Carlos Daniel's journey to his current position, strength and conditioning coach for the New Orleans Hornets, is unlike most others in his profession in that the majority of his involvement in the game of basketball has been on the other side of the bench - as a player.

As a senior at Washington State, Daniel was the only player to average a double-double in the Pac-10 (16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds) leading to All Pac-10 honors in addition to his second selection to the Pac-10's All-Academic First Team. 

In his latest podcast, Director of Athletics Bill Moos discusses the upcoming weekend of Cougar Athletics action, including home competitions for soccer, volleyball, and women's basketball, as well as men's basketball student-athlete Brock Motum's selection as one of 30 candidates for the 2012-13 Senior CLASS Award.

Listen to the interview HERE or on iTunes.

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PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - The cupboard isn't completely bare for Washington State, not with Pac-12 leading scorer Brock Motum returning for his senior year.

But the Cougars have few other returning players with experience.

Guard Davonte Lacy is the only other starter back, and only Mike Ladd and D.J. Shelton saw any significant playing time last season.

Coach Ken Bone sees the lack of experience as an opportunity, not as a problem.

"I've been in this situation before over the years, where you are kind of looked at as an underdog, and you don't have this and you don't have that," Bone said. "A lot of times those are the groups that pull together as a team and maximize their talent."

Bone will turn to Lacy (8.5 ppg) and Royce Woolridge, a transfer from Kansas who red-shirted last season, for some of that talent.

"Defensively he will give us a lift," Bone said of the 6-foot-3 Woolridge.

The most talented player is likely to be Motum, who led the Pac-12 with an average of 18 points per game last season. The 6-foot-10 forward made 55 percent of his field goals, and added 6.4 rebounds per game

WSU senior Brock Motum led the Pac-12 in scoring last season.

Bone needs Motum, an All-Pac-12 first team selection, to provide some leadership.

"He's not a rah-rah guy," Bone said.

"He's going to have to take another step on the defensive end and with his rebounding to help us out," Bone said. "He will score points."

Last season, Washington State advanced to the championship round of the College Basketball Invitational before falling in the series 2-1 to Pittsburgh. They also tied for eighth in the Pac-12 with Oregon State with a 7-11 league mark.

Their 19-18 overall record marked the team's sixth-straight winning season, the longest such streak since 1991-96.

But lost to graduation were productive players like Marcus Capers, Faisal Aden and Abe Lodwick. Patrick Simon and Mike Harthun transferred.

That means players like Woolridge, Ladd, Shelton, Dominic Ballard and Dexter Kernich-Drew must do more.

Bone said one way to accomplish that is to instill more confidence in those players.

"Making sure everybody understands that we can be successful, that we have some talented players on the floor," Bone said of his top priority.

Bone likes the way the Cougars bonded during a five-game tour of Australia in August.

Top recruit Demarquise Johnson will not play this season, but is enrolled at WSU and could play next year, Bone said.

Washington State added freshmen Brett Boese and Richard Longrus this season. They also picked up transfers Jordan Railey and James Hunter and walk-on Keaton Hayenga.

Ladd averaged 5.4 points and three rebounds last season in limited playing time before he was injured. He's been named a team captain for the second consecutive year, and Bone expects him to bring leadership to the program.

Shelton averaged 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds.

"He's definitely gotten bigger and stronger, and that could equate into playing more physical basketball, which we need," Bone said.

In his latest podcast, Director of Athletics Bill Moos discusses the upcoming weekend of Cougar Athletics action, The Cougar Football Project open houses (pictured below), and the benefits he's observed with the arrival of the Pac-12 Networks.

Listen to the interview HERE or on iTunes.

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This Saturday on the campus of Oklahoma University, the Washington State flag will be waving for the 127 consecutive telecast of ESPN's College Gameday.

Past Cougar kicker, Jason Hanson was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL. Hanson converted all four of his field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 45-yarder in overtime, giving the Detroit Lions a 26-23 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

In his latest podcast, Director of Athletics Bill Moos discusses the upcoming public tours of the premium seating building at Martin Stadium (pictured below during the Cal game, Oct. 13). Moos also looks back at soccer's win over USC last week , and ahead to this week's action including volleyball's return home to Bohler Gym and Friday's Coug Wave Pink match.

Listen to the interview HERE or on iTunes.

In his latest podcast, Director of Athletics Bill Moos discusses this week's Pac-12 meetings, the Pac-12 Networks, and looks ahead to a full weekend of Cougar Athletics in Pullman, including the first night game at the renovated Martin Stadium and Mike Leach Bobblehead night.

Listen to the interview HERE or on iTunes.

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