Analysis: Evaluating Washington State Men’s Basketball Through First Third of Season
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Washington State Cougars guard Adria Rodriguez (13) waits for play to resume against the New Mexico Lobos in the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images [/caption]
Following a disappointing loss to the Nevada Wolfpack, the Washington State Cougars sit at 3–7 through 10 games, roughly 30% through the season, and far from where many expected them to be in year two under coach David Riley.
With West Coast Conference play approaching, it’s worth taking a closer look at who has contributed positively, who has struggled, and what has gone wrong for the Cougars so far:
Who’s Impressed
Ace Glass
The true freshman - who originally committed to Texas A&M before decommitting after Buzz Williams left for Maryland - has been the Cougars’ best player through the first 10 games. Glass is averaging 16.6 points per game and had a breakout 40-point performance against Arizona State.
He has shown the ability to score in bunches, create his own shot, and operate at all three levels. His efficiency has been outstanding for a freshman: 49.5% from the field, 94.7% at the free throw line, and 40% from three.
Glass’s next step as a player will be improving as a passer and becoming a more consistent defender. But considering his age and role, he has been nothing short of fantastic for the Cougars.
Tómas Trastarson
The second-year Cougar from Iceland has made a major leap in his sophomore season. After averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds as a freshman, he has jumped to 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds this year, highlighted by a career-high 20 points against Nevada.
Trastarson has become a reliable floor spacer who can hit open threes, but he has also expanded his game by improving his free-throw shooting, attacking closeouts, and getting to the rim more consistently. His growth is exactly what Washington State hoped for entering Year 2.
Heading into conference play, the next step for Trastarson is consistency, especially on nights when Washington State struggles offensively and he has to be a guy at the Cougars can consistently go to.
Parker Gerrits
A former walk-on and the last remaining player from the Kyle Smith era, Gerrits has been excellent in his role off the bench. He has been the team’s best perimeter defender and, statistically, one of the most impactful players on the roster.
Gerrits leads the team in Box Plus-Minus and Defensive Box Plus-Minus, and according to the numbers, he and ND Okafor are the only players posting positive defensive metrics.
While not known for scoring, Gerrits provides value in nearly every other area:
- 5th on the team in rebounds per 40 minutes
- 2nd in assists per 40 minutes
- 2nd in steals per 40 minutes
- 1st in assist-to-turnover ratio per 40 minutes
Given the Cougars' defensive struggles, it’s worth questioning whether Gerrits 12 minutes per game should increase moving forward.
Who’s Disappointed
Adria Rodríguez
Rodríguez arrived from Spain, where he played professionally in the second division, with significant expectations as a player. But so far, the adjustment to Division I basketball has been challenging.
He’s averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, but his shooting has been the major disappointment so far:
- 35.3% from the field
- 14.3% from three
- 40% at the line
Rodríguez has also struggled to create dribble penetration, making it difficult for him to generate quality looks for teammates. He has shown good passing instincts, but it’s hard to be an effective creator when you can’t consistently beat defenders off the dribble. Defensively, Rodriguez has been able to make plays due to his length and seems to be alright in defensive rotations, but at times has struggled to keep his man in front of him.
It’s normal for international players to need an adjustment period, but Rodríguez has struggled more than expected with the speed, physicality, and athleticism of Division I basketball.
Jerone Morton
Morton, the transfer from Morehead State, has started every game for Washington State this season. While he takes care of the ball and provides steady minutes, his offensive struggles have weighed heavily on the starting unit.
Through 10 games, Morton is shooting:
- 36.2% from the field
- 6.3% from three (1-for-16)
His lone three came in the season opener against Idaho. For a starting guard, this level of perimeter production has made life more difficult for the offense, and has to be better moving forward or else the team will have to consider altering their starting lineup and shifting minutes elsewhere.
The Defense
Under Riley, Washington State’s defense has been a persistent problem. Last season, the defense collapsed during the second half of the year, and despite an offseason emphasis on improvement - and roster moves aimed at adding better defenders - the Cougars have regressed even further.
According to KenPom, Washington State ranked 198th nationally in defensive efficiency in the 2024–25 season. This year, they’ve fallen to 277th, a significant drop that has had a major impact on their early-season struggles.
The Cougars have had difficulty containing dribble penetration, rotating on shooters, and maintaining defensive intensity for full possessions. Without drastic improvement, competing in WCC play will be an uphill battle, and bigger troubles loom down the line in the rebuilt Pac-12.
