Overview
Washington State Cougar
basketball is in dire straits and are looking for answers to win. The current
situation is a reminiscent of when the program faced a similar crisis 11 years
ago according to Cougar fans. Just over a decade ago, the program hit rock
bottom. After three seasons of monumental progression, the WSU basketball
program would hit their peak of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances
before regressing to rock bottom again.
Laying The Foundation
In 2003,
WSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk announced the hiring of Dick Bennett. He was
charged with the goal of rebuilding a basketball team that has not seen the
NCAA Tournament since 1994 under former Washington State head coach Kelvin
Sampson. With the goal of rebuilding a struggling team at hand, Bennett
centered his rebuilding process around a strong defensive team. In 2004, his
recruiting class consisted of defensive minded players such as shooting guard
Kyle Weaver and point guard Derrick Low. Bennett would coach the Cougs for
three seasons (2004-2006) before retiring. While Bennett did not produce a
winning season during his tenure, his squad would show flashes of progression,
which included upsets over Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona.
“You could
tell they were going in the right direction,” said WSU student Bobby Hogle. After
the 2006 season, Bennett retired from coaching and laid the foundation to a prominent
assistant coach who is also his son Tony Bennett. “It got fans interested in
Cougar basketball again,” said WSU student Ben McEnderfer.
“TYA”
At the
start of the 2006 season new Washington State head coach Tony Bennett’s squad
was picked by the PAC-10 media poll to finish last in the conference, despite
seeing remarkable upswing to the program. Even though the media predicted the
Cougars to finish last, Washington State would produce one of the most shocking
outcomes College Basketball ever encountered. In Bennett’s first year as head
coach the Cougs would finish the regular season 24-6, 13-5 in PAC-10 play and
finish second in the conference standings. This remarkable season included
sweeping rival University of Washington and basketball power University of
Arizona. “I went to four games that year. The student body was packed and the
games were extremely exciting,” said McEnderfer.
After an
impressive regular season finish, Washington State would earn a bid to play in
the NCAA tournament, their first bid in over 10 years. Picked as a #4 seed in
the tournament, the Cougars were matched up against Oral Roberts. WSU dominated
Oral Roberts 70-54 advancing to the second round against Vanderbilt resulting
in a 78-74 double overtime loss. During the tournament Bennett and his coaching
staff wore a pin on their shirt titled “TYA” which stood for “Turn-Around-Year.
“When something like that happens it’s strange,” said Hogle.
The Year of Greatness
Following
an impressive season, WSU finished the 2007-2008 season 23-5, 11-5 in
conference play, to lock up the third spot in the conference standing. For the
first time in school history, WSU made the NCAA Tournament back-to-back
seasons. Picked as a #4 seed in the tournament yet again, the Cougars blew out
#13 Winthrop University 71-40. In the second round, the Cougs played #5 Notre
Dame. Picked to win by 2.5 points, Washington State shocked March Madness
winning 61-41 against the Fighting Irish. The victory secured their first Sweet
Sixteen appearance since 1941, the second Sweet Sixteen appearance in the
school’s history. “This was hands
down the best year we ever had and Bennett is the best coach we ever had,” said
Hogle. “He developed his players to perform as a unit,” said McEnderfer. What
turned out to be the school’s best basketball season in over 50 years came to a
screeching stop with a 68-47 loss to #1 seed North Carolina.
The beginning of the bottom
After two
back to back NCAA Tournament births, WSU would finish the 2008-2009 season
17-16, 8-10 in PAC-10 play with a first round elimination in the National
Invitation Tournament. Despite finishing 7th in the conference with
a very young team, WSU would have two of their freshman named to the
All-Freshman team for the PAC-10 conference, center DeAnglo Casto and shooting
guard Klay Thompson. Following the 2008-2009 season Bennett resigned from WSU
to accept the vacant head coaching position at University of Virginia home to
the ACC conference. Many students and fans were sad to see Bennett leave.
“I was surprised,
everyone was upset and everyone thought it was going downhill from here,” said
McEnderfer. “I knew someone from the ACC or Big 10 was going to get him, it was
going to happen,” said Hogle.
A New Era
On April 6,
2009 WSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk announced the hiring of Ken Bone to a seven-year
contract. Bone formally coached at Seattle Pacific University guiding the
Falcons to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances from 1990-2002. Bone left
Seattle Pacific after 2002 to coach at Portland State University from 2005-2009
leading the Vikings to two NCAA Tournament appearances.
“I thought
it was a great hire. With Bone were going to get buckets and continue with our
great defense,” said Hogle. “I heard good things about Bone and basketball
looked optimistic because we had returning stars,” said McEnderfer. In Bone’s
first season at WSU 2009-2010, the Cougars finished 16-15, 6-12 in PAC-10 play
resulting in a last place finish and no tournament bid.
Judgment Year
Following a very disappointing
campaign, many Cougar fans believed this would be the year Bone’s squad would
return to March Madness. This year’s team possessed a lot of talent, highlighted
by future 1st round NBA draft prospect junior Klay Thompson and
standout defensive player junior DeAnglo Casto. Despite what many fans believed
was the best talented team on paper and Thompson leading the conference in
scoring per game, the Cougars would face off court issues that dampened their
season. “Off court issues played a huge part for not making the NCAA
Tournament. If they had Klay Thompson for the UCLA game they would have won,”
said McEnderfer. WSU would finish the 2010-2011 year 22-13, 9-9 in PAC-10 play
locking up the 6th place in the conference. “The PAC-10 is really good
at basketball and as a result we didn’t get the wins we needed to get,” said
Hogle. The Cougars would be shut out of March Madness and face elimination in
the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament against Wichita State
losing 75-44.
The Hot
Seat
If there was going to be a year
when Bone would lead the Cougs to the NCAA Tournament, the 2010-2011 season
appeared to be the year. At the 2011-2012 campaign, rumors spread of Bone’s
lackluster job at the helm. One of WSU’s prominent athletic boosters called for
his firing.
“The media
was getting to him,” said Hogle. “Regardless, as a coach you are going to get
pressured to do well” said McEnderfer. Despite media scrutiny, Bone had a bigger
concern with losing his two best players, Klay Thompson to the NBA draft and
DeAnglo Casto from playing basketball overseas. The 2011-2012 campaign resulted
in a 19-18 record, 7-11 in conference play finishing 9th in the
PAC-12. The Cougars would earn a bid to
the lowest tournament bracket in College Basketball the College Basketball
Invitational Tournament where Bone’s squad would lose in the final round
against University of Pittsburgh.
At The Bottom
After three very disappointing
seasons Bone coached his 4th year. The 2012-2013 campaign was one of
the worst years in Cougar basketball history. Their final record was 13-19,
4-14 in conference play tied for 11th in the conference. When the
season ended Athletic Director Bill Moos met with Bone about his future. Many
fans suspected Bone would be fired at the conclusion of this meeting. However,
he was reinstated for a 5th year.
“I was
surprised and upset. Everyone began to question what Moos saw in Bone,” said
McEnderfer. “I was not surprised. Football was his main focus at the time,”
said Hogle.
Where Do We Go From Here
The 2013-2014 team was picked to
finish last in the conference by the PAC-12 media poll. Moos has dropped hints
of this year being the end of Bone. Fans have not had any reason to be excited
for basketball, illustrated by the declining attendance at games especially in
the student section. Bone himself, admitted the team desperately needs more
wins and understands fans are unhappy with his current performance. Since the 2010-2011
season, the Cougars have regressed. This year so far is no different especially
without the team’s leading scorer DaVonte Lacy due to injury. Do all these
signs indicate this is Bone’s last year?
“I think he
is going to get fired. The attendance has dropped and he hasn’t won a single
big game,” said McEnderfer. “He’s gone after this year. Moos doesn’t a want a
program that is damaged beyond repair especially if it’s the second revenue
streaming sport,” said Hogle. Who will replace Bone if it is?
