Hot Cougar Action: Friday morning links

The WSU football team is finalizing their preparations for California on Saturday, but before they take the field, the Cougar basketball teams will take the spotlight Friday night.

WSU is hosting their version of Midnight Madness tonight or as they are calling it ZZUmania. They apparently decided to go with the WWE theme (Rancourt nods along happily) this season as you can see in the teaser video below.

While I'm not so sure about the rip off the shirt entrance move, Brock can do whatever he wants as long as he keeps the point to the crowd/call me blocked shot celebration.

We haven't talked about the men's basketball team much yet, but if you're looking for a general roundup of where things stand, you can watch Ken Bone's press conference from earlier this week. Bone covers all of the basics and while I'm sure we will catch you up in more detail before the season starts, this should keep you covered for tonight's event.

WSU Basketball: Ken Bone Press Conference. Oct. 10 (via WSUCougarAthletics)

WSU has streamed the midnight madness event in the past although I'm not sure they are planning on doing so this year. We'll try to figure that out and let you know.

Football

WSU's Simone takes step forward as senior - Spokesman.com - Oct. 11, 2012
PULLMAN – Call it Gino Simone’s senior moment. He was slogging through the final year of his Washington State career. Playing time was sparse. And the Sammamish, Wash., native decided that, you know what, there just isn’t enough time left to play so uptight all the time.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY: Previewing the Washington State Offense - California Golden Blogs
I love this man. Good for the sport, great for the conference. I don't like the idea of playing against him, though. But this is a serious transition year for the Cougar offense, and they're still working out the kinks. Will they be dialed in this Saturday in Pullman? Hope not!

Choate on LBs, practice notes - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Oct. 11, 2012
Thursday means light work for Washington State, and that was the case again this afternoon. Not a whole lot to report on the practice front, though we did speak with linebackers coach Jeff Choate afterward, and have his comments below. Read on.

Basketball

Teammates pick Lacy to be a team captain | WSU Cougars - The News Tribune
Former Curtis High School basketball star DaVonte Lacy started as a freshman at Washington State last season, and teammates were so impressed with his play and his leadership that they have elected him to be a team captain for the upcoming season.

Radically different WSU opens practice - seattlepi.com
The Washington State basketball team that opens practice on Friday night will be radically different from the team that finished 19-18 last season.

Area colleges turn attention to basketball - Spokesman.com - Oct. 11, 2012
The biggest priority for Washington State’s men’s basketball team as it begins practices today? "Making sure the guys understand we can be successful and that we have some talented players on the floor," said fourth-year coach Ken Bone.