Friday with the Cougars
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- There's little in the way of WSU news on this end-of-work-week morning, but we do have some interesting reading to pass along. So keep reading.
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If you're a fan of basketball, it's worth your time to read Jim Meehan's day-after post with some notes from the Gonzaga side of Wednesday's game. He goes into some more detail on Kevin Pangos' final shot -- one that is a heck of a lot more impressive on tape than it was in real time -- and the work that Pangos puts in before each game to ready himself for those off-balance, in-between kind of shots. ... Speaking of Wednesday's game, you can watch a replay of it here, if you'd like. ... CougCenter breaks down the final 14 seconds of Wednesday's game with some solid analysis. I've seen some people wondering if Pangos might have double-dribbled on his final drive. I've watched the replay a number of times and I don't think there's anything clearcut enough to warrant a whistle. Yes, his off-hand comes up and appears to maybe, sort of, kind of touch the ball almost at the same time as his dribbling hand just as he cuts past Brock Motum (and it looked as if maybe that was a factor in Motum jumping down to cut off the passing lane to Kelly Olynyk), but considering how crowded it was in the paint and how quickly it happened, I'm not sure the call could have been made (if the infraction was even committed. And for the record, I don't think it was). ... And since we're on the subject of officiating (well, I am, anyway), I should note that it looked like the push-off call against DaVonte Lacy toward the end of the game was the right call. Lacy admitted as much afterward, saying he probably did push off a bit more than he should have. There were plenty of questionable calls, to be sure, but I didn't see anything wrong with that one upon seeing the replay. ... Bud Withers had some thoughts from the game yesterday morning. ... Missed this yesterday, but here's an interesting list of all the BCS athletic departments, sorted by revenue generated in 2011-12. WSU is sixth from the bottom. ... Former WSU quarterback Jason Gesser won't be retained as part of Idaho's new football coaching staff. ... In football news, WSU reportedly picked up verbal commitments from two players yesterday -- Lyman Faoliu, a defensive lineman at the College of San Mateo (the same school Justin Sagote played for), and Emitt Su'a-Kalio, a defensive lineman from Pago Pago, American Samoa. According to Scout.com, that's now 20 known commitments for the 2013 class.
In Pac-12 football news ... So, you're Sonny Dykes, and you've just taken over as California's football coach. Your goal? The Rose Bowl, of course. ... If Chip Kelly leaves Oregon, the Ducks would be best advised to avoid the gameplan Colorado apparently has. ... An Oregon State defensive back -- one who got to know the Cougars well this season -- is a Walter Camp All-American. ... Stanford fans are actually excited about something. ... It's official: USC had the nation's best receiver this season (and it wasn't close). ... Arizona's running back is preparing for a big 2013 season, but there's still plenty for him to accomplish in the Wildcats' bowl game. ... Arizona State's stud defensive tackle is a consensus All-American. ... Utah's stud defensive tackle is a Walter Camp All-American. ... Things are going all sorts of haywire in the Colorado coaching search. ... Some Washington officials were in Las Vegas yesterday, beginning preliminary preparations for their bowl game.
In Pac-12 basketball news ... UCLA and Texas will play for the right to feel better about themselves on Saturday. ... Sean Miller still has confidence in Arizona's new point guard. ... Oregon's freshmen guards have given the Ducks a lift. ... Some Utah hoops notes. ... Percy Allen wonders if time might be running out for the Pac-12 to solidify its postseason resume.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple