|
Is Ken Bone the next Mike Price? |
|
Written by Westward
|
|
Thursday, 22 October 2009 13:51 |
|
I'm starting to think that the ceiling for Ken Bone's coaching career is one similar to what Mike Price had at WSU. Would you take that over the next eight years? I'm inclined to say yes but it's a tough call. Take a look at where I think these guys are similar.
Discipline:
Mike Price had a reputation for bringing in second chance guys (example: Michael Black) and academic risks. He believed that you had to take some risks in Pullman. When they paid off....they paid off handsomely. It could be argued that the same free wheeling was evident on the field. We were typically one of the most penalized teams in the Pac-10 just about every year he coached. Let's not even talk about late game collapses. Nevertheless, the payoffs outweighed the drawbacks in Price's time here and the lack of discipline didn't stop us from having some monumental seasons.
Does Ken Bone have the same profile? The lax academic standards at Portland State under his watch have cost them dearly this year. He has been willing to take chances on recruits and the payoff has been evident. The best years of Portland State basketball were under his tutelage. However, Portland State might be seeing a Mike Price like valley in the coming years because of many of those players. Will Ken Bone be able to carry on a culture of hard work and discipline with the WSU program? I have my doubts but if he follows the same path of Price it might be enough.
Style of Play:
Mike Price carried on an aerial attack in Pullman that began with Dennis Erickson. We saw some of the best quarterbacks and most exciting offensive attacks in the country. It was our style. It was our brand. Recruits would come to WSU for style of play even if they didn't think Pullman was their favorite. That style of play was also the source of a lot of heartache. It's why we struggled with closing out tight games. That offense resulted in a lot of quick strikes that would tax our defense and there were a lot of questionable play calls late that gave the ball back to our opponents. Again, it turned out reasonably well for WSU over the course of a decade but it was always heart stopping.
Does Ken Bone bring a similar style? It definitely appears so. He wants to play a transition and 3 point shooting style of game. The type of game that is sexy for high school players today. The kind of style that will attract potential recruits. It's also going to result in a lot of frustration for us. Especially after becoming accustomed to the Bennett style of ball that choked out opponents slowly and made it tough for them to come back late. Look no further than the tournament game they played last season. They shot 55% from the field in the first half and trailed by 7. They lost by 18 with a lot of turnovers and a regression to averages on three point shots. In short, when we hit our 3's we'll look like world beaters but mixed in between will be losses with poor shot selection and many games where we compete down to the wire but lose a game that feels like we "gave away" when in actuality the style of play is what's most at fault.
Background:
Mike Price carried the reputation of being a players coach and a Northwest guy. He grew up Everett and was connected to high schools all over the State. He had the reputation of a guy that could walk into a high school and he would know someone there. He recruited the West Coast and had a great rapport with the press. In short, a great fit....maybe even a dream fit for WSU. Price embraced Pullman and knew what sort of kid to go after that would be open to playing football there and living in a college town for four years. In terms of background, you couldn't have asked for a better situation that Price in Pullman.
Ken Bone carries the reputation of being a players coach and a Northwest guy. He actually grew up in the Seattle area and is also a guy that is known as an effective recruiter. When he left UW, the program noticeably sagged and many UW fan attributed that fall to the absence of Ken Bone's recruiting and coaching. Bone brings a unique style to how he interacts with press and alumni. He's not a gregarious personality like Price but he is more than capable of captivating an audience. The big question in my mind is how he will adapt to Pullman. Is he going to be a Seattle/Portland guy forever or will he be able to toggle his personality like Price would between the blue collar alumni and the King County contingent?
All in all, I hope nothing but a straight continuation of the Bennett years. They brought us character guys and great basketball. Ken Bone will bring us something unique and at times it will be energizing. My guess is that it's going to be like a roller coaster. The highs are exhilarating and the lows are going to be frustrating. Nevertheless, regardless of the high's and low's you often find yourself getting back in that line to go again.
  |
GO COUGS!
Harthun, listen up...WE NEED YOU!!!!