Washington State Men’s basketball to host open practice over homecoming

For most coming into Pullman this weekend the focus will be on the football game but you can also catch some basketball while you’re in town. The men’s basketball team will be holding an open practice Saturday, Oct. 21 at noon in Beasley Coliseum.

The practice will last two hours and afterwards you can stick around to get autographs and hear from Head Coach Ernie Kent. While hopes are not too high going into the 2017-18 season, the team will at least be different from last year.

Malachi Flynn is the only returning starter from last year’s team that went 13-19 and 6-12 in conference play. Overall, there a eight new players, so the open practice will be the debut of more than half the team.

Sadly the highest profile newcomer, graduate transfer Drick Bernstine, likely won’t be in action. Last week, Theo Lawson of the Spokesman-Review reported that Bernstine is dealing with an injury and may not be ready until Pac-12 play.

One name to keep an eye out for is freshman guard Milan Acquaah. The Bakersfield, Calif. native redshirted last year but was praised by Kent regularly in press conferences.

The Pac-12 also announced the conference basketball schedule Thursday and had good news for the Cougs. After only appearing on ESPNU three times and ESPN once in 2016-2017, WSU is in line for more national coverage this season.

The Cougs start conference play by traveling to the Los Angeles schools Dec. 27 and 29 with both games airing on ESPN2. On Feb. 17, either ESPN of ESPN2 will come to WSU for the game against Utah and ESPN will broadcast the Cougs matchup with Oregon on March 1 from Beasley Coliseum.

ESPNU will show six different WSU basketball games throughout the season. The Cougs will host Washington Saturday, Jan. 6 and travel to Seattle Sunday, Jan. 28. The first rivalry game will air on Pac-12 Networks and you can catch the rematch on ESPNU.

Whether you’re ready or not, basketball season is quickly approaching.

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Women’s Soccer:

Men’s Basketball:

WSU Men’s Basketball to Hold Open Practice Oct. 21
The general public can catch the team in action prior to the football team’s game against Colorado.

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