The WSU men's basketball team kicks off conference play this week against Oregon, and I know that because I read the always insightful game notes. If you are a fan of statistical nuggets of information, game notes are your friend. Here are a few of the notes which caught my eye.
- WSU, winners of six straight, could post a seven game winning streak for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.
- Jordan Kent will be serving as the "color analyst" for CSNNW. As in former Oregon athlete, Seahawk receiver and son of former Oregon coach Jordan Kent. If you told me to pick the most random person who would be serving as color analyst for this game, you still would have blown my mind when you told me Jordan Kent.
- WSU is 2-10 in its last 12 conference openers. Well, that is no fun.
- WSU lost the only time it faced Oregon in a conference opener. Oregon won 91-89 in double overtime in 2009. Wait I remember that game... /lights game notes on fire.
6 College Football Coaching Changes: From Shadiest to Slimiest - Houston News - Hair Balls
3. Mike Leach - Washington State Paul Wulff, taxed with the impossible chore of turning around the Cougars, thought he might be asked back for a fifth season by athletic director Bill Moos because dude apparently had his back. Instead, Wulff was canned. Two days later, Moos hired ex-Texas Tech baller Mike Leach. Just an efficient job search? Shady-slimy number: 6
Analyzing the 2011-12 FBS head coaching changes | National Football Post
Mike Leach, Washington State (for Paul Wulff): Leach never missed the postseason during his time in Lubbock. And he proved at Texas Tech that he is at his best in a low-key environment, so coaching in Pullman is a good fit. Don’t forget that the Cougars went to two Rose Bowls under Mike Price. And Leach is a better coach who will have pieces to work with right away on offense.
Team-by-team previews
So far: The Cougars are 6-6 after opening the season with seven straight road games. They ended a rugged nonconference slate with a loss at No. 11 Ohio State. WSU has road wins over Wisconsin and Marquette, and narrow losses at home to No. 14 Louisville and Gonzaga.
HOWIE STALWICK | Don't worry folks, UW's gonna lose " Kitsap Sun
3. Coug Cash: WSU alums, notoriously proud of their school, are also notoriously cheap when it comes time to reach for their wallets to support athletics. Greg Rankich, a 1994 Wazzu grad, broke the mold last week when he forked out $3 million — the largest donation in WSU athletics history.
Cougars Open Pac-12 Hosting Ducks in Spokane - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
COUGARS OPEN PAC-12 PLAY HOSTING DUCKS IN SPOKANE: Washington State University men's basketball (8-4) returns to action as it opens the inaugural Pac-12 season hosting Oregon (9-3), Thursday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash. WSU will play its first two Pac-12 games at neutral-site Spokane Arena while students are away from Pullman for the holiday. Thursday's game can be seen on Comcast SportsNet Northwest (CSNNW), or you can listen on the Cougar Radio Network with Bud Nameck's call. Please see the list of affiliates on page one of today's notes for more information.
A Boxing Day post from WSU - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Dec. 26, 2011
I guess it's traditional on the day after Christmas to write about boxing on most sports blogs. It is, after all, boxing day. But being the only thing I know about the sweet science these days is Andre Ward is the best super middleweight in the world, I don't believe I'm qualified … what, boxing day doesn't have anything to do with boxing? Oh. … Nevermind. Read on.