Washington State enters the season with little room for error and plenty of roster turnover, and the first Pac-12 preseason poll didn’t exactly hand the Cougars much comfort.
The one small bright spot: they were not tabbed to finish dead last. That distinction went to Fresno State in the conference media poll released Thursday.
The bigger picture, though, is tougher to ignore. Gonzaga was the runaway preseason favorite, taking all 17 first-place votes from the beat reporters who participated.
WSU is coming off a rough year by any measure. The Cougars went 12-20 last season, finished eighth in the 12-school West Coast Conference and posted their worst record since going 11-21 in 2018-19 in the old Pac-12.
Coach David Riley attacked the offseason by remaking the roster, bringing in just two seniors: Ronnie Harrison from East Texas A&M and Casey Jones from EWU. The rest of the mix includes sophomore point guard Lazerek Houston from Central Missouri, sophomore forward Tyler Kropp from Northwestern, redshirt junior center Ladji Dembele from UNLV, and off guards Jamari Phillips from Oregon and Jaylen Harrell from Providence.
“We are a talented team that is still learning how to come together right now,” Riley said.
The conference also rolled out a new “Preseason Impact List,” naming two players from each school who could be in line for recognition during the season or after it. Washington State’s representatives were Harrison and Dembele.
Harrison is expected to shoulder major offensive and rebounding responsibility after averaging 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season at East Texas A&M. He gave a preview of that upside Sunday, leading the Cougars with 23 points and 11 rebounds in an 84-80 exhibition win at Washington in Seattle.
Dembele gives WSU a key presence in the paint and heads the team’s three-man frontcourt plan at center. He is also expected to be one of the Cougars’ top interior defenders.
Riley’s timeline adds another layer to the season. He is signed through 2030-31, and this third year figures to bring pressure to field a competitive team.
Washington State opens Monday at home against Davidson at Friel Court.
In Other News...
WSU Brings Back A Road Look Fans Havent Seen In Years
Washington State is taking a road look into San Diego State that longtime fans have not seen in years, pairing white helmets with crimson logos, white jerseys and crimson pants for a combination that adds a little throwback feel to the week. The Cougars have spent this season working through a range of uniform pieces, and the program has made a habit of turning the reveal into its own small event, with players serving as the face of each rollout.
This time, wide receiver Tank Hawkins handled the modeling duties, continuing a pattern of letting different players front the uniform reveals while a few familiar faces have shown up again from last years batch. For a team still building its weekly identity on the road, the look is part style and part routine, another small detail that helps set the tone before kickoff even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State's Rebuild Just Took A Brutal Turn In The Pac-12
Boise State stayed on top of the Pac-12 standings after handling Washington State 31-10, a result that did more than just keep the Broncos in control of the race. It also underscored how quickly the picture can change around a league where Texas State has climbed two spots after edging Utah State 20-17, and where every week seems to reshuffle the chase for the top spot.
Oregon State is trying to position itself for the stretch run after its bye, with wide receiver Jesse Legree back in the mix and a demanding three-game run ahead against Fresno State, Texas State and Boise State. Fresno State and San Diego State still have their own opportunities to affect the championship picture, so the Cougars' setback landed at a time when the margin for error around the Pac-12 is getting thin. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Brutal Road Test With One Clear Edge
Washington State heads into its ninth straight game of the season with a chance to lean on one area where the matchup appears friendliest: the passing game. San Diego State has had to rebuild its secondary because of injuries and departures, which creates at least some opportunity for the Cougars to test the back end and look for shots downfield on a road trip that otherwise has plenty of landmines.
The challenge is that San Diego State still brings real stress points on offense, starting with a pair of productive running backs in Javion Kinnard and Lucky Sutton. Redshirt freshman Jaylon Hawkins adds another layer as both a return threat and a receiving option, so Washington State cannot afford to get too comfortable even if the aerial matchup tilts in its favor. [Read more 🡒]