Mack’s Basketball Future At WSU Remains In Doubt

The Washington State basketball career of suspended forward Tavares Mack remained in doubt Tuesday as coach Kevin Eastman wondered whether the senior starter could be counted on in the future.

Mack missed Sunday afternoon’s workout and was suspended from the team indefinitely. He watched Monday night’s 91-53 victory over UC Irvine from the stands and, Eastman said, has not made contact since.

The Cougars did not practice Tuesday.

“The decision becomes easy when you leave the team,” Eastman said Tuesday, “because what you’re saying to the team is, ‘I don’t want to be a part of you.’

“And you can’t do that.”

Mack declined to explain the situation when approached at halftime of the Irvine game, but called the incident a “misunderstanding” that he hoped could be “worked out in the next couple of days.”

According to Eastman, there is no misunderstanding. Mack simply decided to skip practice after telling Eastman he had lost interest in basketball.

“It’s a matter of, does he have the passion for basketball right now?” Eastman said, “and then if he says he does, now our decision is, OK, five games from now, is it OK to let him lose it again?

“And then with 14 minutes left at USC, we’re down six, will he lose it then? Those are the unknowns that we have to factor in.”

The 6-foot-9 Mack was averaging 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds through three games. Without him, junior Carlos Daniel becomes the only WSU post player with significant experience in the Pacific-10 Conference.

But Mack’s potential on-court value is only a small part of the overall picture, Eastman said, outlining a philosophy that contributed to the off-season dismissal of starting point guard Donminic Ellison.

“I would say I haven’t been tough - I’ve been right,” Eastman said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Ellison had been suspended more than once and was dismissed from the team after being cited for possession of marijuana. Eastman stressed that Mack has encountered no such troubles.

“We have to educate Tavares as to what’s going to happen to him when he gets a real job,” Eastman said. “There are a bunch of Tavares Macks looking for jobs out there - heck, if you don’t want to do it with our company, fine, you’re out of here. We’ll get the next one in. All we can do (at WSU) is bench a player. At IBM, there’s no bench.”

Crosby out indefinitely

WSU freshman wing Chris Crosby, who sprained an ankle against Irvine, will miss Saturday night’s game at Eastern Washington and is tentatively listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s game at Montana.

Crosby’s absence could mean additional playing time for freshman Beau Archibald and sophomore Steve Slotemaker.

WSU women favored

Coaches from Gonzaga, Fresno State and Weber State made host Washington State the favorite to win the 17th Dial Soap Classic that tips off Friday night at 6 at Friel Court.

The Cougars (1-1) are coming off an 85-55 victory over Gonzaga. They face Fresno State in the opener. GU and Weber are scheduled to play at 8.

WSU coach Harold Rhodes said he expects 6-2 forwards Kristin Erickson and Amy Saneholtz to help offset Fresno State’s advantage in quickness.

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