Reaction from Pac-12 media day

The start of college basketball season is still a couple weeks away, but Thursday was another sign the season is getting close. Midnight madness is the first sign college basketball is close, but media day -- which WSU participated in on Thursday -- means things are really close.

Ernie Kent and DaVonte Lacy represented Washington State on the men's side while June Daugherty and Tia Presley were there to represent the women's team. Jeff detailed the men's basketball appearance yesterday where the Cougars were picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 and Ernie Kent compared himself to a bear coming out of hibernation.

Presley and the women's team were picked to finish eighth in the media poll. The Cougars were picked to finish ninth last year and 10th in 2012. If that trend continues, the Cougs should be Pac-12 favorites in 2021. We're coming for you, Stanford.

With it being media day and all, there is obviously video, including Daugherty and Presley dancing, playing games and taking pictures.

Pac-12 media day:

Men's basketball:

Ernie Kent brings energy to WSU men’s basketball | Cougar Basketball | The Seattle Times
Since taking over at Washington State in April, new coach Ernie Kent underwent the monumental task of rebuilding the battered psyche of a men’s basketball program that’s finished in the bottom half of the Pac-12 the past six seasons.

High-scoring Cougar DaVonte Lacy gears up for one last shot - Spokesman.com - Oct. 24, 2014
DaVonte Lacy’s Farewell Tour began in front of rows of reporters at Pac-12 Network Studios, who gave the Pac-12’s best scorer a laugh when he compared his nascent post game to Shaq’s and then retired to the rooftop for tri-tip sandwiches and Brie.

Washington State's Ernie Kent says 'it's nice to be back': Pac-12 basketball media day | OregonLive.com
Ernie Kent is back in the Pac-12. The new Washington State men's basketball coach talked about his return, what he learned in his time away, and energizing the fan base in Pullman during his remarks Thursday at Pac-12 media day in San Francisco.

Women's basketball:

Daugherty, Presley Check Out Pac-12 Media - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State head coach June Daugherty and senior guard Tia Presley took part in the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Media Day Wednesday.

Football:

Director of Athletics Bill Moos Podcast - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
During a rainy Thursday morning, a rainbow briefly appeared over Martin Stadium, serving as a welcome sign to all Cougars who will be descending on Pullman for Dad's Weekend.

Arizona vs. WSU: Rich Rodriguez and players give thoughts on the Cougars - Arizona Desert Swarm
Everyone who has heard of the idea of Washington State playing football this year knows that the Cougars like to put the pigskin up in the air a little bit. Will we see more of that as the Arizona Wildcats make their first trip to Pullman since 2010? Probably. But don't forget last year, where the Cougs came in to Tucson and ran the ball 27 times.

RB Morrow valuable, even for pass-happy Cougars : Football
Being a running back in a Mike Leach system has got to be one of the weirdest gigs in college football. Weirder than Les Miles’ lawn mower. Weirder than Lou Holtz’s interpreter. Weirder than Kliff Kingsbury’s stylist.

Young Cougars secondary is getting tested by stellar Pac-12 quarterbacks | Cougar Football | The Seattle Times
Sulaiman Hameed hadn’t even been in freshman classes a month, and here he was, getting his first serious college-football action — against turbocharged Oregon.

Arizona-Washington State Preview Capsule | WSU Cougars | The Bellingham Herald
Arizona can become eligible for a bowl game and seek to keep pace with other leading teams in the Pac-12 South. Washington State must win four of its remaining five games to become bowl eligible, and a loss at home would hurt those hopes. The Cougars are going to need to pull an upset or two to get to six wins.