arizona State, Oregon State) and win their home games against the teams in the middle (Cal, USC) and the tournament is a realistic goal. Any wins against the big boys (UCLA, Stanford, Oregon, Arizona), home or away is just icing on the cake.

In the end, it’s a season of great expectations… but the only one that matters is where they are playing come March.

Keys to the Season

• Kyle Weaver is the key to their versatility. He may not be their leading scorer, but he allows the team to create a lot of matchups that favor the Cougs
• Free throw shooting! With the offense the Cougars run, their opponents are never out of the game. Last year, the Cougs losses in Pac 10 play almost always came after blowing a 4th quarter lead by failing to hit their shots from the stripe. Free throws are pivotal to keeping the leads that they work so hard to get.
• Managing disappointment. Ultimately, the Cougs are going to fail on some level or another. Given the great deal of weight that top 10 rankings can have on a team, when they lose, and in college basketball you will lose, they need to make sure to keep things relative and not lose in streaks.
• It’s all about the big man Baynes. Aron Baynes is the only guy on this roster who can play “big” in the paint. Although WSU tends to force other teams to play smaller by coming out with a 3 guard lineup, the team’s ability to match up defensively with some teams is totally hinging Baynes playing a solid game in the low post.

Key Games
11/25 - vs Air Force: let’s not kid ourselves, USAFA can play ball and are a dangerous team. First test on the schedule for both teams.
12/5 - at #14 Gonzaga: okay, so USAFA is more of a quiz; this is the first real test. This game could have a lot of impact on the season; last year’s victory over the Zags seemed to set everything off and tell the guys that, yes, they are a legit team in the world of college hoops. I think it also helped build a lot of confidence going into Pac-10 play.
1/5, 1/10, 1/12 - at Washington, at #2 USC, at UCLA: Yea, I know, it’s only one ranked opponent, but the Huskies are always up for playing the Cougs and USC is going to be no chump at home. This first series of road games is somewhat brutal, and is their toughest string of road games all year long. WSU always plays well at home, so if they can win 2 or 3 on this trip it could be the key to winning the regular season Pac 10 title.

Most Valuable Coug

On this team, its hard to find one guy who the team is going to rely on more than others, but in my mind its going to be the former Tulane transfer Taylor Rochestie. Rochestie’s name in latin means clutch according to a source that I made up. But he did finish strong in a lot of games down the stretch last year and his free throw shooting, three point shooting, feisty defense, and ball-handling was key coming off the bench last year.

Rochestie’s increased role with last year’s team also allowed Derrick Low, aka D-Low, to move off the ball and create a lot of scoring opportunities. Rochestie’s most important role on the team, thus, might be his ability to help others step up their game, and you have to love any guy who is such a team player that he voluntarily gave up his scholarship to help WSU recruit while the brand name is hot.

Taylor is the man… although the stat lines and accolades might not point that out. While D-Low, Cowgill, and Weaver take center stage, Rochestie will quietly set his team up for an appearance in the Elite 8 come this March.