Basketball
Turnaround year
Standing tall
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 …
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 …