Despite Mass Exodus New Coach David Riley Has Wsu Mens Basketball In Solid Shape For Wcc Detour

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Despite mass exodus, new coach David Riley has WSU men's basketball in solid shape for WCC detour
Despite mass exodus, new coach David Riley has WSU men's basketball in solid shape for WCC detour from

Despite mass exodus, new coach David Riley has WSU men's basketball in solid shape for WCC detour

Cougs lost eight players from NCAA Tournament team, adding five newcomers

Despite losing eight players from last year's NCAA Tournament team, Washington State men's basketball coach David Riley has the Cougars in solid shape for their upcoming season in the West Coast Conference.

Riley, who was hired in March after Kyle Smith left for Washington, has added five newcomers to the roster, including four transfers and one freshman.

Key losses

The Cougars lost their top three scorers from last season in Efe Abogidi, Tyrell Roberts and TJ Bamba. They also lost starting point guard Noah Williams and key reserve Mouhamed Gueye.

Those five players accounted for 60% of WSU's scoring last season and 55% of its rebounding.

Key additions

Riley has added a mix of experience and youth to the roster with his five newcomers.

The most experienced addition is guard Justin Powell, a graduate transfer from Auburn. Powell averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season for the Tigers.

Other transfers include forward DJ Rodman (New Mexico), guard TJ Bamba (Texas A&M) and center Dishon Jackson (Georgia).

The lone freshman in the group is forward Adrame Diongue, a 6-foot-10, 230-pounder from Senegal.

Outlook

The Cougars will be a young team this season, but they have a lot of talent and potential.

Powell is a proven scorer and leader, and Rodman is a versatile forward who can score inside and out.

Bamba is a talented guard who can create his own shot, and Jackson is a physical presence in the paint.

Diongue is a raw prospect, but he has a lot of upside.

Overall, the Cougars have a good mix of experience and youth, and they should be competitive in the WCC this season.

Questions and answers

  • What are the Cougars' biggest strengths?

    • The Cougars' biggest strengths are their experience and depth.

  • What are the Cougars' biggest weaknesses?

    • The Cougars' biggest weaknesses are their lack of size and athleticism.

  • What are the Cougars' goals for the season?

    • The Cougars' goals for the season are to win the WCC regular season championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

  • What are the Cougars' biggest challenges?

    • The Cougars' biggest challenges are playing in a tough WCC and replacing eight players from last year's team.