PREPSThe weather is nearly perfect, cold and clear, with just a hint of snow in the air.The first impression: Oak Harbor's Wildcats are bigger than you might have thought.The second impression: They are also faster.This one will be tough for Prep if they fall behind…
CHIEFS, WHLThe Spokane Chiefs did lose Friday night in 4-3 in Kamloops but the news isn't all bad for Chiefs fans.Jeff Bunch documented the recent exploits of a Chiefs line that is on a roll this month.The Chiefs host Kelowna tonight (7:30; 790-AM) in the…
WHITWORTH, VANDALS, COLLEGE FOOTBALLOn the field, there are a lot of similarities between the Pirates and their second-round NCAA Division III football playoff opponent St. John's. Both teams have double digits in wins, both have an exceptional quarterback and both play tough defense.Off the field,…
GONZAGA WOMEN, EASTERN MENTalk about deja vu.The Zag women knocked off 21st-ranked UCLA in the first round of the Rainbow Wahine Classic 62-57 Friday.That earns them - stop me if you've heard this before - a date Saturday with No. 2-ranked North Carolina.Can they do…
GONZAGAI was wrong about Gonzaga's ability to defend in this one.After the first five games, I really thought the Zags were a better on-ball defensive team than they've been in the past few years. But Butler is making them look slow with their ball movement…
GONZAGAA couple of notes about the Butler Bulldogs.They are the winningest team in the state of Indiana in the past 10 years, averaging 21.6 wins per year in that span. … Seven of the Butler players played their high school hoops in the state of…
MARINERS, SEAHAWKSThe Hot Stove League is burning the Mariners. Again.The cost of pitching – thanks Red Sox – is pricing the M's out of the market, according to this Seattle Times story.The guys on their list now: Adam Eaton, Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, maybe Jason…
WHITWORTH, IDAHO, COLLEGE FOOTBALLWhen St. John's comes to the Pine Bowl on Saturday (noon) to face Whitworth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, one of the Johnnies will be playing a home game of sorts.As John Blanchette relates, Coeur d'Alene High graduate Phil Giesen will…
GONZAGA UPDATED 2:10 P.M.It will be a contrast of styles tonight in the finals of the preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden (4 p.m.; ESPN2).At least that's how GU coach Mark Few sees it, according to Steve Bergum's advance.Watching Butler play Tennessee in the semifinals,…
GONZAGAHappy Thanksgiving.The sad part about a virtual sports section – which is what I consider SportsLink to be – is there are no Thanksgiving ads or coupons.You can't sit in front of your computer and circle the toys and clothes and movies and music you're…
GONZAGAThe Zags survived again. You can find the story of the game here, and I'll be back soon with commentary.I've read through your comments, and I'll try to address those as well.
GONZAGALoosely officiated is one thing. But not being able to count to three? That's not loose, that's plain ol' slacking off.The Tar Heels run a lot of screen and pins in the key, and in two different possessions – having run them through the DVR…
MORRISON WATCHCharlotte won its third win of the season and Adam Morrison is having another good game. It seems when Morrison has a strong scoring night, the Bobcats win or at least compete down to the wire.In Charlotte's 92-83 win over visiting Boston, Morrison hit…
GONZAGASo do we really have to listen to Brett Musburger and Steve Lavin all night?That's not my idea of excitement. In fact, I may not need an Excedrin PM tonight, this duo will do the job.As I watch Butler upset Tennessee, I'm starting to think…
PREPSThere is a lot of inaccurate information being posted on Mike Vlahovich's Prep Report blog - not by Mike but by readers commenting on his recent Gonzaga Prep post. Most of the pronlem posts concern the sites for the state semifinals.Let me try to clear…
PREPSA quick day with just a few notes.Lake City opened the Inland Empire League girls basketball season with a win over Post Falls.There is more information on Greg Lee's Idaho blog and Mike Vlahovich's blog.The state 4A football playoffs in Washington have been wacky, and…
WHITWORTHThe Pirates opponent in the NCAA Division III playoffs is St. John's. The best football-playing St. John's in the nation.It's also coached by the winningest college coach of all-time, John Gagliardi, who has coached in college football for 58 years. John Blanchette profiled Gagliardi in…
GONZAGAIt's a mutual admiration society.Gonzaga's Mark Few says his program follows the lead set by Roy Williams at Kansas and now at North Carolina. Roy Williams loves Gonzaga, as this story from deep down Tobacco Road (from the Durham Herald-Sun) shows.Steve Bergum has more on…
PREPSThe two paragraphs that follow are from an earlier post today. But the third, that came to me while I was trying to figure out where my glasses were hiding. Go ahead, join in the discussion.The best pass-and-catch combo in the state's history? The numbers…
GONZAGAIn our never-ending search for fun, we ran a story this morning and posted a summary and question on Steve Bergum's blog concerning the best GU basketball team of all time. You can also vote on our poll.Now I'm not going to say which GU…
COUGARSYou know you're getting started late when Ellen is on the TV, but I have a good excuse.Have you ever had a kid ride a bus home from college – or did you ever ride the bus home? For some reason they always arrive in…
GONZAGAThe Bulldogs' 4-0 start was good enough to get them in the today's USA Today college basketball coaches' poll at the 24th spot.Other teams of note: North Carolina, GU's opponent Wednesday, is second; UCLA is fifth; Duke No. 8; Memphis, 11; Washington 13; Arizona 15;…
COLLEGE BASKETBALLThere is a lot to write about here, both good and bad, but were going to start with the best.John Wooden.OK, I admit it. I'm prejudiced. Deeply prejudiced. I grew up watching the Bruins on TV, watching them play basketball the way it was…
COUGARSThe Apple Cup is over, and you weren't too happy about it.Given your opportunity to vent here, and on Glenn Kasses' Cougar blog, you took full advantage.And we'll get into that, I promise.But right now I wanted to go through the follow-up stories available, just…
GONZAGAThe Zags blew out Texas San Antonio 92-48 Sunday night and you can read about it here.But GU suffered a big loss Sunday as well.Micah Downs, the transfer from Kansas who was expected to contribute immediately when he became eligible in mid-December, may not be…
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