Cougs sophomore is all caught up
The Cougars are off to a 12-2 start this season, and a lot of it has to do with the return of Daven Harmeling, who missed all but a few minutes of the season opener last year with a shoulder injury.
Harmeling was a role player in 2004-05 as a freshman, but he’s come back this season as a redshirt sophomore to become a key player.
At 6-foot-7, Harmeling’s ability to knock down clutch shots for the Cougars, especially from the outside, has given the offense added versatility in the half court. Tonight, the Cougars will again look to Harmeling for important points against Arizona State in WSU’s Pac-10 home opener.
S-R: Does last year’s season on the sidelines feel like a thing of the past, or are you still catching up?
DH: I’m definitely caught up. I don’t feel like I’m rusty any more. I have no excuses for when I play poorly. I feel completely healthy for the first time since junior year of high school when I started having shoulder problems.
S-R: Do you feel like a sophomore or a junior?
DH: I feel like I’m a junior. I’m glad I have a couple (of) more years, but I do feel like a junior. I think last year helped me, sitting out.
S-R: Is it difficult knowing that your classmates and guys with whom you’ve become good friends are now going to graduate a year before you?
DH: I’ve thought about it a little bit. It’s going to be really weird. I’m definitely glad I can stick around a year after they leave, but it’s going to be strange, that’s for sure. … My degree (in health and fitness education) takes five years anyway, so I’ll need a year of student teaching at the end.
S-R: Early in December you were shooting extremely well, but it seemed as though the finals week break took the wind out of your sails for a while. What do you think happened?
DH: I don’t know what happened. I just haven’t shot the ball well. Particularly at the beginning of games, I’ve missed my first couple of shots and I think for me, however long I’ve been playing basketball, at the beginning of games when I can get an easy hoop, like the layup against Gonzaga or just a really good look, it seems that when I make it the rest of the game goes really well for me. But when I miss a couple, I think it starts to go to my head. For whatever reason, I start to press. It stems from me getting frustrated with myself and missing some shots that I’m supposed to make.