It was the largest number of points scored against UCLA in almost four seasons.

Taylor Rochestie’s 33-point outburst at Pauley Pavillion on Saturday turned heads around the conference, earning him Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. For the Cougars’ 6-foot-1, 193-pound point guard, who will be honored at Senior Day during Saturday’s matchup with Arizona State, the game was one of the highlights of his career.

“It’s definitely Top 5,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience, personally, for our seniors and for our team, so it hit on all levels. It was definitely a game I’ll remember.” WSU basketball Head Coach Tony Bennett, who said Rochestie will have the opportunity to play at the next level, credited him with carrying the team down the stretch.

“He refused to let us lose,” he said. “Offensively, it was one of the best games I’ve seen him have. He played 40 minutes, obviously he was fatigued, but he showed a great amount of will and toughness, which was outstanding.” It is well known that Bennett, another crafty lefty during his playing days, looks to Rochestie to carry the Cougar basketball team.

In Pac-10 play, he leads the conference with an average of 39.5 minutes played per game. For the season, Rochestie, who is on pace to beat his own school record for minutes played in a season, is second in the Pac-10 to Arizona’s Chase Budinger.

Rochestie claims fatigue has not yet set in.

“It’s just too much fun to be out there,” he said. “I only got a couple of games left so I’m just soaking in every moment I can.” For Rochestie, the most difficult part of the Cougars’ rollercoaster season has been keeping the team positive.

Bennett said Rochestie’s competitiveness rubs off on his teammates, and he’s had to do a lot of teaching to the team’s younger players this season.

Senior center Aron Baynes said Rochestie boosts the team’s spirits on and off the court.

“He sees the glass as half full,” Baynes said. “He’s optimistic, and that’s the way we need to be. We’ve had a pretty tough year in some of the games this season, and we just have to have a short memory, and Taylor’s no different. He has a short memory but always a positive outlook.” Rochestie, who transferred to WSU three seasons ago from Tulane University, said he will miss the Cougar experience including his teammates, coaches, friends and the crowds at Friel Court.

“It’s the everyday moments of being with the guys, being in the locker room, traveling with team, being on the plane and just all the little things I’ll remember the most,” he said.

Rochestie’s family attends almost every one of his basketball games. His older brother, who Rochestie said is “his biggest fan,” can be seen jumping around in the stands during games.

Rochestie, a communication major, plans to continue his basketball career after this season.

But in the meantime, Rochestie is focused on ensuring the Cougars finish the season strong.

“I want the ball in my hands, but I’m not necessarily the one who’s going to be taking the shots,” he said. “In the UCLA game it just happened that I took them. In other games, other people are taking shots. At the end of the game I want the ball in my hands, but I just want to make the right play.”