A GRIP ON SPORTS • What's on you agenda for today? A laid-back day reading a good book or maybe a busy, chores-filled day? After all, there's nothing to watch, is there? Read on.

••••••••••

• That lead-in was sarcastic, if you didn't catch the drift. Sure, college football, the mainstay of fall Saturdays, is over. But that doesn't mean you can relax. Not when three of the four local college basketball teams are either leading their conference or right near the top of the standings. Such is the case for Gonzaga and Eastern Washington (leading) as well as WSU (near the top). They, as well as Idaho, play today, with only the Cougars at home. But thanks to the magic of television and something called radio, you can follow along. If all else fails, the Interweb keeps you up to date if you, say, have a youth basketball game to attend. It doesn't much matter anymore where you are. You can watch most games and listen to the rest. Pretty cool, huh? Heck, failing that, you can watch in person. The Eastern and Gonzaga women are at home along with the Cougar men, so you have your pick.

• If basketball isn't your thing, then by all means spend your day getting ready for Sunday's Hawks/Packers showdown for the NFC title – and a Super Bowl berth. Fry up the wings, cut the sausage into little pieces, cook the chili. Whatever you need to do to make tomorrow's mid-day game a special occasion. Or, if you are like me, make sure you get an extra bag of chips. And maybe, just maybe, some dip. That's what I like to call "living high on the hog."

•••

• WSU: New defensive coordinator Alex Grinch spoke with the media yesterday and Jacob Grinch wrote down everything he said. Of course, he shares it with you here. Jacob also has a story on the changing of the guard on the defensive side. ... The WSU women led by as many as 16 in the second half at No. 9 Oregon State last night. But they lost, 73-70. ... The men will try to win their fourth consecutive game when they host Oregon State today. Jacob has a preview. ... Jacob also took a look back at the Oregon win (pictured) on the blog yesterday and passed along a few compliments of a Cougar. ... He also has his morning post with Pac-12 links. ... It's Saturday and even though it's not football season, we can pass along ESPN.com's Pac-12 mailbag. ... A couple of former WSU Cougars are now BYU Cougars.

• Gonzaga: Jim Meehan's day-after post on Gonzaga's win over Pepperdine is a bit shorter than usual, due to the traffic-jam induced later-than-usual start. ... The Zags meet Loyola Marymount today and Jim has a preview. ... The best game of the night in the WCC happens in Moraga, where St. Mary's will host BYU.

• EWU: The Eagles face second-place Sacramento State tonight more than likely without their best inside player Venky Jois. Jois was injured in Thursday's Big Sky win at Portland State. Jim Allen has a preview of today's game and a look back at the win over the Vikings.

• Idaho: The Vandals are in Portland today and Sean Kramer has some notes on the blog.

• Whitworth: The Pirates traveled to Oregon to face Pacific and came away with a NWC victory.

• Preps: It was a busy night in the prep ranks, with Greg Lee in Coeur d'Alene for the rivalry matchup between Lake City and Cd'A. The Timberwolves won both games. ... Jim Allen covered Gonzaga Prep's second win of the season over Rogers boys while Kevin Dudley was at Lewis and Clark's win over University on the girls' side. ... We also have girls and boys basketball roundups from around the region.

• Mariners: Five players, including Austin Jackson, who signed a one-year, $7.7 million deal, came to terms with the M's yesterday to avoid arbitration. ... It's official. Randy Johnson will enter the Hall of Fame as a Diamondback.

•••

• Have a good – and jam-packed – Saturday. It's what happens this time of year. Until later ...