Basketball
![Closeup of George Raveling and Mark Schuster in WSU gear](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2023/04/2023summer-paying-keeps.700-2-198x198.jpg)
Paying for keeps
![Derrick Low, clapping, leads the victorious Cougs after defeating Notre Dame in the 2007 NCAA Tournament](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2022/01/2022spring-turn-around-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Turnaround year
![James Donaldson stands in a park in front of ocean](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2022/01/2022spring-standing-tall-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Standing tall
![](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2022/02/2022spring-cougs-upset-bulldogs-thumb-198x198.jpg)
The turning point
When asked what the turning point was during the 2006-07 season coach Tony Bennett said:
“That game against Gonzaga.”
Bennett began his first season as the Cougar head coach with seven straight wins, marking the best start by a Pac-10 head coach in his inaugural season since 1951-52.
The winning streak was snapped by a loss at Utah, Dec. 2. Next up was a pivotal match-up against Gonzaga in Pullman three days later.
“That game was a big game for us,” remembers Kyle Weaver, a junior guard on the team. “Gonzaga was a solid team.”
Gonzaga established itself a perennial national power with a … » More …
![WSU student holds a t-shirt that reads Believe](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2022/02/2022spring-turn-around-extra-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Finding out the meaning of T.A.Y. the hard way
T.A.Y. (Turnaround Year) was more than an acronym for the 2006-07 Cougar basketball team.
“That was not just a slogan for us,” remembers Kyle Weaver, a junior guard on the team. “We really took it to heart. It goes to the things we did to prepare for it to be a turnaround year.”
“We had a lot of tough, grueling workouts,” adds Weaver.
Weaver remembers seeing the director of strength and conditioning, David Lang, when arriving for the day’s workout session; in particular, the runs up the hills of Sunnyside Park in the summer heat.
“We came to the hill and said, ‘What’s about to … » More …
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World of difference
![George Raveling (Chris Johns/The Seattle Times)](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2021/04/2021summer-bring-out-best-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Bring out the best
![Kyle Smith. Courtesy KREM](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2020/10/2020winter-transition-game-thumb-198x198.jpg)
Guiding a transition game
![Glenn Johnson speaks into microphone](https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/902/2020/07/2020fall-sidelines-the-voice-thumb-198x198.jpg)