Page C4 G Saturday G March 22, 2008 The Spokesman-Review NCAA TOURNAMENT

TODAY’S GAME: WSU VS. NOTRE DAME EAST REGION: DENVER, 3:40 P.M. TV: CBS They’re the guys who do dirty work more than anybody else.” sports management degree and from the school following a Not only has he shined on the Stewart, who earned his is working on an English drug arrest. Unable to play and court – converting 44.7 percent Managers invaluable degree in sports management degree. unsure whether he wanted to of his 237 3-pointers and this winter, has morphed into “Maybe I’ll end up coaching return to the Irish, he watched averaging 15.2 points per game NOTEBOOK databases, helping Marlin out the video expert for WSU on the high school level,” said them lose in the NCAA first – but off it as well. with any video stuff he needs. ... during his five years managing, Reaves, who was a round to Winthrop. “Looking back now, I’m so BY VINCE GRIPPI And then, you know, normal something that surprised him. starter for three years at River “It was very tough to watch much a better person and a Staff writer practice stuff.” “The most I knew about Ridge High in Lacey, Wash. this team get bounced out in the better teammate,” he said. Stewart has been with the electronics was video games,” “But I would like to give the first round knowing that, if I DENVER – You can see them Cougars as long as Tony said Stewart, who played college level a shot. It doesn’t was there, I could have helped Big matchup at every game, sitting at the end Bennett has been with the basketball until his junior year really matter ... I just want to be them a lot,” the junior said. “It There is one matchup of the bench, ties on, clipboards program – five years. Reaves at Mercer Island High. “I knew able to impact people’s lives.” was a tough time.” everyone seems to be looking and folding stools at the ready. has been with the team for four. nothing about computers or The managers’ hours are long McAlarney admits he was forward to: Notre Dame’s But any basketball team “Managers have a special editing systems or anything like and the recompense is low, but about 99 percent sure he wasn’t 6-foot-8, 250-pound Luke manager is more than just the place in my heart because they that. I just saw an opportunity both feel it has been worth it. coming back to South Bend, Harnagody against WSU’s 6-10, person who sets up the seats for do all the dirty work,” Bennett to get more responsibility.” “The first thing they told us Ind., but changed his mind 270-pound Aron Baynes down players to sit on during said, before speaking directly But video should only be part when we showed up as when Notre Dame coach Mike around the basket. timeouts. about Stewart and Reaves. of his future, as Stewart wants managers five years ago is you Brey visited McAlarney’s home “It should be a big battle “My top job is equipment, “They are students of the game. to coach basketball in the get out of this what you put into in Paulsboro, N.J. inside between him and me,” handling the laundry, passing They want to be coaches. It’s future. it,” Stewart said. “That’s really “If he can come and set his Harangody said. out all their gear, doing all that neat when you have guys who “The education, come true.” emotions aside and stick his “There are definitely going to kind of stuff,” said Mitch really want to learn the game. ‘basketball-wise’ from the neck out for one of his players be a couple collisions. That’s Reaves, who along with Marlon “We have those (five) coaches, I couldn’t put a price Bouncing back …” McAlarney said. “I just felt just the way post play is,” Stewart are Washington State’s principles in our program, and on it,” he said. Notre Dame’s shooting guard like if I set my emotions aside, Baynes said. head student managers. “I also you talk about a servant. They Coaching is also a goal of Kyle McAlarney missed most of (it was) the best decision for my “You just have to set yourself deal with one of our recruiting embody a servant and humility Reaves, who already has a last season after being expelled future.” physically down there.”

BLANCHETTE Continued from C1 another, unprecedented back-to-back appearances. Now it’s time for the next step, just as precise. And don’t think the Cougars don’t know it. “This year, it would be a disappointment to everybody – our fans and even ourselves – if we didn’t win this next game,” said junior forward Caleb Forrest. “It’s not something we need to be pressured by. We just need to come out and play. But it’s a needed step for this program.” Today the Cougars meet Notre Dame, the noted basketball school with a lower seed but a higher national ranking than Wazzu, for the reward of going to the Sweet 16 – which has come to be seen as a different tournament altogether. The 65-team bracket is the whole family – from stodgy patriarchs to crazy uncles to shirt-tail cousins. It’s a party with loud music and dancing, and chip dip getting spilled on the rug. The Sweet 16 is the sit-down dinner for the grown-ups, with the odd Cinderella at the end of the table. “There’s just a prestige around it,” said WSU senior Robbie Cowgill. “There is with every CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review step in the tournament, but the A win today would bring additional joy for Cougs, from left, Aron Baynes, Robbie Cowgill, Derrick Low and Taylor Rochestie, here leaping off bench after 1st-round victory. Sweet 16 is like a new tournament. It has its own name. Cougars may well have the years prior to 2006, then made Four. Two head coaches later, national TV – how do you not get of our unity and the way we play It’s set apart.” makings of more tournament the 16 a year ago and is now they haven’t been out of the that right? It’s because nobody together can achieve more.” And the Cougars, in their teams, and possibly sooner working on three straight bracket since. knows Washington State. I didn’t The Cougars will play for their evolution into a program that instead of later, but there are appearances. Vanderbilt – which They’ve become a perennial. know it before Coach Tony own instant gratification today: matters, need to be a part of it. three seniors in the program who subdued the Cougars in double Established. Pencil them in every called me to recruit me.” the chance to play another day. Look, it’s not as if the program give Wazzu its best chance of overtime last year to deny them a March. For immediate motivation, of But they’re also playing for the needs to be abandoned if the tournament advancement now. place in the second weekend – The Cougars would love to course, the Cougars have the future. Cougars don’t beat Notre Dame. And tournament advancement has made a similar jump, despite follow that model. Yes, this is a memory of the Vanderbilt loss, a “That’s probably the most It won’t undo all the work that’s puts the program in an even Friday’s surprising loss to Siena. program devoted to the value of victory that got away – important thing besides actually been done or the successes better light than the one already The most striking example, humility and married to the role “unfinished business,” as Bennett winning the game,” said senior already achieved. Coach Tony shining. however, is even more familiar – of the underdog. That does not told his players. For Cowgill, Kyle Weaver. “Taking this thing Bennett won’t be more There are some parallels to since its revival was also a Dick have to be incompatible with there was an extra sting in that as far as we can, not only for the vulnerable to the enticements of other power-conference and Tony Bennett production. ambition. one “because I want us to be a seniors but for the new crew other employers because the programs that have recently Wisconsin had made exactly “This is something that could team that overachieves. coming after us. Giving them Cougars have bumped their pulled themselves out of the one tournament trip between turn us into a team that is “We’ve always been picked as some stars to shoot for. Realizing heads on the ceiling. mire. Pittsburgh didn’t have an 1947 and 1997, when the elder recognized,” said Forrest. “Right underdogs and surprised people, that the guys before them took it Basketball will go on at Wazzu, NCAA appearance between 1993 Bennett finally steered the now, we’re not even recognized. but last year we were a 3 seed somewhere and they can, too. regardless. and 2001, then made consecutive Badgers back. In 2000, they Last year, when they were and lost to the 6, and so you can That’s pretty important for the But the operative term here is Sweet 16s. Texas A&M was reached the Sweet 16 – and showing coach’s award, they put say we underachieved. I want us program.” “window of opportunity.” The absent from the bracket for 19 beyond, all the way to the Final UW’s emblem up on TV. This is to be a group of guys that because And the time is now.

have a pretty good chance to WSU beat them, because I don’t think 4 5 Continued from C1 they are really good in set of- Washington Notre Dame From 6-foot-8, 250-pound fense. Luke Harangody to 5-11, “They aren’t a team that likes State Guards 193-pound Tory to play defense for 35 seconds. The Irish have a near-perfect Jackson, the fifth-seeded Irish They like to get turnovers, gam- Guards backcourt pairing in point guard (25-7) run at every opportunity. ble to get the ball, so I think If you believe the Cougars will go Tory Jackson, who averages 6.0 Their up-tempo style has led to with our patience, they aren’t only as far as their perimeter assists per game, and shooting an average of 61 shots and 80 going to like that.” players will carry them, you guard Kyle McAlarney, who points a game. It’s the last piece WSU wants wouldn’t be all that far off. When shoots 44.7 percent from beyond As a point of reference, the to exploit. Derrick Low and Taylor the arc and averages 15.2 points. much-more methodical Cou- “You always look at your Rochestie struggled in the first The Irish shoot better than 41 gars average 49 shots and 67 team and ask what gives you the half against Winthrop, so did percent from behind the arc. points every 40 minutes. best chance to play against the WSU. When Low got his shot Most impressive, although best and be successful,” Bennett untracked and Rochestie began Forwards and centers the Irish like to push the ball, said. “You try to be as sound as to get to the hoop after halftime, Luke Harangody went from they have an -to-turnover possible (on both ends of the the Cougars’ offense took off. being an overweight, ratio of 1.4, second best in the court). While they struggled, Kyle afterthought freshman to the Big nation – mainly because they “On the defensive end, if we Weaver filled the breach, scoring East player of the year as a lead the nation with 18.8 assists can be set and (make) people 12 first-half points. sophomore. The 6-8 post per game. The patient Cougars take quick shots or get im- slimmed down to 250 and bulked (25-8), who led the Pac-10 this patient, that definitely plays in- Forwards and centers up his scoring average from 11.2 season, have a 1.3 ratio. to our hands. The same thing of- Winthrop’s overmatched points and 6.2 rebounds a game “I think it’s important for us fensively, if we can be sound.” frontline was one thing. Notre to 20.7 and 10.3. Rob Kurz and to run on makes and misses as “We’ve been in games in (the Dame’s offers much larger Zach Hillesland both stand 6-9 much as we can, not necessarily ) where challenges, figuratively and and attack the glass. ... to force transition, but to we’ve had to grind it (for) 40 literally. The Cougars have make them change ends,” Notre minutes,” Brey said. “I thought struggled against teams that Bench Dame coach said. “I we’ve concentrated and not got- could throw more than one big The Irish have a strong eight-man think one of the advantages we ten frustrated and been fo- man at them, which the Irish can. rotation, with Ryan Ayers, Luke had (in the Irish’s 68-50 win ov- cused.” Aron Baynes and Robbie Zeller and Jonathan Peoples er George Mason) was our op- If the game becomes a half- Cowgill will match up with two combining for 16 points and 7.1 ponent was fatigued. court affair, the Cougars know of Notre Dame’s three bigs, but rebounds a game. Ayers, a 6-7 “I thought we really looked they will have to concentrate on the 6-foot-6 Weaver will have to guard, and Zeller have converted fresh running last night. That Harangody, the Big East’s help down low, using athletic 87 3-pointers combined. could be an advantage for us.” player of the year. skills to offset a size differential. With a roster that only goes CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review “Looking at Harangody on Summary eight deep and usually features Six-foot-8, 250-pound center Luke Harangody will be a load for film, he’s another animal,” Da- Bench The Irish average 80.2 points per less, Washington State’s goal is Cougars, especially if they force Irish into half-court game. ven Harmeling said of Notre If the Cougars big men get in foul game, 15th in the nation. WSU simple: Make the Irish play a Dame’s leading scorer (20.7) trouble, Caleb Forrest and yields 56.5, the third-best half-court game. tle, who can kind of settle into “Transition defense is cru- and rebounder (10.3). Daven Harmeling will have to defense. The Cougars’ number “If we let them get out, get ea- their game, will have an advan- cial,” reserve guard Nik Kopriv- “He’s a brut (and) just relent- play some big minutes and come has been built on controlling sy baskets in transition, get run- tage.” ica said. “If we do pretty good less. Tremendous size and skill. up big on the defensive end. Nik tempo. If they can’t today, ning, it will be very difficult,” Bennett’s players get the and don’t let them get easy … It’s going to be a tough match- Koprivica needs to be efficient in moving on to the Sweet 16 will be Bennett said. “I think that bat- message. buckets, like layups, I think we up.” relief of the guards. tough.

User: chrisd Time: 1206169065 Product: REVIEW Pub Date: 03-22-2008 Zone: Main Edition: 1 Page: Sports@3