Has WSU basketball surpassed your expectations?

Washington State picked up a road win against USC on Wednesday to improve to 6-9 in Pac-12 play. While that record and knocking off the lowly Trojans isn't exactly something to write home about, it is a better record and I and many others expected heading into the year.

Six Pac-12 wins. I remember early in the season when we all thought we might not win a single conference game. Boy were we wrong. #GoCougs

— Brett Gleason (@brett_gleason) February 26, 2015

I didn't have especially high expectations before the season and they only diminished during the nonconference slate. At some point during the Great Alaska Shootout, I was convinced WSU would be lucky to win 5 games this season, forget about winning anything during conference play.

Instead, Ernie Kent and company have been able to take gradual steps forward since the early season. There have been bumps along the road, but  also a few flashes of success. Overall the season is still just a 12-win year with three games to play. The Cougars, however, have been much better in Pac-12 play than at least I expected. The year has been enough to land slightly above my initial expectations with a chance to improve with a strong finish. That says something about how low my initial expectations were, but also the work the team has done as the year has progressed.

How has the season gone compared to your initial expectations?

*****

Men's basketball:

Unsung hero sparks Cougars to win over USC - Spokesman.com - Feb. 26, 2015
Washington State had the duel experiences of blowing USC out on the road and escaping the Galen Center with a shaky win and an unlikely hero.

Cougar Athletic Fund Member Appreciation Men's Basketball Ticket Special - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Prior to the Feb. 22 Cougar men's basketball game against Washington, Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF) members were treated to an exclusive event with Coach Ernie Kent (pictured below).

Cougars Outlast Trojans for Win - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Road wins have been hard to come by for Washington State this season. It wasn't easy, but the Cougars finally got a respite from their road woes on Wednesday night.

Recap: USC vs. Washington St | Colleges | The Sun Herald
Dexter Kernich-Drew tallied 19 points and five rebounds to lead his Washington State Cougars past the USC Trojans, 70-66, in a Pac-12 Conference clash at the Galen Center.

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Baseball:

Home Sweet Home as WSU Set for Home Opener - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State baseball (4-4) plays on its home diamond for the first time in 2015 starting Thursday with a four-game series against UC Riverside (5-4), Feb. 26 thru Mar. 1. Game times are 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m., Saturday, and 11 a.m., Sunday.

What’s New at Bailey-Brayton Field for 2015 Season - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Fans arriving this weekend for the 2015 WSU baseball team‘s home opener will notice many fan improvements to Bailey-Brayton Field and the Cougar baseball program.