Cougar basketball back in action

For the first time since November 24, the WSU men's basketball team will play a game in Pullman. The Cougars will host Pepperdine at 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, their first home game since losing to TCU.

Washington State has been off for more than a week following its 67-66 win against Idaho. Finals played a big part of the hiatus, but with the semester out, the team will be back on the court. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Network and with school being out, I wouldn't expect a very big crowd in Pullman. Rich Waltz and Ernie Kent will be on the call.

This is the third straight season WSU and Pepperdine have played. The Waves upset the Cougars 58-56 in overtime last season. WSU led 50-42 with 5:25 to play, but didn't score a single point for the rest of regulation. Missed shots and untimely turnovers allowed Pepperdine to tie the game. Those issues continued in overtime with crucial missed free throws and a turnover dooming WSU at the end.

Hopefully, for the Cougars' sake, things go better this year.

Football recruiting:

WSU landed two verbal commitments on Saturday which you can read about here.

Football:

Bowl game a big step toward regaining past glory for Colorado State and Washington State | The Coloradoan | coloradoan.com
Both programs were three wins better this year than last under second-year coaches, both won three conference road games for the first time in a long time, and both are ending long bowl droughts after falling from glory during the past decade.

Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson turning it around - Loveland Reporter-Herald
Like the rest of his teammates, Garrett Grayson is thrilled with the turnaround this season, one that has seen Colorado State's football team regain the title of bowl team for the first time in five years.

CSU vs. WSU Gildan New Mexico Bowl Preview - Mountain West Connection
The Colorado State University Rams will play the Washington State University Cougars in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 21st, 2013 at 12:00 MST on ESPN.

Cougars hope new weight room will draw football recruits - Spokesman.com - Dec. 14, 2013
When the Cougar Mania Strength and Conditioning Complex opened in 1997, it was the envy of college athletics. Consisting of two stories and covering 14,000 square feet, the weight room symbolically told WSU recruits that Pullman was the place to go for big-time college football.

Saturday WSU practice and underclassmen scrimmage report - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Dec. 14, 2013
The Washington State football team returned to Martin Stadium on Saturday afternoon, practicing outdoors for the first time in over a week. With temperatures in Pullman below zero at times recently, the Cougars have been making use of their inflated indoor practice facility.

WSU bowl rewind: 1981 Holiday Bowl - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - Dec. 14, 2013
After a 50-year bowl drought, the Cougars returned to postseason play with the 1981 Holiday Bowl played against BYU. Coach Jim Walden led Washington State to an 8-2-1 record, and the Cougars were ranked No. 20 by the Associated Press. BYU, coached by the legendary LaVell Edwards, was ranked No. 14 in the country following a 10-2 season.