A GRIP ON SPORTS • I hitched a ride to Pullman yesterday, heading down with basketball play-by-play announcer Bud Nameck to grab a glance at the Cougars. Maybe it wasn't the best day to see how far they've come this season. Read on.

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• First, a question. If you live in the same neighborhood with someone, is he your neighbor? Or do they have to live on the same block? Just wondering because I called Bud my neighbor on Twitter yesterday and wasn't sure that was accurate. He lives about three blocks away, but in the same basic neighborhood. So I guess that makes him a neighbor. Anyhow, he was quite neighborly yesterday when he offered me a lift down U.S. Highway 195. And even more so when he brought me home. If I had my own car I may have joined the majority of the students and left at halftime. It was 53-19 at the time and any doubt about the outcome was over. Had been for about 15 minutes. The final score was 86-59 and those students who did stay for the second half deserved another T-shirt, to go with the gray ones handed out before the game. At least those who stayed saw Dexter Kernich-Drew and DaVonté Lacy make a few shots. That's not something that happened in the first-half dissection. And that's what it was. A dissection. Washington State's defense has been fragile all year. In the first 20 minutes it was just broken. Arizona's high ball screen seemed to baffle the Cougars, with 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski somehow getting lost by the WSU help defenders throughout the half. Hey, he's the really tall guy rolling to the hoop. Part of the problem was the Washington State's guards who had Wildcat point T.J. McConnell were unable to pressure him when he came off the screen. The Arizona point had all day – and unobstructed vision – to peruse the court and find the open man. Too often that was Tarczewski near the basket. And nothing is more demoralizing to a defense than an uncontested layup. Unless it is a putback slam. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson took care of that late in the half, then followed up with an improbable follow at the buzzer that seemed, well, anti-climatic. Or piling on, whatever you prefer. Listen, I know Arizona is really good. They play – and recruit – these days in a different neighborhood than WSU. And the Cougars aren't as bad as they looked Sunday. Quick shots are great – when they are falling. When they aren't, as was the case yesterday, then all they lead to is a landslide – especially when the opponent is one of the best teams in the nation. So let's just label this a pothole on the road to respectability and keep on driving. Unless, of course, the pothole knocked the whole car out of alignment. Listening to the Cougars and Ernie Kent afterward, I don't believe it did. They are smart enough to know this was one of their down days. More up days are possible. Maybe even next Sunday, when the Huskies come to town. 

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• WSU: The early start and early outcome probably made it a pretty easy day for Jacob Thorpe, who not only had the game story but filled up the blog with a quick post and video from players and Kent. He also has a post this morning with links. ... John Blanchette also made the trip to Pullman and has this column. ... WSU women's coach June Daugherty picked up her 400th win yesterday, at least two or three weeks after she hoped to have it.

• Gonzaga: As is his habit, Jim Meehan returned to the blog Sunday and posted a day-after look at the Pepperdine victory. ... BYU and USD get together this weekend as the Toreros end the season with two weeks on the road.

• Whitworth: The Pirates long string of NWC swimming titles ended yesterday.

• Seahawks: The scouting combine is near. The Hawks will be there. ... What is Russell Wilson worth? Whatever he wants. ... Marshawn Lynch may retire. The drama will dominate the offseason.

• Mariners: The M's strength this season may be their starting pitching. If the youngsters come through, that is. ... The Mariner pitching prospect who was injured in the boating accident is still in the hospital.

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• Another work week begins, if you don't have a day off today due to the holiday. I thought about taking the day in respect for Mr. Arthur and Mr. Harding, but decided against it. I'm honoring our hard-working presidents by working myself. How patriotic. Until later ...

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