You guys... I miss college basketball.

This week was supposed to the great week of the year: 52 sudden death games in six days. From the First Four to the final second round game on Sunday, it was basketball heaven.

But here we are...

For some very logical and important reasons, the NCAA made the correct decision to cancel the 2020 Tournament due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

In order to help you get your basketball fix, I decided to look back at some notable moments from WSU’s NCAA Tournament history. And, lucky for me, there aren’t many to choose from in the modern era of college hoops.

One of my favorite memories was skipping school, with the help and wholehearted encouragement of my father, to watch the Cougs run away from Winthrop in the first round of the 2008 Tourney. That win, led to another blow out win over Notre Dame in the second round.

While looking back at some of the stories on that Notre Dame win, I discovered one of my favorite articles I have ever written for this site. Back in 2014, when I was still in college and the realities of adult life hadn’t broken my will, I put together a bunch of GIFs from the CBS game broadcast of that Notre Dame win.

Since we’re all sitting around the house with no basketball to watch, I figured it was the perfect time to revisit that article, bring back some of my favorite GIFs and think back to a long-ago time when basketball was still being played in March AND the Cougs were a part of it.

Let’s start with remembering one of my favorite duos: Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low.

And if you need another example of why Derrick Low was the man, take a look at this shot from just before the half.

Yes, this game was 32-19 at the half. Classic Bennett ball.

Now, let’s check in on Aron Baynes. He’s made a nice career for himself in the NBA, currently with the Phoenix Suns, but it all started on the Palouse.

The Cougs would go on to win 61-41, more than covering the 2.5 point spread, sending WSU to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

You can read my original GIF recap from 2014 here. I’ll even leave in the multiple spelling mistakes that 21-year old idiot made that will haunt me forever now that I know they exist for eternity on the World Wide Web.

You can also watch the full game on YouTube below

Links

Ten snapshots from Washington State’s memorable 2019-20 basketball season | The Spokesman-Review
Washington State and seven of its peers in the Pac-12 didn’t get the closure they desperately wanted when the conference decided last Thursday to cancel the remainder of its tournament in Las Vegas, following the lead of others in the college basketball world amid coronavirus worries.

Plati-'Tudes: Looking Back At Other Times The World Stopped CU Sports - University of Colorado Athletics
On September 15, 2001, the football team was scheduled to play its first game ever in Pullman against Washington State. Those of us advancing the game back then were still trying to figure out the best way to get to Pullman when the terrorist attacks on the East Coast occurred on September 11.

Momentum for NIL legislation grows within Pac-12 footprint
Colorado is next in line to join California and allow college athletes to receive compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness.

What college football's 64-team playoff bracket would look like
Missing the NCAA tournament and spring football? Well, here's an early look at what might happen if Mike Leach had his way and we had a 64-team college football playoff.