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| Ken Bone |
Cougar Chats, Copyright 2011, Washington State University Athletics. All rights reserved.
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Donate to Cougar Athletics | Midnight Mayhem
Chat with Men's Basketball Coach Ken Bone on Thursday, October 13 at 3:00 p.m.
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| Moderator: Good afternoon Cougar fans and thank you for visiting WSUCougars.com and today's chat with WSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Ken Bone. Before we begin, click on the above Midnight Mayhem link for information on tomorrow's event at Bohler Gym, which officially tips-off the 2011-12 basketball season. Coach, thank you for joining us today, a day before the start of practice. |
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Ken Bone: Glad we can do the online chat and talk about the upcoming season for the 2011-12 Cougs! |
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| Moderator: Okay, let's get to answering some questions. |
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| Jim Ellison, Richland: Can we get a men's basketball game
scheduled for the TriCities next year? |
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Ken Bone: Jim, our experience in the Tri-Cities two years ago was great and we hope to play in the Tri-Cities sometime again in the next few years. |
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| Bill Ruth. Kent Wa: Coach...2 questions if you can so oblige. 1. Have you been able to recruit or have on your roster, a player that can offset the strength that other Pac 12teams can bring? 2. How do you see Michael Ladd fitting into your (our) upcoming squad and what talents does he bring to the Table. Thanks..Bill Ruth |
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Ken Bone: Bill, I don't know if we have one player, I think the strength of the team will be as the entire group of guys. We think Michael will be a valuable part of our team. I love his athleticism and toughness that he brings to the floor. |
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| Buffalocoug (Buffalo, NY): Hi Coach,
Who do you anticipate will start for the Cougs this year? |
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Ken Bone: Since we have had no practices I really don't know at this time but I believe Reggie Moore, Marcus Capers and Abe Lodwick, as returning starters, will start the season out holding those positions down. I will be surprised if Brock Motum, Michael Ladd, and Faisal Aden don't receive quality minutes also. Besides those players, we have a number of other players who will contribute significantly. |
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| Coachdup (Spokane): Doing a great job coach! When will the official site have an updated roster? I am excited to see what a year in the weight room has done for some guys |
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Ken Bone: Yes, the 2011-12 roster is on the men's basketball page. Click on the roster link. |
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| Jim (Kennewick, WA): Coach - I wanted to thank you and your staff for holding the free Kids Clinic here a couple of weeks ago. My son and I drove from the Tri-Cities and it was well worth the drive. My question for you is regarding recruiting - what do you look for in prospective players in terms of intangibles and off the court traits? Thanks & Go Cougs! |
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Ken Bone: Jim, thank you for the comments. Our staff and players enjoyed the clinic, also. Some of the intangibles we look for are academics, positive attitude, kids that bring effort, and student-athletes of high character. |
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| Seth (Spokane): Coach, can you talk a little about tomorrow night's Midnight Mayhem in Bohler Gym? Thanks and good luck this season! |
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Ken Bone: Seth, thank you. This is not your typical practice so it is about our kids having a good time out there in a dunk contest and a short scrimmage. The key is nobody getting hurt. Hopefully, Bohler will be packed to the rafters like it was last year. |
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| Jason (Seattle): The Seattle area is really buzzing about the starting backcourt at Wazzu being Seattle natives and Rainier Beach state champs Reggie Moore and Mike Ladd... Since the summer there has been nothing but talk about seeing these two together on the court again. Can you confirm coach? Also, do you think this will help with recruiting more top talent out of Seattle instead of them going to UW? |
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Ken Bone: Jason, I foresee Mike and Reggie being on the court a lot the next two year at the same time. Whether they both start together or not, I don't know at this time. We will continue to recruit in Seattle whether these guys start or not. |
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| Tacoma: How do you see Davonte lacy fitting into the playing rotation. Can he help the team |
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Ken Bone: I think DaVonté will find a way to contribute this year as a freshman. I really feel he can help us because he has good strength and plays with a lot of confidence as a freshman. |
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| Scott MacPherson (Pullman): Coach Bone, Where do you see our program this year compared to the years prior with the losses of Klay and DeAngelo? |
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Ken Bone: Scott, there's no doubt Klay and DeAngelo are two good players that we will miss, but I believe we have the talent to overcome our losses in these two guys. |
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| Kristian (Auburn): What are your predictions for this upcoming season? |
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Ken Bone: Kristian, it's hard to tell at this time, but I believe we will be competitive within the Pac-12. |
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| Kasey (spokane): Coach, aside from you who is the best men's basketball coach in the Pac-12? |
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Ken Bone: Kasey, I love your sense of humor! |
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| Garrett (Lubbock, TX): How do you feel about new scheduling in PAC-12? |
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Ken Bone: Garrett, ask me that question in the spring. I just don't know at this time. It's definitely no easier than in the past. This year we are traveling to Utah and Colorado. With the high elevation those are difficult places to play. |
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| Ian, Tacoma, WA: Recruiting has brought us several combo guards and smaller guards but why is it so hard to find a big body to come to Pullman. What are your biggest challenges in recruiting to this area? |
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Ken Bone: Ian, we have put just as much effort in trying to find a big guy (around the world) as we have done recruiting perimeter players. There are becoming fewer and fewer post players in basketball at every level. Many of your tallest players would really prefer to play on the perimeter and shoot threes (e.g. Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant). So that narrows your options in finding 7-footers in wanting to play in the post. |
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| Benji (Colfax): Coach, I've been reading a lot online about the team being out in the community a lot this summer and fall. Can you talk a little bit about those events and why they are important to your program? Thanks and see you tomorrow at Midnight Mayhem. |
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Ken Bone: Benji, we have focused on numerous community outreach programs during the offseason. A few of those include Habitat for Humanity, a free kids' clinic, summer day camps for kids in the community, visiting the Pullman Senior Center, and participating in the National Lentil Festival. We are committed to having an active presence in the Pullman community. |
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| moore detroit: When are the schedule times for next season going to be complete? |
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Ken Bone: Moore, schedule times are dictated by TV. We are waiting for that information to come out. |
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| Jim (Spokane): Coach, there were some great wins last year. Beating Gonzaga, Baylor, and Washington a couple times, and advancing to the NIT Final Four. How will you be able to take last year's success into this season? |
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Ken Bone: Jim, fortunately we have a number of players back from last year's team that experienced that success. I believe the confidence that comes with that success will only help us this season. Looking forward to seeing you in Spokane for our Pac-12 openers vs. Oregon and Oregon State. |
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| Matt (Seattle): I can't wait to watch the team when they come to Seattle for the Cougar Hardwood Classic. How important is that game to recruiting Seattle kids? |
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Ken Bone: Matt, it's extremely important. Without that game we would only play in Seattle once a year (at UW) in front of those recruits. |
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| Jim (Kirkland): Coach, will we be seeing much of Dexter Kernich-Drew on the floor this year? Is he ready for Pac-12 level of competition? |
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Ken Bone: Jim, athletically he is ready but it would be his first year of competitive basketball outside of Australia, and he needs early season playing experience to get ready for the Pac-12 season. |
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| Moderator: Okay, that's all the time we have. Coach thank you for joining us once again. |
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Ken Bone: Thank you. I enjoyed answering your questions. Looking forward to see you Coug fans at our games this year, and at Midnight Mayhem tomorrow. Go Cougs! Beat the Cardinal! |
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| Moderator: Thank you to everyone for your questions. Please join us for our next chat, Tuesday, Oct. 18 with Swimming Coach Tom Jager at 11 a.m. |
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