WSU Hoops Faces Tall Tasks as Men Head to Gonzaga, Women Host Portland
It’s a one-game week for both Washington State basketball squads, but make no mistake-each matchup carries serious weight. For the Cougar men, it’s a trip into the lion’s den.
They’ll take on No. 12-ranked Gonzaga tonight in Spokane, where the Zags are undefeated at home and likely still fuming after a shocking loss to Portland last week. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Men’s Basketball: A Tall Order in Spokane
Washington State (11-15 overall, 6-7 WCC) is clinging to hopes of snagging the No. 4 seed in the WCC tournament. They’re a game behind Pacific in the standings, and next week’s matchup with the Tigers looms large. But first, they’ve got to face a Gonzaga team that already beat them handily-86-65 in Pullman just a few weeks ago.
The Zags (23-2, 11-1 WCC) were without standout big man Braden Huff in that game-and still won by 21. Huff remains sidelined, which could help the Cougars a bit in the paint, but Gonzaga hasn’t exactly missed a beat without him.
One big change for WSU this time around: sharpshooter Rihards Vavers is back. He missed the first meeting with a concussion, but he’s been lights out since returning-knocking down 53% of his three-point attempts over the last five games on 32 tries. His presence gives Wazzu a much-needed perimeter threat against a Gonzaga defense that thrives on collapsing inside.
Another name to watch is ND Okafor. He was limited to just 12 minutes in the first meeting due to foul trouble.
If he can stay on the floor, he could help WSU hold its own in the post. The Cougars will also need more from Eemeli Yalaho, who managed just five points in the first matchup.
On the flip side, WSU will likely be without Emmanuel Ugbo, who’s suspended for violating team rules. Head coach David Riley said over the weekend that an update is coming, but for now, Ugbo’s status remains in doubt.
Even with Okafor available, WSU has no easy answer for Gonzaga’s Graham Ike. The All-American big man dropped 23 points on the Cougars in their first meeting, then missed three games, only to come back playing arguably his best basketball of the season-averaging close to 30 points per game over his last three outings. He’s been a force, and if there’s a front-runner for WCC Player of the Year, it’s Ike.
So how do the Cougars even try to slow him down? The best bet is to double him on every touch and force the Zags to beat them from the perimeter.
Gonzaga’s one weakness in conference play has been three-point shooting-they’re hitting just 33.2% from deep. That’s not awful, but it’s not elite either.
If WSU can swarm Ike and make the Zags settle for jumpers, they might just hang around long enough to make things interesting.
But that’s a big "if." The Zags also dominated the glass in the first meeting, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and pulling down nearly half of their own misses. If the Cougars want to stay competitive, they’ll need to clean that up in a big way.
Women’s Basketball: Looking to Break Through vs. Portland
On the women’s side, Washington State (5-21, 4-9 WCC) returns home Thursday to face Portland in another crucial WCC matchup. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Pilots (14-10, 8-4 WCC) sit in fourth place and have been a tough out for the Cougars since WSU joined the WCC for basketball last season. Portland is one of just two conference teams the Cougars have yet to beat, and the last meeting wasn’t close-Portland forced 25 turnovers and cruised to a 62-49 win at home.
For WSU to flip the script, they’ll need a bounce-back performance from star guard Ele Villa. She went 0-for-11 in Saturday’s 78-62 loss at Pepperdine-the first time in her career she’s been held scoreless in a game. That’s not likely to become a trend, but the Cougars need her to snap out of the slump quickly if they want to avoid finishing in the bottom four of the conference standings.
The key stat here? Turnovers.
If WSU can cut that 25-turnover number in half-say, down to 11 or 12-they’ll give themselves a real shot at pulling off the win. That’s easier said than done against a Portland defense that thrives on pressure, but it’s the path forward.
Bottom Line
Both Cougar squads are staring down tough matchups this week. The men are up against a Gonzaga team that’s elite at home and loaded with firepower, while the women are trying to right the ship against a Portland squad that’s had their number.
For the men, it’s about limiting second-chance points, keeping Ike from going off, and hoping Vavers’ hot hand can spark something special. For the women, it starts with taking care of the ball and getting Villa back on track.
One game each. Big implications. Let’s see what the Cougs have in the tank.