WSU keeps playing well, but poll voters don’t seem to notice

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Glenn Kasses looks at WSU’s lack of poll support in today’s paper in this story, where he also points out the Cougars are picking up a different, and better, type of respect: The respect of their opponents. Both UCLA coach Ben Howland and USC’s Tim Floyd were lavish in their praise of WSU and both feel it will end up in the NCAA.

At least the Cougars are picking up votes, though not a lot. Gonzaga has just about disappeared.

That’s the results of Monday’s polls, with WSU (12-2), despite playing a unanimous No. 1 UCLA even on the road then defeating 11-4 USC, receiving only a smattering of votes (the equivilant of 31st in both bolls) and Gonzaga (9-5), despite wins over three teams either receiving votes or ranked, not earning any support at all in the coaches’ poll (and just four in the AP poll).

The USA Today coaches poll can be found here, the Associated Press poll here.

For more on the Cougars, check Glenn’s blog.

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Rankings are the least of the Zags’ worries. They have another cross-country road trip today to face the University of Virginia (8-3) in Charlottesville (Wednesday, 6; ESPN2; 1510-AM).

The Cavaliers’ three defeats have been at Purdue (a decent loss), at home to Appalachian State (bad loss) and on the road at Utah (the same place WSU lost). They have defeated Arizona (great win, the Wildcats’ only loss) and North Carolina State (OK win).

Looking back, here’s another story about the Nevada loss and Nick Daschel column in the Columbian.

Check Steve Bergum’s blog for more today.

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The Zags aren’t the only local team traveling. The EWU Eagles (7-7, 1-1 in the Big Sky) hit the road for eight of their next 10 games. In the stretch, which starts Thursday night in Greeley, Colo., against Northern Colorado (6:05; KSKN; 790-AM), EWU will travel 6,557 air miles. Maybe the Eagles can take a free trip to Hawaii after the season.