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Good morning. Hopefully this first weekend without football is treating you well. Technically, we didn't have football two weekends ago (since the Pro Bowl doesn’t count), but this is the first weekend when it hits me that we’re a long way from seeing football again. Basketball has taken center stage across the land.
In WSU Basketball’s little corner of the universe, this Sunday means a date in Boulder. Ernie Kent and his Cougars face the Colorado Buffaloes (on an actual TV station!!!), looking to end a couple of streaks that tell you all you need to know about what has become of the program.
As Jacob Thorpe pointed out in his preview, WSU hasn’t swept a conference opponent since Ernie Kent took over. That got me to wondering how long it’s been since WSU swept a conference opponent. You have to go all the way back to 2011-12, aka the run for the Zebra pens, when WSU swept both Oregon State and USC. The Cougars actually played OSU four times that season.
After winning the first two, WSU lost to the Beavers in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. However, both the Cougs and Beavs received a much-coveted invite to the CBI and faced off in the semifinals. In what would come to be known as little more than a prelude to Bikini Barbershop, WSU went to Corvallis and won 72-55.
One other ignominious streak WSU would like to bury is their continued futility in the mountains. Since the advent of the Pac-12, WSU is 0-9 at Utah and Colorado. There have been a couple close calls, such as the double overtime game in Boulder last year and the nail-biter in Utah a few days ago, but WSU just can’t seem to get over the hump.
The Cougars face a far different Colorado team than the one they faced just a few weeks ago. Colorado came into Pullman with an 0-6 conference record, which included a loss to super-terrible Washington. After leaving Pullman with their seventh straight Pac-12 loss, the Buffaloes have seemingly righted the ship, winning four of five games, including a nine point victory over Oregon.
So the Cougars face a tough test Sunday, especially given the fact that Xavier Johnson and Wesley Gordon will return from their suspensions, giving Colorado back 22 points-per-game. Hopefully WSU finally gets out with a win. Sunday night’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with a start time of 5:30 Pacific. Colorado is a 12.5-point favorite. Look for a much better preview later today from someone who actually knows basketball.
Football
5 Newcomers for the Washington State Cougars to Watch in 2017
Success on the field is breeding success on the recruiting trail for Washington State. The Cougars brought in one of their best recruiting classes under Mike Leach on the most recent national signing day.
The six easiest Pac-12 nonconference schedules in 2017
The Cougars would certainly like to purge the foul taste of recent nonconference disasters out of their mouths.
Top Pac-12 recruits for 2018
Bracy is a target of Cal coaches past (Jeff Tedford) and present (Justin Wilcox) but, with his speed and versatility, would fit ideally with WSU’s spread system. Or he could play in the defensive backfield.
Beer
Best beer I had this week: There were several worthy entrants, but the winner emerged late Saturday night, in the form of a six ounce pour. The inadequate feeling that came with walking around the bar with that tiny glass was quickly overcome by the contents within. Quite simply, J. Wakefield Brewing's Harbinger Imperial Sweet Stout made me want to hop over the bar and go Barney Gumble on the tap. It was that good.
You'll Never Guess Who's Jumped Into the Craft-Beer Business -- The Motley Fool
Can Walmart save the craft-beer industry? Few are aware that the deep-discount retailer has been selling its own craft beer for almost a year now, but as more people discover it, there's the potential for it to revive industry sales.
Non-Sports
A brief history of the 'Jeopardy!' host's disappointment over his contestants' performances.