Plenty on tap for a Friday
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- Fridays during football season -- when the Cougars are playing at home, anyway -- are usually pretty quiet. But not this time. There are basketball matters to tend to. Read on.
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Later tonight, we'll make our way past the motorhomes to Bohler Gym (corrected from earlier), where WSU's men's and women's basketball teams will hold their annual fan event to begin practices for the upcoming season. It's called ZzuMania, it's free to attend, and it begins at 9 p.m. There will be dunk contests and 3-point shootouts and such. ... We kicked in a bit about WSU for this area basketball roundup. Also in today's newspaper, we wrote about Gino Simone emerging as one of a few WSU seniors to play a bigger role this season. On the blog, we recapped practice with some comments from linebackers coach Jeff Choate. ... From California: The Bears' quarterback is looking for a little consistency. Cal's interception-happy cornerback is out of the coaches' doghouse.
There was one Pac-12 game last night ...
Arizona State 51, Colorado 17 -- The Sun Devils' focus shifts to Oregon after a relatively easy win in Boulder. Colorado wilted in the second half.
Around the Pac-12 ... Bud Withers says to expect a slugfest when Notre Dame and Stanford get together this weekend. The Cardinal have a big target at tight end. ... USC is pleased with the transfer of Silas Redd. ... An Arizona safety isn't part of the Wildcats' program anymore. ... USC's center is well-versed in tragedy and heroism. ... Here's a UCLA basketball story, focusing on the cloud hanging over the Bruins as practices begin. ... Who's most likely to pull off an upset of Oregon? ... Oregon State cornerback Jordan Poyer is the biggest thing to come out of Astoria since "The Goonies." ... Washington faces a big challenge in USC's receiving duo. ... Utah takes its crack at new and improved UCLA.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple