Well, we’re finally back in civilization. You don’t know how much Internet access has integrated itself in your life until you don’t have it. It sucks. But we’re at the Save Mart Center and have a pregame post for you. Read on.
••••••••••
• If you had a chance to read my advance from today’s S-R, you know it was centered around the productivity inside for Washington State. That productivity could take a big hit tonight with the news DeAngelo Casto won’t play tonight with a sprained foot suffered in practice Wednesday. The 6-foot-8 junior has been the Cougars main threat inside thus far, and his 9.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game will be missed. … I would expect Brock Motum to start in Casto’s place and Charlie Enquist, who has played 16 minutes total, to pick up a lot of the minutes. … The one area Casto’s absence will effect more than any other is the defensive boards. Not only has he been boarding OK, he’s done a nice job of keeping the other team’s biggest body off the offensive glass. That’s not as easy as it sounds, and it has to be done. We’ll see if the rest of the Cougars can do it as well. … As I said in the story, Fresno State’s best player is Greg Smith, a 6-10 sophomore. His matchup vs. Casto would have been fun to watch. Casto is expected to be back for WSU next game Tuesday for Sacramento State. … Maybe we’ll see Steven Bjornstad, who has been cleared to play. The 6-11 Bjornstad has the bulk to bank around with the 250-pound Smith. … The one statistic that stands out for the Bulldogs (1-2) is 3-point shooting percentage. It is 17.4 percent. They have missed 38 of their 46 attempts. Of course, 19 of those misses came in the opener at BYU. … The Save Mart Center reminds me somewhat of McCarthey Arena, though it is finished all around so it’s bigger. FSU drew 7,442 to its opener against Vanguard College out of Southern California. The school doesn’t expect nearly as many tonight and the upper deck is closed off. …
•••
• That’s all for now. We’ll be back soon on Twitter (vinceg55) with some more pregame thoughts and our in-game updates. Catch us there …
Jim Allen Sports reporter Jim Allen's primary coverage areas are Eastern Washington University football and men's basketball, Whitworth University men's basketball, and college and high school soccer. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Jim
Christian Caple Sports reporter Christian Caple covers Washington State University athletics. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Christian
Greg Lee Greg Lee covers high school sports in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Greg
Jim Meehan Jim Meehan's coverage areas include Gonzaga University men's basketball, Whitworth University football, the Spokane Shock, golf and volleyball. He also contributes to the SportsLink Blog.
Recent work by Jim
Chris Derrick Chris Derrick is a sports reporter for the sports section. His primary coverage areas are the Spokane Chiefs, women's basketball and high school sports in the fall and spring.
Recent work by Chris
Josh Wright Josh Wright is a freelance correspondent who covers the University of Idaho football team and men's basketball team.
Recent work by Josh
Vince Grippi is the online producer for SportsLink, a product of The Spokesman-Review.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2013, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
Spokane7
46°
Get blog updates by email
Please keep it civil. Don't post comments that are obscene, defamatory, threatening, off-topic, an infringement of copyright or an invasion of privacy. Read our forum standards and community guidelines.
You must be logged in to post comments. Please log in here or click the comment box below for options.
comments powered by Disqus« Back to SportsLink