WSU: Senior Night
This coming Saturday, the Washington State Cougars will display their version of “Senior Night” when they play host to the Washington Huskies. Yes, the game will be the final installment of this years regular schedule. Next week it’s off to Staples Center in Los Angeles and the Pac-10 Tournament.
Senior Night.
For many schools this event is overshadowed by the potential outcome of the game. Tournament seedings are on the line. Closing strong to grab the attention of the NCAA selection committee. There are a myriad of things that usually distract from what should be the focus of Senior Night. For the vast majority of college basketball players, it will be the last time they get a chance to play in a high level game.
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Saturday night the Cougs will match up against their biggest rival. Chances are pretty good that the outcome of the game will overshadow honoring WSU seniors playing their final game on Friel Court.
What’s the big deal?
There is a very big deal about this senior class. Just in case you have been sequestered down in Gitmo for the past year, here’s the group getting a final opportunity to play a game in front of their fans:
Recently Cougfan posed a question to this blogger that brought about a unexpected perspective. “Who is your favorite player on the Cougs this year?” For someone accustomed to knee-jerk responses, the question caused a pause.
Cougar basketball has changed for the better. There’s no dispute. That’s fact.
In changing for the better, the process has been painful for players, coaches and fans. Yes, there were bushels of losses before the Cougs put together back-to-back 20 win seasons.
So why should it be a challenge to select a favorite player?
Simple.
This collection of players is a favorite team. To single out one player would overlook the way this group plays together. Though such commentary rings trite at best, may I suggest that the record bears out, “that’s the fact Jack”.
The first word that comes to mind when attempting to describe the Cougar basketball program is class. Cowgill, Cross, Henry, Low and Weaver are some pretty classy young men. They play the game with intensity. They play with tremendous energy. They play with competitive purpose.
What this group doesn’t do is: go into ridiculous histrionics after making an amazing shot or slam dunk; taunt opponents with excessive trash talk; pick up technical fouls; whine or grouse about being whistled for a foul; show up late for practice; or find themselves in trouble with police.
It appears that Washington State basketball will be in very good shape for the next few years. Coach Tony Bennett has established a program that all of Cougar Nation is extremely proud of. Not only does our team, Coach Bennett’s team, win games, they do it with tremendous confidence. Because they expect to win every time the set foot on the hardwood, they don’t embarrass themselves and the program with immature chest thumping and fist pumping after a victory. Not this team. They line up to shake hands with their opponents, treating them with the respect and dignity the deserve.
That’s class.
That’s Coach Bennett-style basketball.
That has become Cougar basketball.
Cowgill, Cross, Henry, Low and Weaver deserve all the accolades coming their way. If this group of seniors is the starting five for Coach Bennett on Saturday, there won’t be any players pouting on the bench. No, regular starters Taylor Rochestie and Aron Baynes will be proud to see that group on the floor. They’re teammates. They’re family. They’re Cougars.
To Cowgill, Cross, Henry, Low and Weaver, thanks for some exciting, classy basketball.
This group of seniors might be done in Pullman, but they have plenty of basketball to play after Saturday.
Did I mention that this team has been ranked in the Top 25 the entire season?
GO COUGS!!!
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