Stories by Greg Woods for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU set to host NCAA Tournament selection show watch party on Sunday

UPDATED: Sat., March 16, 2024

LAS VEGAS – For the first time in more than a decade, Washington State is going dancing, and the Cougars are ready to celebrate.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU rewind: In semifinal loss to Colorado, Cougs’ shot-making issues give reason for pause

UPDATED: Sat., March 16, 2024

LAS VEGAS – On Friday night, early in Washington State’s 58-52 Pac-12 Tournament semifinal loss to Colorado, a sequence with important ramifications unfolded.

Sports > WSU basketball

In season-low scoring output, No. 22 WSU bows out of Pac-12 Tournament with semifinal loss to Colorado

UPDATED: Sat., March 16, 2024

LAS VEGAS – On the walk to T-Mobile Arena, the site of his Washington State team’s Pac-12 Tournament semifinal against Colorado Friday night, Kyle Smith realized something: He forgot his glasses. He had just wrapped up a short TV interview, previewing the Cougars’ last hurdle to their first tournament title game appearance , when he understood what it meant.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU coach Kyle Smith named Naismith Coach of the Year semifinalist, plus other notes

UPDATED: Fri., March 15, 2024

LAS VEGAS — Kyle Smith is one of the nation's best coaches.

Sports > WSU basketball

Washington State cruises into Pac-12 Tournament semis with 79-62 rout of Stanford

UPDATED: Thu., March 14, 2024

LAS VEGAS — For a brief moment in Washington State’s win over Stanford, a 79-62 blowout Thursday for a spot in Friday’s Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, Andrej Jakimovski disappeared like a ghost, vanishing into the locker room.

Sports > WSU basketball

As No. 22 WSU embarks on Pac-12 Tournament, Cougs are adjusting to ‘different type of pressure’

UPDATED: Wed., March 13, 2024

Kyle Smith tends to wander when he talks. Washington State’s head coach might start talking about one player, then veer into chatting about another, then swing right into waxing poetic about the weather.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU wing Andrej Jakimovski ‘on the mend’ from shoulder injury, coach Kyle Smith says

UPDATED: Tue., March 12, 2024

PULLMAN – Andrej Jakimovski, the Washington State senior wing responsible for much of his team’s run this season, is on the mend from the shoulder injury he’s played through the past three games.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU’s Kyle Smith named Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Myles Rice Freshman of the Year

UPDATED: Tue., March 12, 2024

PULLMAN – Kyle Smith can add a line to his resume.

Sports > WSU football

NFL free agency: Former WSU QB Gardner Minshew signs with Raiders; Frankie Luvu joins Commanders

UPDATED: Mon., March 11, 2024

PULLMAN – Former Washington State star quarterback Gardner Minshew is headed to Las Vegas.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU checks in at No. 22 in new AP Top 25, dropping four spots from previous poll

UPDATED: Mon., March 11, 2024

PULLMAN – Washington State is still a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but the program’s national ranking has taken a hit.

Sports > WSU basketball

As second-seeded WSU enters Pac-12 Tournament, how can Myles Rice get going again from deep?

UPDATED: Mon., March 11, 2024

PULLMAN – As much as Myles Rice is Washington State’s leader, steering the No. 18 Cougars in the right direction at nearly every turn, sometimes he remembers he needs to be pushed, too.

Sports > WSU basketball

Amid No. 18 WSU’s poor shooting in loss to UW, Andrej Jakimovski’s shoulder injury became obvious

UPDATED: Sat., March 9, 2024

PULLMAN – A few of the individual shooting performances that led to No. 18 Washington State’s latest loss, a 74-68 setback to Washington in Thursday’s regular-season finale, can likely be explained by funks. Uncharacteristic droughts. Off nights.

Sports > WSU basketball

Poor shooting dooms No. 18 WSU in 74-68 loss to UW, ending regular season on sour note

UPDATED: Thu., March 7, 2024

PULLMAN — Whenever No. 18 Washington State finds a way to flush this latest loss, a 74-68 home setback to rival Washington in Thursday’s regular-season finale, the first place the Cougars might go to practice is the free throw line.

Sports > WSU basketball

For No. 18 WSU, final Pac-12 matchup with UW means something extra — a chance to boost tournament stock

UPDATED: Wed., March 6, 2024

PULLMAN – Lost in Washington State’s win over rival Washington last month, a double-overtime affair packed to the gills with clutch shot-making, was the absence of one of the most important men on the Cougars’ bench.

Sports > WSU football

WSU football releases spring practice schedule, including spring game in late April

UPDATED: Tue., March 5, 2024

PULLMAN – Washington State football is right around the corner.

Sports > WSU basketball

Inside the relationship between Donald and Isaiah Watts, the WSU freshman bursting onto the scene

UPDATED: Wed., March 6, 2024

PULLMAN – Donald Watts strides through the doorway, ducking into a bustling Roost Cafe on Washington State basketball game day on Saturday morning, in many ways a changed man.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU coach Kyle Smith on potential contract extension: ‘Tabled till the end of this year’

UPDATED: Tue., March 5, 2024

PULLMAN – Kyle Smith is staying mum on a potential contract extension.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU climbs to No. 18 in new AP Top 25, rising one spot from previous poll

UPDATED: Mon., March 4, 2024

PULLMAN – Washington State just keeps ascending.

Sports > WSU basketball

In WSU’s win over UCLA, Andrej Jakimovski showed toughness and Cougs rolled out new lineup

UPDATED: Sun., March 3, 2024

PULLMAN – Andrej Jakimovski wasn’t exactly himself in his Washington State group’s win over UCLA on Saturday. That much was clear just by looking at him, at the wrap on his shoulder, at the cut on his bottom lip.

Sports > WSU basketball

No. 19 Washington State erases another double-digit deficit in 77-65 win over UCLA

UPDATED: Sun., March 3, 2024

PULLMAN – Myles Rice gave Kyle Smith a certain look. Washington State’s head coach had just taken his star guard out of the game, trying to steal a couple of minutes during Saturday’s home matchup with UCLA, knowing he probably couldn’t afford to do so later in the game.

Sports > WSU basketball

To beat UCLA, WSU wants more from Isaiah Watts, who scored a career-high against USC

UPDATED: Fri., March 1, 2024

PULLMAN – Around the time Washington State coach Kyle Smith was discussing his group’s latest win, a come-from-behind victory over USC Thursday night that helped the Cougars improve their NCAA Tournament stock, the coach of his team’s next opponent was busy wondering which of his players he’s interested in retaining.

Sports > WSU basketball

Isaiah Watts comes up clutch as No. 19 WSU erases double-digit deficit to clip USC 75-72

UPDATED: Fri., March 1, 2024

PULLMAN — The first hint Isaiah Watts picked up on was a grin from associate head coach Jim Shaw. Washington State was in the locker room, celebrating a 75-72 home win over USC Thursday night, and the freshman guard Watts noticed that Shaw, the team’s defensive guru, was in a good mood.

Sports > NCAA

WSU baseball heads into home-opener with momentum off winning road trip

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 29, 2024

PULLMAN – Nathan Choate could have sworn the ball went fair.

Sports > WSU football

Washington State finalizes 2024 football schedule, featuring six home games

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 29, 2024

PULLMAN – Washington State spent much of last fall trying to complete its 2024 football schedule, wading through the wreckage of the Pac-12 to find opponents and nail down dates.

Sports > WSU basketball

WSU hosts USC — and former Cougar forward DJ Rodman — for second clash of season

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 28, 2024

PULLMAN – Shortly before Washington State clashed with USC for the first time this season, an eight-point win early last month in Los Angeles, the Cougars made a decision on their defense.

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