The State Of WSU Basketball: 2012

You can’t win in Pullman. 

That’s what they say right?  “They” being……. Well, just about everyone.  Rival coaches and fans say it, of course, but hell,  I’m a Coug and if I had a dollar for every time I’ve thought it myself,  I could Phil-Knight them a new arena, metallic uniforms and locker rooms filled with flat screens.  

You’ve heard is all before….. 

The Beauty Of The Palouse

“It’s too remote.” 

“The facilities aren’t good enough.” 

“You can’t pay coaches enough.” 

“It’s TOO REMOTE!” 

Sure, there have been stretches of success.  Brief, rare, glorious stretches.  But those have historically been followed by the departure of whichever coach it was who achieved it.  George Raveling, Kelvin Sampson, and Tony Bennett all moved on after doing their best work on the Palouse.   

We all know that this is a different time.  The new Pac-12 and it’s corresponding TV deal have changed the game.  WSU can now hire the Mike Leach’s of the world, supply them with an upgraded infrastructure, and pay them enough to keep them in town once other programs come calling.   

Bone is 51-39 at WSU

So, what does that mean for head coach Ken Bone?  He was hired by a previous Athletic Director under the previous TV deal, leading to speculation that the heat has been turned up and the clock is ticking louder than ever if he doesn’t win.  He was listed by espn.com earlier this year as a coach on the proverbial Hot Seat. But he signed a 7-year contract in 2009, and Bill Moos has shown a propensity to be patient with his hoops coaches.  And besides, what does ESPN know anyway, right? 

So, in his third year on the job, how’s Bone doing?  And, how does the future of the program look?  

A lot better today then it did a year ago.   

When Klay Thompson declared early for the NBA after his junior year last spring, it looked like he was bailing from a sinking ship.  The only quality post player on the roster, DeAngelo Casto, bolted for an overseas payday, point guard Reggie Moore had regressed, promising youngsters Xavier Thames and James Watson left the program, and the incoming recruiting class ended up including only one true freshman.   

Brock Motum

But I’m here to tell you, the future looks bright.  

As I write this, the Cougs are 13-11 overall and 5-7 in Pac-12 play after an impressive road win over Oregon State last night.  Moore is playing to his potential again, guard DaVonte Lacy is an All-Freshman team candidate, and Brock Motum might be playing better than anyone in the conference.  Against the Beavers last night, JC transfer DJ Shelton played his best game of the year, chipping in 14 points and 9 boards in 24 minutes.  Shelton is raw, but he’s 6’ 10” and uber-athletic.   Fresno State transfer Mike Ladd has battled injuries, but he and redshirt frosh Dexter Kernich-Drew (another Aussie import) look like the kind of long, athletic wing players Bone likes to build his offense around. 

Suddenly, it looks like there’s a solid core developing here.  This won’t be a tournament team, but when they play well they can compete with anyone in the league, and the best is yet to come.  

Richard Peters

Next year’s recruiting class is solid, and features a couple of kids who should make immediate, and significant contributions.  Richard Peters is a skilled 6’ 10” post player from Arizona who chose WSU over Washington, Seton Hall, and a handful of SEC schools.  Demarquise Johnson is his teammate at Westwind Charter Academy, and will be his teammate in Pullman.  He’s a 3-star, 6’ 5” wing who can spot up from 3 and slash to the basket.  Filling out the class are 6’ 7” Spokane sharp-shooter Brett Boese and Richard Longrus, a northern California wing player who does his best work on the defensive end.  

Royce Woolridge

Also joining the fray is Royce Woolridge, son of ex-NBA standout Orlando Woolridge.  He’ll be eligible to play in 2012-13 after transferring from Kansas where he earned playing time as a true freshman.  He’s a combo guard who can play the point or shooting guard.   

You can see the pieces coming together.  This looked like the proverbial doughnut team to start the season, with a huge hold in the middle.  But Motum’s transformation from skinny wing to hard-nosed, talented post player has him looking like an All Pac-12 selection, and he’s only a junior.  Shelton’s development gives them two 6’ 10” guys to build around.  Add Peters to that mix and the ever-growing group of versatile guards and wings Bone is assembling, and the pieces could be in place to run his offense the way he envisions.   

Bone wasn’t a sexy hire when he arrived three years ago, but he seemed like a good fit.  He built a solid resume as both coach and recruiter, all of it in the Northwest, and he talked of this job being a destination for him, not a stepping stone.  If he won there, as he vowed to do, he would stay.   

With a growing and intriguing talent base, and in a Pac-12 where there are no dominant programs to speak of right now, it would appear he is poised to begin fulfilling that promise.