CougZone.com - The Pres' Palouse Park Bench

October 30, 2009

Michael Preston
CougZone.com Staff Writer

It's hard to believe the time has flown by that quickly. Seemed like just yesterday the football team was nearly resigning itself to defeat before they came out the locker room to start the game. Although that hasn't changed much, if at all, in the present day, one thing that has changed is this: it's basketball season. Or, at least, women's basketball season. In fact, the women begin their 2009-2010 campaign on Sunday afternoon in an exhibition against Lewis Clark State College. Head coach June Daugherty is in her third year at the helm of this rebuilding squad that seems to be making bigger strides by the game.

As the calendar is about ready to turn the page to November, what better time to take a look at the Cougar women for the coming year. And here at the Park Bench, we reserve the right to be an absolute homer for the Cougars, regardless of how good Stanford still may be.

Key Veteran: Jazmine Perkins

Veteran is kind of a misleading word for a student-athlete who is just a sophomore. But Perkins has soon the ability to be an absolute game changer when she wants to be. Perkins seems like the kind of player that has an on/off switch that she can power on at any time, even if she's having a rough game. As a freshman, she finished sixth in the conference in scoring right behind teammate April Cook.

Perhaps an even more important asset of Perkins' game is her defense. As a freshman last year, she was absolutely tenacious, averaging 2.1 steals a game, good for 2nd in the conference. It was difficult for any offensive player to make her way past Perkins and you can expect more of the same this year.

One down side of her game though is she coughs up the ball a bit too much. Perkins turned the ball over 124 times last year or roughly 4.1 times a game. As she becomes the outstanding offensive player many expect her to become, she'll have to take better care of the rock.

Key Newcomer: Kiki Moore

A sign of Daugherty and her coaching staff's recruiting ability, Moore was the 12th ranked point guard of the latest recruiting class according to ESPNU. Moore was also tempted by offers from Michigan State, Arizona State, Oregon State and Washington. Moore matches the new mindset of the team's tough defense as a guard who can create some offense with her defense. Not only that, Moore likes to play a quick up-and-down game, something that matches the up tempo game of the Cougars.

Moore will fit in seamlessly with the Cougars run-and-gun offense, which might run smaller at times to keep their high scoring guards in the game. The freshman guard from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco should expect to be a significant contributor is not starter right away for the Cougars.

Breakout Player: Rosie Tarnowski

The sophomore from Philadelphia had a pretty good freshman campaign, averaging seven points and a shade over five rebounds a game. One of Tarnowski's best assets is her ability to rebound on the defensive end and shoot from the perimeter offensively. After averaging 25 minutes a game last year, expect her minutes to pick up this season and for her perimeter shooting to increase as the Cougars play a bit of a more outside game after losing many of their tall forwards inside.

Tarnowski also shot well last season, putting away 35 percent of her shots, a good number for a small forward or shooting guard and with her strong work ethic, expect that number to stay about the same this season.

Needed Team Improvements:

Turnovers: As we previously mentioned as one of Jazmine's few weaknesses, the entire team has a big problem with turnovers. Although the team had a positive turnover ratio, they seemed to cough the ball up at the most inopportune times in the season.

Free Throw Shooting: The Cougars were the worst team in the conference in this category by far. They shot just 57.7% from the line, almost 7% worse than the 9th-best Huskies. The Cougars will absolutely have to improve their conversion of these free points to win games as their poor shooting from the line cost them many lines.

Field Goal Shooting: The Cougars are almost as bad from the field as they are from the charity stripe. The Cougars shot just 36% from the field and many times it was their prowess on the offensive boards that kept them in games.

Predicted Pac-10 Finish: Fifth place and a Women's NIT Berth

Most of the teams at the bottom of the conference got no better (especially Oregon) and the middle of the conference is much like the men's side was last year: in flux. Call us crazy but the Cougars will surprise a couple of team that sleep on them in the conference this year and that will net them a couple of wins. Plus, this team will make it to the postseason and that is a guarantee.

One more guarantee: the Cougars will beat the Huskies for the first time in 14 years.

PICKS:

Last Week: 3-1
Overall: 31-17

Here's where we find out just how bad Arizona State might truly be. Over under on personal fouls is about 6, for Vontaze Burfict around 2.

Kevin Riley Figured It Out 24, Where'd The Offense Go? 10

Here's where we find out how good or bad UCLA truly is as well. If their defense can't stop Oregon State which has just started to look barely competent, they might be headed for an upset later in the season from you know who.

Potato Salad Stadium Guys 31, Rose Bowl Is The Lose Bowl 7

The game of the year in the conference and we'll give the edge to the home team because of the noise and the frightening factor of Autzen Stadium.

El Quackers 34, Pete Carroll Excitement Train 28

And now, your Cougar picks:

Notre Dame 48, Washington State 21 says roommate and Thurston Howell III (millionaire from Gilligan's Island) Halloween costume man Peter Shupe

Notre Dame 12, Washington State 7 says a girl who loves herself some defense Ashley Cook.

Notre Dame 51, Washington State 7 says a man with a golden television directing voice Colin Jones

The offense got noticeably better last week and with a now completely healthy offensive line, they should get better. Too bad the NCAA's third-worst pass defense [Notre Dame has the fourth-worst] is facing one of the nation's best quarterback and wide receiver combos. We're going to score points, but it still won't be pretty. Making it worse is the fact that it's on national television.

Notre Dame 58, Washington State 21

Obscure Pick of the Week:One university is a hotel chain and the other is a poorly spelled version of a city in Scotland. I'll go with the more comfy version.

Clarion 27, Edinboro 10

Dunderhead of the Week: That would be yours truly for tripping down some stairs at the CUB this week. Even worse: it happened in front of a sorority. They all laughed. Yippee.

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