Glenn Kasses

PULLMAN — The question lingers over Dick Bennett and, really, the entire Washington State University basketball program. When Bennett came out of retirement in 2003 to coach the Cougars, it was generally assumed that his stay would be for the short term. But just how short was an unknown. Bennett, 61, has maintained that he examines his position on retirement at the end of each season, but on Tuesday suggested further that he has a fairly narrow time frame in mind.

EUGENE, Ore. – Six of the 10 starters on the McArthur Court floor for Oregon and Washington State University on Saturday were freshmen, so it came as no great surprise that freshmen ended up playing a pivotal role down the stretch. As has been the case all year long for WSU, its youngsters couldn't quite make enough positives happen at a crucial moment to claim a victory.

EUGENE, Ore. — In a game as vital as today's looks to be for Washington State, it would make sense that Dick Bennett would pore over Oregon game film with his team. Ever since the Cougars' disappointing effort Thursday night against Oregon State, it would make sense that WSU would dwell on the reality that this game could end up determining their Pac-10 tournament fate, with the Cougars currently occupying the eighth and final slot with the Ducks in ninth.

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Washington State knows it plays sound enough defense to withstand a prolonged offensive drought. So when it took the Cougars nearly all of the first 12 minutes to score six points, they knew the game was far from over — so far, in fact, that they were able to take a 21-19 halftime lead. But when WSU came out in the second half and repeated its offensive anti-heroics, there was no comeback in order. The Cougars scored three points in the first 71/2 minutes after halftime, fell behind by 15, and lost 58-51 to Oregon State at Gill Coliseum. The loss dropped the Cougars a half-game behind Oregon State into eighth place in the Pac-10 men's basketball race.

PULLMAN – At the end of regulation Thursday, UCLA's top scoring threat beat the buzzer to send the game into overtime. At the end of overtime, Washington State University's top scoring threat couldn't match the feat. With that, the Cougars had lost their second overtime decision of the season to the Bruins, this one by a 58-56 score on Friel Court before 5,168 fans distraught by another near miss at home.

PULLMAN – Arkelon Hall was one of the first to consider and one of the first to commit to Washington State. So it came as no surprise that he became one of the first to deliver a letter of intent to Washington State. At 7:01 a.m. Wednesday, he faxed his official commitment to WSU, making him the second member of the newest Cougar recruiting class, a group of 20 that head coach Bill Doba and recruiting coordinator Robin Pflugrad announced Wednesday afternoon.

PULLMAN – After discussing 20 new recruits he had just signed to play for Washington State University in the years to come, head coach Bill Doba also addressed a position that should have a much greater effect in 2005 – his starting quarterback. Despite the fact that foot surgery from last October appears likely to keep him out of some spring drills and scrimmages, Josh Swogger was named by Doba as the guy to beat under center.

There are plenty of jokes out there about how difficult it is to get to Pullman, but their meaning pales in comparison when you consider the journey taken by Washington State University assistant basketball coach Ben Johnson. A friend since middle school – and high school on-court rival – of WSU associate head coach Tony Bennett, the two played together at Wisconsin-Green Bay under Dick Bennett. But more recently, Johnson was living for a second time in Australia as a player-coach. His trip to WSU, along with the one made by his wife Nicky, an Aussie native, makes the drive down Hwy. 195 look easy.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Frustrated by his team's overconfident attitude after beating Washington to take first place in the Pac-10 on Thursday, Arizona coach Lute Olson noted, "This game is a game of habits." For Washington State's basketball team, the habit was losing. Forty-eight straight to ranked opponents. Thirty-eight straight to Arizona. Twenty-six straight on the road against ranked opponents. Twenty straight at Arizona.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Coming into the year it was fairly obvious that the current stretch of three consecutive road games – at Washington, at Arizona State and at Arizona – would be the most difficult portion of the schedule for Washington State University. Reality is meshing with perception quite nicely. The Cougars got blown out by UW in Seattle, and Thursday night lost by six to a beatable ASU Sun Devils team. That leaves only first-place Arizona, which is coming off of a 91-82 win over the same Huskies team that pounded WSU six days ago.

SEATTLE – Falling behind to a quicker, more athletic Washington team at any point was tantamount to a loss for Cougars, and they knew it well before taking the floor with the No. 10 team in the nation. Washington State managed to make their normal slow-down, scratch-it-out strategy work for a while, too. A very short while. WSU took a 5-4 lead four minutes and 38 seconds in, momentarily frustrating a talented Husky roster. Then came a 14-0 Washington run, and there went any chance of an upset before a sellout crowd of 10,000 at Edmundson Pavilion.

On the very first day of basketball practice in October, Washington State had two of its freshmen squaring off against two of its seniors in competitive shooting drills. The message was clear enough — anyone could get playing time and no role was safe. Still, WSU's senior class of five had good reason to think that the 2004-05 season would be theirs for the taking. Three of them had started at least 21 games the year before. A fourth had become a key starter after sitting part of the season out because of transfer rules.

PULLMAN – Three years ago Timberline High School running back Jonathan Stewart said in an interview that he'd like to attend the University of Oregon. And on Friday night, Washington's all-time leading rusher made good on that wish, orally committing to be a Duck this fall. The decision, announced in an interview on a Seattle television station, came as an especially painful blow for Washington State, Stewart's second choice and the first school to begin recruiting him as a freshman more than three years ago.

Both Washington State University and the University of Oregon are still waiting anxiously to find out if they will be the college of choice for Jonathan Stewart of Lacey, Wash., considered by many to be the top high school senior running back in the nation. WSU running backs coach Kelly Skipper and offensive line coach George Yarno had an in-home visit with Stewart on Thursday, but according to a source close to the situation, the Timberline High School star did not indicate what his choice would be.

PULLMAN – Pacific-10 Conference coaches have reacted with empathy and concern after Oregon State University head coach Jay John had to be taken to the hospital on a stretcher during his team's 40-point loss at the University of Washington on Saturday. John suffered from chest pains and shortness of breath during the game, and was kept at the UW Medical Center overnight. He is away from the team this week and will not coach on Thursday under doctor's orders. OSU assistant coach Kevin Mouton, who is taking over while John is at home, said the head coach is working on making some lifestyle changes after the high-blood pressure episode.

PULLMAN – Washington State is still uncertain about the status of three key players for spring football practice in April. Quarterback Josh Swogger, middle linebacker Will Derting and wide receiver Chris Jordan are all recovering from injuries suffered during the 2004 season and could be held out of spring drills to help them recuperate before the 2005 season kicks off.