Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Basketball

Spring 2022

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
Spring 2022

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 …