WSU takes on Baylor in Hardwood Series
• WSU’s 3-0 record marked the sixth time in school history the Cougars have gone undefeated in a regular season tournament.
• Low earned all-tournament honors for the second-straight season (John Thompson Challenge, 2006-07).
• Mississippi Valley State’s 26 points marked the fewest by the Cougars since giving up 23 in their 43-23 victory over Idaho, Jan. 23, 1948.
• The 45-point margin of victory for WSU is tied for the sixth-best since 1945.
• Rochestie led the team with 14.0 points per game, while tying his career high with 22 points against Air Force. His previous 22-point performance came while playing at Tulane.
• The duo of Rochestie and Weaver combined for 31 of the team’s 46 assists in the three games and a 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Several players saw quality minutes against MVSU, as junior Caleb Forrest led WSU in scoring with 13 points and freshmen Stephen Sauls put up 12 points; both were career highs.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: Not surprisingly under Tony Bennett the Cougars find themselves at the top of the Pac-10 in several defensive categories. WSU ranks first in scoring defense (50.2 ppg) and rebounding defense (26.3 rpg) and is second in field goal percentage defense (.378).
GETTING TO THE LINE: The Cougars have been successful at getting to the line and equally successful once they’ve gotten there this season. They lead the league in both free throws made (113) and free throw percentage (77.4 percent). WSU is ranked 14th in the nation in free throws made and 22nd in free throw percentage.
LOW AND WEAVER ON WATCH LISTS: Senior guards Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver have each been named to both the 2007-08 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T Preseason Watch List and the Men’s 2007-08 John R. Wooden Award Top-50 Candidate list. Weaver is also a preseason 2008 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Candidate. On top of that, Weaver has been named to the Basketball Times preseason All-America team and was named a third-team preseason All-American by Fox Sports.
BOEKE’S WSU DEBUT DELAYED: Washington State freshman Fabian Boeke has not been certified for competition by the NCAA, therefore at this time is not permitted to compete in regular season competition. Boeke, a native of Kummerfeld, Germany, played four seasons with the Ehingen Club team in Germany. The club team Boeke played on was a mix of high school players and a few older individuals. Members of that club team, not including Boeke, received stipends that the NCAA determined were above actual and necessary expenses. Therefore, the Ehingen team is deemed a professional organization by the NCAA. Boeke is currently eligible to continue practicing with the team while WSU continues to resolve the issue with the NCAA eligibility center.