Ben Ball: Getting Back on Track

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 6:03 AM PST in Basketball

It’s time to let go of the upset loss to Arizona State and turn our attention to our next opponent: the Washington State Cougars.

The Cougars are coming off a 74-62 road win against Oregon. They were paced by Taylor Rochestie’s career-high 30 points, he's one of the league's hottest players.

Taylor Rochestie, Washington State: The senior guard averaged 22 points and 7.5 assists as the Cougars won at Oregon State and Oregon to improve to 3-2 in conference. Rochestie shot 7 for 12 from three-point range and 19 for 20 at the free throw line, including 16 for 16 against Oregon on Saturday.

WSU also set a Pac 10 free throw percentage record by going 28 for 28. Eighteen of those free throws came in the final three minutes of the game, too, representative of some clutch shooting down the stretch. The Cougars are 11-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

Washington State, however, is not the Washington State team that went 26-9 last season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to North Carolina. That team spent most of the season ranked but the graduation of Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill changed the squad considerably.

But the trip to Pullman is never an easy one. It’s arguable the Pac 10’s most remote outpost, just getting there is a chore. And any team coached by Tony Bennett – one of the best in the conference – is always going to be prepared and ready to go. That said, UCLA has not lost to Washington State in Pullman since the 1992-93 season.

It's maybe a little early to call this game a "must win" for UCLA. But consider this:

Two days after Pullman, the Bruins play Washington in Seattle, where Lorenzo Romar and Company have had Ben Howland's number. So, it's important for UCLA to get a Thursday to eliminate any possibility that the losing streak grows.

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wash st

Wash St is nowhere near as experienced as last year, and I really hope that means for this game we get to give the freshmen more playtime. Yeah, in crunch time we’ll have to rely on the seniors, but there’s no better way to teach freshmen than to give them play time experience – and better to do it now than in March

by blinkshot on Jan 20, 2009 10:56 AM PST reply actions

What I'd really like to see ...

is not just a win, but a well-played game on both ends of the floor.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions

true that

i do not want to see the possibility of dreading 3 losses in a row

by blinkshot on Jan 20, 2009 1:03 PM PST up reply actions

True enough

Washington State, however, is not the Washington State team that went 26-9 last season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to North Carolina.

All the more reason to regard them as a most dangerous opponent. For, such success this year despite the loss of three stars is a sure sign of great coaching. Much like CBH, Bennett has kept the machinery running well, despite all the engine modifications. And, that Rochestie is having a Ryan Hollins type break-out in his senior season is another sign.

Sure smells like great coaching to me. We’ll have to be on our game, and then some.

by Bruinut on Jan 20, 2009 12:36 PM PST reply actions

Like I said above ...

(then I was interrupted here in my office while writing) we really need a well played game on both ends.

I think we’ve been playing good offense and defense at times, but haven’t yet put it all together. It would be nice to see a more complete effort this Thursday.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions

Thinking ahead to a potential losing streak?

What happened to relentless optimism?

We’ve still got some growing to do, and I’m not going to go the opposite route and start counting all the teams that line up for a potential winning streak, but I do (still) see the future as very bright for this team.

by cabz on Jan 20, 2009 2:22 PM PST reply actions

Oh, me too ...

isn’t it the football coach that’s relentlessly optimistic? LOL

I’m an optimist and a realist. Obviously, coming off a loss to ASU and looking ahead to a Saturday game in Seattle where we’ve lost a few the Thursday game in Pullman takes on some heightened importance.

But, there’s no reason why we can’t sweep this weekend.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

The thing is

we shouldn’t be looking ahead to Sat. We should focus on Thursday night.

by Nestor on Jan 20, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions

I agree, but ...

I think that’s more true for the team than for someone writing about the team.

I don’t think my looking ahead to the weekend as a whole impacts the team’s focus.

I felt it was necessary to look at the whole weekend when putting the WSU game in context.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions

I agree, but ...

I think that’s more true for the team than for someone writing about the team.

I don’t think my looking ahead to the weekend as a whole impacts the team’s focus.

I felt it was necessary to look at the whole weekend when putting the WSU game in context.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Jan 20, 2009 3:34 PM PST reply actions

Two crazy zones in a row

Following a game in which we went cold for over 10 minutes…in a podunk gym in the middle of nowhere. The potential for coming out flat is huge. The boys better have a short memory…CBH will have them prepared, but it will still be a root canal of a game.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Jan 21, 2009 10:44 AM PST reply actions