FRAME BY FRAME: BAYNES' UNEXPECTED MOMENT

IT FIGURES TO BECOME one of the iconic moments of the Bennett Era: 6-foot-10 Cougar center Aron Baynes, last week against Arizona State, going coast-to-coast with a steal, uncertain dribble and emphatic slam dunk. He sent a charge through the Friel Court crowd and had Cougar fans smiling about it over the office water cooler for two days.

Long-time Cougar fan Rich Howard explains all the fuss:

“I’ve been watching Cougar hoops since the days of Steve Puidokas and Edgar Jeffries. I remember backward dunks by Don Collins and the tip-in by Bryan Pollard. I have never, ever, seen a 270-pound center dash to the top of the key and proceed to do what he did. It was like Bennie Seltzer or Keith Morrison had climbed into his skin.”

A glimpse of the reaction on the Cougar bench illustrated the rarity of it all.

Tony Bennett joked afterward that he wasn't sure the rumbling Baynes could dribble that far and then get up for the stuff.

WSU sophomore Alicia Carlson was courtside with her camera when Baynes made his mad dash. And she captured darn near every frame of it.

So, without further ado, here’s THE STEAL in living color …

THE WATCHFUL EYE.

THE SIZING UP.

THE CLOSE UP.

THE TAKEOFF.

THE RISE.

THE SLAM.

THE FINISH.

If you’d like more of the memorable moment, here's the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4HO9UciOBs