Tim Lewis, please review the game footage of the UW's defeat last weekend of the Cal Bears. Please pay particular attention to Jon Brockman, the man you identify as the heart of his team, without whom they are nothing. As the game progresses, please pay very close attention. At the conclusion of the game you can review the game stats to support what you just watched, and what teams like Arizona and UCLA have found out about UW this year; that being that they are a very deep team. Last Saturday, Jon Brockman was held to season lows in both rebounding and points, as his efforts were muted early by foul troubles. If you watched carefully, you would have also noticed the great performances by Quincy Pondexter and Joe Wolfinger. Wolfinger who has seen limited minutes this year came off the bench to hit 6/6, 4/4 from the 3. My point, Tim Lewis, is that not only is your theory (Bring down Brock, the rest will fall) inaccurate, but your justification for the win ("there's no reason for a different result this weekend.") is completely uninformed as well. You seem to base this of a conception that teams begin and end the season no better and no worse. I realize that there was no reason for anyone to watch cougar basketball before last year, so you may be new to the sport, and secondly that the core group of cougars (seniors+baynes+rochestie) have been playing together for a while together now and have their niches. But then look at the amount of time given to freshman/first year players at UW. This is the first year playing for UW for 5 guys; Tim Morris, Wolfinger, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Venoy Overton, Justin Holiday, and all get substantial playing time save Holiday who has been injured. My point being, that as players get more time being on the floor, they gel better as a team. WSU's group already had that last year.
I like that weathermen have interest enough in sports to write about it so I will let your seeming lack of knowledge of basketball slide. Wait.... you mean... you do sports? Oh...
Tim Lewis, I just think that if you are going to say something, you should at least make sure you are not going to get punked on the internet over it, so please put a little more thought into your posts.
My prediction: Cougars 63, UW 58
Why? Because this is the senior game for WSU and they will be damned if they lose it. Its as simple as their shots will go down while UW is flustered and comes out flat on defense. Brockman will easily get a double double. It will be a close called and hard fought game, and UW will die, as they have many times this year, because of their inability to shoot free throws.

P.S. Can't wait for the Cougar team next year.
P.P.S. Did they even recruit anyone?

I didnt know that you did the weather reporting as well Tim? Taking that gig from Tom Sherry is quite a feat in itself my friend! Nice work.

These excuses for the basketball team are the same excuses I have been hearing from UW football fans the last few years. The fact that UW can out recruit WSU every year in every sport and still not put a winning product on the field or hardwood must be difficult to digest i'm sure.

Mr. Duke, please take a moment to check out WSU's incoming freshman class for basketball next year. I think you will quickly come to the realization that Coach Bennett is quietly becoming a very solid recruiter. The names may not jump out at you as do the names that Romar seems to get, but he will indeed make these kids winners before all is said and done.

Will Duke,

Thanks for the comment...I can tell you have pride in your school.

It's not my job to talk trash about other teams or their players...I just call it as I see it.

The Huskies are a different team than they were at the start of the year. They are playing some pretty good basketball and they've exceeded my expectations. With that said, they still haven't shown me enough to think they will break the six game skid against the Cougars (especially in Pullman on Senior Night). I'm glad we can at least agree on that.

Your argument that Jon Brockman is not the heart and soul of the Huskies is absurd. If you want to base the entire season on the Cal game last Saturday...go for it. Here's my argument:

November 21, 2007: Washington falls to Texas A&M, 77-63. Brockman scores 21-points and 15 rebounds...only one other Husky scores in double figures.

January 5, 2008: Washington loses to Washington State, 56-52. Brock puts up 14 and 17...only one other Dawg scores in double figures.

January 10, 2008: The Dawgs lose to UCLA, 69-55. Brockman goes for 16 and eight...one other Husky scores in double figures.

January 12, 2008: UW falls to USC, 66-51. Brockman gets 16 and 10...again, only one other Dawg scores in double figures.

January 26, 2008: The Huskies lose to Arizona, 84-69. Brockman puts up 24 and six...without his efforts the outcome is a lot worse.

February 7, 2008: Washington falls to USC, 73-59. Brockman gets 13 points and 14 boards...every other Husky (except Artem Wallace) scores, but it's still not enough.

February 14, 2008: Washington loses to Oregon, 71-58. Brockman goes for 13 and 11...only one other Husky in double figures.

I could go on and on, but I think I've made my point.

I wish I had time to get into the Cougs recruiting class (I'm not dodging the issue...there's plenty to brag about), but I'll have to get to that later.

P.S. I stand by my prediction. Cougars win, 67-61 (I'm sure WSU fans will take 63-58 as well).

P.S.S. The weather forecast for Saturday calls for partly cloudy skies and some wind. High of 45 and a low of 33.

It sure is nice to have a little bit of a change of pace with a Husky backer on the board. Livens it up a little! Of course, that being said, basing the arguments on a game against Cal....a team the Cougs beat by 21 just 2 days earlier is a bit absurd. Tim, I pray that you will not take the time to review footage of a game between the #8 and #9 teams in the conference...unless you are prepping a NIT preview special. The weatherman comment was obviously made from a fan who is still perturbed by the NIT slight of last year...we will cross our fingers they don't let it happen again! As Joe Kane wrote above, it has to be very frustrating losing to the cougs 6 straight times with your top 20 recruiting classes on the floor (ranked #2 last year). Next year the tables may turn, we will see...but Romar sure has had a tough time turning these big name recruits into victories...3 out of 4 of the famed recruits a year ago are not even on the roster.

P.S. Go Cougs
P.S.S The weather forecast is Cougs by 20.
P.S.S.S. Doppler the weather dog (R.I.P.) says the forecast is Cougs by 30, while Will Duke watches the DVR of the Husky masterpiece over Cal last weekend.

omg. ewww the huskies =P The cougars will win it for sure. They need to cover that Tim Morris dude because he's a good shooter. Go Cougars!!!

First off, I agree with Jonathan Myers...it's nice to have some UW input.

Thanks to everyone for commenting (Megan...nice of you to get involved). Always good hear from Joe Kane.

Here's a quick run down of the five guys that make up the 2008 recruiting class:

Marcus Capers (6-5, 175, PG, Montverde, Fla./Montverde Academy) enrolled at Montverde Academy prior to his senior year. As a junior at Lake Region High School, the point guard led his squad to the district championship game, finishing the season averaging 17 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. He earned the 2007 News Chief All-Area Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Capers was a contributor on Lake Region's district championship and regional runner-up team. Capers plays for the Team STAT AAU squad.

Michael Harthun (Har-toon) (6-3, 175, SG, Medford Ore./South Medford HS) helped lead South Medford to the 4A State Championship game as a sophomore where the Panthers lost to Lake Oswego. The team reached the 6A state title game in the shooting guard's junior season in a rematch, this time defeating the Lakers behind his team-high 24 points. He averaged 20.0 ppg and 4.7 apg and was named first-team All-State as a junior. He participated in the Nike Global Challenge, leading his USA4 team to a third place finish with 8.4 ppg and 6.2 apg. Harthun plays for the Oregon Rebels AAU team. Ranked as #96 recruit in the nation by Scout.com.

Klay Thompson (6-6, 190, SG, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic HS) earned all-area second team honors as a junior after leading Santa Margarita Catholic HS to a second-place finish in its division and a second round appearance in the CIF Southern Section Tournament. His father Mychal Thompson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. Thompson plays for the Pump-and-Run AAU team. Ranked as #35 best SF/SG in the country by Scout.com.

James Watson (6-8, 210, F, Stringtown, Okla./Stringtown HS) led his high school to the Class `B' State Championship behind his 8.6 points and 11 rebounds per game as the team went 27-4. The small forward upped his offensive numbers in the State playoffs, averaging 18 points per game. Used to small town settings, Watson will become the first Division I athlete to come out of his hometown of Stringtown, Okla., which has a population of fewer than 400 people. Watson plays for the Oklahoma Magic AAU squad.

Nick Witherill (6-3, 165, SG, Scottsdale, Ariz./ Highland HS) transferred to Gilbert Highland from Saguaro HS prior to the 2007-08 school year. As a junior, Witherill led Saguaro HS to a 24-6 record and a berth in the State semifinals, averaging 21 points per game, while earning first-team All-State honors. As a sophomore, the shooting guard averaged 17.5 points per game. Witherill plays for the Arizona Premiere AAU team.

*(Thanks to WSU for the help)