Cougar History STEVE PUIDOKAS RETIRED NUMBER Steve Puidokas burst upon the WSU basketball scene as a freshman in 1973-74, and by the time he left the Palouse, he had set fi ve school records. He became the fi rst basketball player and only the second student- athlete in WSU history to have his jersey number retired when he was honored Feb. 26, 1977. As a freshman, he averaged 16.8 points and 8.9 rebounds a game, earning All-District 8 honors, second team All-Pacifi c-8 recognition and third team All-West Coast accolades. He also became the fi rst freshman selected to the Jayhawk and Rainbow Classic tournament teams. As a sophomore, Puidokas set school records with 42 points against Gonzaga and a 22.4 points per game season average. He led the Pacifi c-8 in scoring and was second in rebounding. He received an invitation to the Pan-American team tryouts and was a second team All- Pac-8 selection. During his junior campaign, Puidokas averaged 18.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per outing while garnering second team All-Pacifi c-8 honors for the third straight season. He became WSU’s all-time leading scorer that season. Puidokas capped his career at WSU by averaging 17.2 points and 9.7 rebounds during his senior season. He left WSU as the Cougars’ all-time leader with 1,894 points and 992 rebounds. He was named second team All-Pacifi c-8 for the fourth time, earned a second team All-West Coast selection and was a District 8 all-star. At the end of his career, he ranked fourth on the all-time Pac-8 list in scoring and seventh in rebounding. Puidokas still holds the WSU career marks for scoring average (18.6 points per game), fi eld goals (734) and rebounds. In addition, he ranks second in scoring, third in free throws (426) and fourth in rebounding average (9.7). 55 Cougar History Washington State University Basketball 2005-06 83 Naismith Rules DR. JAMES NAISMITH’S 13 Original Rules of Basketball 1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. 2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fi st). 3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop. 4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it. 5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the fi rst infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed. 6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fi st, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as described in Rule 5. 7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul). 8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal. 9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the fi eld of play by the person fi rst touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the fi eld. The thrower-in is allowed fi ve seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side. 10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5. 11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee. 12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with fi ve minutes’ rest between. 13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made. Note: The original rules of basketball were written by Dr. James Naismith in December, 1891 in Springfi eld, Mass. These original rules were published in January, 1892 in the Springfi eld College school newspaper, The Triangle. 84 Washington State University Basketball 2005-06 Cougar History THE BEGINNING BOHLER’S ERA A basketball team representing Washington Agricultural Cougar basketball jumped into the Major Leagues soon College and School of Science took the fl oor for the fi rst time after “Doc” Bohler’s arrival on the Palouse. Dec. 7, 1901. The college was just nine years old, the school Despite the fact he was coaching just about everything colors had only recently been changed from pink and blue to at Washington State in those days—basketball, baseball, crimson and gray, and the game was played against a YMCA track—and acting as athletic director and trainer (the latter team in Spokane because Washington Agricultural College earned him his “Doctorate”)—Bohler’s greatest love was did not have a gymnasium. The Washington Agricultural basketball. He had starred for the world champion YMCA College coach was John B. Evans, a senior student who team in Reading, Pa., in 1906, just two years prior to coming would graduate with the class of ’02, six months after that to Pullman as physical director and coach. fi rst game. The fi nal score was YMCA 31, Washington Agricultural College 0. In 1916, Washington State’s basketball team was 18-3 and won the Northwest League title for the fi rst time. Bohler did In a return game Feb. 17, 1902, dedicating the fi rst it with a team mostly made up of home-grown players. The gymnasium on campus, situated where New Holland Library starting fi ve consisted of Ivan Price and the Moss brothers, is today, John Norm and Bob, Palmerton, from all three from Pullman, scored Pullman, Eddie the fi rst basket Copeland of for the college, Walla Walla, but it came in and Bohler’s a losing effort brother Roy from once again. The Pennsylvania. fi nal was YMCA 24, Washington Washington Agricultural State was even College 16. better in 1917. Bohler’s team “ C o a c h ” won the newly Evans remained formed Pacifi c for one season Coast Conference following his with virtually the graduation, and same lineup, plus his second team Glenn Glover, earned a place another Pullman in Washington product. Price State’s sports and Roy Bohler history books by made all- defeating that conference. pesky Spokane YMCA quintet With a fi nal 18-13 Dec. 13, 1902. season record of 25-1 (the lone loss was to California in Berkeley, and WSC beat the Bears the following night), the Professional basketball coaches were few and far between Helms Athletic Foundation declared State national champions in the early 1900s, particularly in the Wild West. Washington at the conclusion of that great season which saw WSC play Agricultural College football coaches James Ashmore, Everett 18 of its 26 games on the road. Sweeley and John Bender followed Evans as the basketball coaches over the next fi ve seasons, compiling a respectable “Doc” Bohler’s record over 18 seasons (1909-26) was 226- record of 42 wins against 27 losses. It was not until the 177 for a .561 winning percentage, second best among all arrival of J. Fred “Doc” Bohler in 1908, as physical director— Cougar basketball coaches with more than two seasons at and coach of all sports—that the basketball program at the the helm. now State College of Washington (as of 1905) got some McClellan “Chick” Rockey, a forward on the Bohler teams continuity. of 1918-21, was the only All-Pacifi c Coast Conference Over the 103 years of basketball now recorded at selection from Washington State in the Bohler era. “Chick” Washington State University, only four coaches have remained was selected in 1919 and 1920. for more than 10 seasons. Here is a look at those in order, with a few notes on others who have coached the Cougars. Washington State University Basketball 2005-06 85 Cougar History THE FRIEL DYNASTY That is why the playing fl oor at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, “Friel Court,” is named in his honor. Jack Friel had more nicknames than any other coach at In 2003, Friel was inducted into the Pacifi c-10 Conference Washington State. He was “The Fox of the Palouse,” “The Hall of Honor. Silver Fox,” and, late in his 30-year career, “The Prune.” Most of all, he was a coaching genius! Every Cougar remembers Jack’s great team of 1941, but his ’37 club, led by all-conference center Ivar Nelson, won the Friel had never coached a college game when he took over Northern Division of the Pacifi c Coast in a miracle fi nish.