It’s a numbers game at WSU
COUGARS
It's time for our usual pregame post. Tonight's post is dedicated to the number 1, and 2, and 3 and, heck, all of them. May they rest in peace on this Wednesday evening. Read on.
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• Yes we are mourning the passing of all the numbers and letters that are usually displayed on Beasley Coliseum's 15-year old scoreboards. The four of them are sleeping tonight. Yes, on one of the biggest nights of the season, the scoreboards in Beasley are not working. They were in-and-out over the past week, but some wire jiggling kept them running for the women's game on Sunday. The system was worked on Monday and, during tests, the boards were working fine. Then came today when they just refused to come on at all. No manner of repair work or magic could get them running again. So tonight the only clocks will be atop the backboards and the score will be kept on the hustle boards in the corners. There will also be a small scoreboard under the Fox TV table so the coaches can see. That's the plan anyway. If this is bothering anyone, I'm sure a huge donation to the athletic department earmarked Beasley scoreboard would be appreciated. ... Now to the on-court items. ... I'm not sure Faisal Aden will play tonight because of an injury. I must admit, though, I don't know for sure what the problem is. I heard a rumor but I don't pass those on. I'll wait until I'm sure. He was limping slightly today. We'll keep an eye on him in pregame warmups and see how he does. ... UPDATE: He's in uniform and stretching, so there me be a shot he'll play. But he came out about 15 minutes behind his teammates. Willis Reed anyone? Wiki it. His left knee is taped, so that might be his problem. ... The students are filing in and it looks as if it will be a Kansas State-sized group. ... Every TV person from Spokane is here. Well, not Robyn Nance, darn it, but just about everyone else. ... I'm not sure I can say much more about the game tonight. As I've said before, the matchup between Steven Gray and Marcus Capers will be fun to watch, as will the inside battle between Elias Harris and Abe Lodwick/Brock Motum – thought I was going to say Robert Sacre and DeAngelo Casto, didn't you? But the way I see it, the Cougars can count on Casto to defend. He does it night in and night out. But Harris, when he's at his best, is an offensive force. Lodwick and Motum will have to limit his touches and offensive boards if WSU is going to slow down the Zags' offense. ... And that my friends, is what I know about an hour before game time.
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• That's it for now. We'll be on Twitter (vinceg55) for the rest of the updates until halftime. Until then ...