Breaking down the Pac-12 men's basketball schedule

The Pac-12 conference released the 2015-2016 conference schedule for Washington State Friday afternoon. Specific dates and times have not been set, something to keep an eye on as the men's basketball season approaches. After winning seven conference games during his first year on the Palouse, let's see the how Ernie Kent and his Cougs will have to travel in the upcoming season.

Coach Kent has been adamant that the key to Washington State's success is filling Beasley Coliseum with bodies; both students and members of the community. Unfortunately, the Cougs open up the Pac-12 season at home against UCLA and USC at the end of December and early January when the majority of campus will be empty due to winter break. The following weekend, as students trickle back to campus, the Huskies will travel to Pullman to square off against the Cougars. The following two weeks don't get any easier for Wazzu as they head to the desert to face off against Arizona and Arizona state before returning home to host the mountain schools, Utah and Colorado.

In a nutshell, the Cougs really have a challenge ahead of them for next season. 12 of the 18 conference games are against the southern Pac-12 schools (USC, UCLA, UA, ASU, UU, CU), which most would consider the stronger side of the conference. Year two of Ernie Kent and #TheProcessWazzu will have it's ups and downs, but as they did several times last year, the Cougars have the talent to compete with the rest of the Pac-12.

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