Greg Woods

PULLMAN – Spring football isn’t far off at Washington State.

PULLMAN – Emmanuel Ugbo has played his final minutes of the season for Washington State.

PULLMAN – Ace Glass had to do his best gymnastics impression to score his first basket on Wednesday night. It came early in the second half, when Washington State was looking to build its lead on visiting Pacific, and the Cougars were exiting a timeout.

A Whitman County judge has issued a full protection order for a woman against Washington State basketball player Emmanuel Ugbo, who has been suspended for the past four games over what coach David Riley has called a violation of team rules.

PULLMAN – A woman has accused Washington State University basketball player Emmanuel Ugbo of stalking and harassing her after she ended their relationship.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s first schedule in the rebuilt Pac-12 is here, and the Cougars’ lineup looks like none other in program history.

The trouble started early, remarkably early, too early to even exude a veneer of a competitive game. First, less than a minute into Tuesday’s game, Washington State forward Eemeli Yalaho lost the ball. Then, Yalaho threw away another turnover. The Cougars committed yet another turnover, once more of the unforced variety, when fellow forward ND Okafor was called for an obvious traveling violation.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In a buzzing auditorium in Alabama, nobody really knew who Cooper Kupp was. It was the 2017 Senior Bowl, back when Kupp was a largely anonymous wide receiver out of Eastern Washington, and when they shook his hand, members of the Mobile community had to guess what position he played.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The man who plunged the dagger in the New England Patriots, putting the finishing touches on the Seattle Seahawks’ ascent to football’s highest peak with a victory in Sunday’s Super Bowl 60, once toiled on the freshman football team.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Long before he turned his life over to football, Efton Chism III could really swing it. Playing baseball growing up, he found a niche in the outfield in the Monroe area, using his speed to patrol the green and his bat speed to rack up hits at the plate.

SAN FRANCISCO – Luther Elliss must have thought his phone was going to burst into flames. Moments after his son delivered one of the signature hits of the NFL season, laying out New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart with a vicious tackle along the sideline, he got texts from all kinds of people: friends, family, reporters, all of whom wanted his thoughts.

SAN FRANCISCO – The place where Kyle Williams’ dreams first began to blossom is no bigger than a city block. It’s called Rowley Park, a relatively small outfit in the north end of Gardena, one of the Los Angeles suburbs where Williams grew up.

Another signing day has arrived at Washington State, where they seem to be piling up by the bushel.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Even with the gear Kyle Williams is rocking on opening night at Super Bowl 60, a chance for both his New England Patriots and opposing Seattle Seahawks to meet with fans and reporters in a sprawling ballroom in the heart of San Jose, it’s clear he’s thrilled. The rookie wide receiver is wearing a thick pair of white Oakley shades and a ballcap over a do-rag, but when he’s greeted by a pair of reporters from Washington state, where Williams authored a sparkling two-year career, he knows exactly what to do.

PULLMAN – About a month ago, in a circular arena just off Portland’s Willamette River, David Riley had to coach his you-know-what off. His Washington State team was down eight to Portland, and the more the Cougars scuffled on offense, the more their head coach looked like he was searching for answers his team didn’t have.

PULLMAN – ND Okafor does not exactly have the prettiest form on his jump shot. He doesn’t really need to, not as Washington State’s starting center, not when he’s making mincemeat of defenders around the basket and showing off an improved sense of touch from short range.

PULLMAN – Ace Glass keeps piling up the awards.

PULLMAN – A pall of nervous energy hung in the Beasley Coliseum air like a thick fog. It wasn’t just that Washington State was in a tight game, and it wasn’t even that this was against Pepperdine, one of the conference’s worst teams. It was also that on this Saturday afternoon, the Cougars were looking to end a four-game skid, the type that threatened to crater their season in coach David Riley’s second year.

PULLMAN – As the second half of Washington State’s latest contest unfolded, a road test against San Diego on Wednesday night, the Cougars began to score with ease.

PULLMAN – In September, when the gates open and the concession stands whir into action and the lights flip on at Gesa Field, Washington State fans won’t just be experiencing the beginning of the Kirby Moore era.

PULLMAN – Washington State is picking up an offensive lineman from its biggest rival.

PULLMAN – Normally, David Riley likes to let his guys play, and let his players attack a defense that hasn’t gotten a chance to get set.

PULLMAN – Some final reinforcements from the transfer portal are headed Washington State’s way.

PULLMAN – Braden Huff positioned himself at the far end of the playing surface at Beasley Coliseum. As Gonzaga players filed off the floor Thursday night, each passed right by Huff, who offered high fives, congratulatory handshakes and hugs before embarking on a slow trek via crutches to the visitor’s locker room.