WSU basketball needs a massive reset if they are going to do anything this year. David Riley’s second year as the WSU basketball coach has not started off the way the Cougs would like, after starting 1-3 with embarrassing losses to Idaho and Davidson. David Riley came from Eastern Washington University in 2024, when he led the Cougs to a 19-15 season and a spot in the new College Basketball Crown. So far in year two, the wheels look dangerously close to coming off.
After last season’s end was plagued with injuries, the Cougs did not finish how they would have liked in the NCAA tournament. The season then ended with the main starters for the Cougs transferring and graduating. This left the team in pieces.
The season has not gone to plan with the Cougs taking 75 three-point shots and only making 22.29% from three-point range. Awful shooting from a team that has taken 75 three-point shots in just four games leads to turnovers and losses. The highest three-point percentage on the team is Emmanuel Ugbo with 44.4%. This means WSU has no one shooting and making over 50% of their three-point shots this season.
Firing Riley is not the answer, at least not yet. He is a smart basketball mind, and one slow start does not erase what he built last year. But let us be clear: something needs to change immediately. This team has size. This team has physicality. So why on earth are they pretending to be the Golden State Warriors?
First, the team needs to use the paint to their advantage. ND Okafor and Eemeli Yalaho are built to punish people inside, yet the offensive game plan acts like they do not exist, as they just pass the ball around.
Secondly, before talking about complex schemes, Wazzu needs to relearn the fundamentals, because right now, the fundamentals are killing them. The ball-handling is shaky and sloppy. Too many possessions start and end with a sloppy dribble and end with a panic pass. The fouls continue to cost this team in desperate moments. WSU needs a reset back to Day 1 fundamentals: dribble with purpose, pass with intention, make reads, run sets and value every possession.
The teams Riley built at Eastern thrived because they were organized and unselfish. This WSU team needs to rediscover that identity immediately.
Although the Cougs may not have the same stars as last year, it is early and hopeful. Until the Cougs buy into the basics again, without schemes and lineup shuffles, no late-game miracle is going to save them against teams like San Francisco, Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga. It starts with fundamentals or it will not start at all.
