That was easily the coolest thing I've ever been a part of in my life. Washington State methodically, slowly worked their way past Notre Dame to thunder into the Sweet 16. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best basketball the Cougars have played all year. They drubbed Winthrop 71-40 in the opening round and then smacked around Notre Dame, 61-41. It's a lot of fun to watch (the guy sitting next to me last night, a sports guy from Detroit, told me he's going to buy a WSU hat because he liked them so much...it was the first time he'd seen them all year).

The WSU seniors were really the key to the victory. Before the game, Kyle Weaver wrote "Do More" on the white board in the Cougar locker room. He was hoping it would encourage his teammates to dive for loose balls, jump a little higher, and just do a little more. It worked. Wazzu held the Irish to 40 points (they averaged 80 a game) and 24% from the field. Derrick Low (18), Robbie Cowgill (12), and Weaver (15) scored 45 of the team's 61 tallies. WSU kept Notre Dame's leading scorer Luke Harangody to 10 points (he kept getting more and more frustrated as the game went on).

FUNNY STORY: The guy sitting in front of me from Irish Insights had his article finished by the time the score was 38-23 WSU with 16 minutes left in the game (kind of like fill in the blanks: "Notre Dame fell XX-XX to Washington State, bringing an end to the Fighting Irish season.") He had no confidence left in his team.

Last I checked, it was snowing and cold outside in Denver, but nothing is going to keep the Cougars from celebrating tonight. The locker room was all smiles after the game. Daven Harmeling called it, "the best moment in my basketball career." Cowgill said the muscles in his face hurt because he was smiling so much. "Wow!" is the only thing to come out of Weaver's mouth. I guarantee one thing...they'll have a fun flight home.

They'll only have tonight to enjoy this win, because their next opponent plays tomorrow. The Cougars face the winner of the North Carolina/Arkansas game. Cowgill said the team will watch it together and start to pick apart their opposition. How do we match up with them? What do they do well on the offensive end? The defensive end? Etc. Caleb Forrest said he doesn't care who they face because the team they get will be the squad playing the best basketball. Obviously, UNC in Charlotte would be a very tough test.

For now...forget about tomorrow and enjoy this win! The Sweet 16 for the first time in school history is pretty darn cool.

Go Cougs!

1 Comments

Ryan Camp said:

The cougar basketball team has done something not many people thought they could do. Of course the cougar faithful are not surprised. When people work hard and do things the right way, good things happen. Tim, I trust Krem 2 will be sending you to Charlotte. Have an amazing time and keep up the great coverage! May the Bennett Train roll! Choo Choo!

P.S. Has anyone noticed Digger Phelps bitterness since Saturday?

March 24, 2008 8:23 AM

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