California Games

The last time Washington State traveled to California, it didn’t quite work out the way WSU thought it would. Losses to UCLA and USC had the Cougs reeling at 0-2, but a sweep of the Oregon schools last week moved Wazzu into fifth place in the Pac-10, just a game behind second place Arizona.

Tonight, WSU faces a much less explosive Cal, 8-7, than last year’s Jerome Randle led squad (Thank God! By the way). Randle, to me, was Tajuan Porter Jr. -- a guy with Muggsy Bogues size, but Reggie Miller range. EVERY TIME we played him, he seemed to go off. (Luckily for us, he’s gone). (Rant Off).
This year’s Cal collection is led by leftovers Jorge Gutierrez (12.9 ppg) and Harper Kamp (13.1 ppg).

Keys to taming the Bears include:

1) Keeping DeAngelo Casto and Abe Lodwick out of foul trouble to battle Cal's Kamp (6'8" feet) and Sanders-Frison (6'7" feet).

2) Winning the guard battle - In games that Cal has lost this year, Jorge Gutierrez and Allen Crabbe have struggled.

3) Spreading the Wealth Offensively- 99-percent of the time, either Klay or Faisal is going to lead the Cougs in scoring, which is fine.

It’s what the other guys do that will determine Wazzu's success. Whether it be Casto, Moore, Motum (hell, even Enquist), the Cougars must find a third guy to reach double digit scoring every game if they are to be successful.