Making The Grade Cougars Post Record Numbers In The Classroom And Wins On The Court

The Washington State men’s basketball team posted an aggregate grade-point average of 3.17 last semester, by far its highest on record, the university confirmed Wednesday.

The 3.17 GPA breaks the previous modern WSU men’s basketball record of 2.62, set in the spring of 1991, a university spokesman said. WSU has team GPA records for the last 15 seasons, he added.

Eight of 12 players posted GPAs of 3.0 or higher during the recently completed semester, third-year coach Kevin Eastman said, and two others were at 2.9 and 2.76.

“We had a good semester … nobody below a 2.0,” Eastman said. “So we really shored up and improved on the bottom end of things.”

In other words, the average may have been helped by the off-season departure of guards Donminic Ellison and Chris Scott, both considered academic liabilities.

“One of the things I talked about from the day I arrived here is that we want to make sure that the total program is there,” Eastman said.

“And I think we’ve cleaned up or eliminated some of the stuff, and I think it shows for sure in this semester academically.

“And we’re winning basketball games as we’re doing it.”

The Cougars, who improved to 10-5 by sweeping the Oregon schools last week, return to Friel Court for Saturday’s noon tipoff against University of Washington. WSU students and faculty with valid school identification will be admitted free, the university announced.

Like father, like son - but don’t like both

Arizona point guard Mike Bibby, whose mother did not play in the NBA but did manage to raise him, isn’t looking forward to tonight’s game against USC and father Henry Bibby, who played in the NBA but apparently didn’t shoot hoops in the driveway.

Mike Bibby resents the inevitable references to his famous father, claiming it’s a slight to his mother and only true parent, Virginia Bibby. Mike and Virginia claim Henry never had much time for fatherhood.

“That kind of upsets me - they have to say Henry Bibby,” Mike Bibby told the Arizona Daily Star, after Wildcats coach Lute Olson made his standout freshman off-limits to out-of-town media. “They just need to say Mike Bibby. But every time after my name … there’s his name.”

Henry Bibby, in his first full season as USC coach, downplays the rift. During a mandatory Pac-10 coaches conference call last week, Bibby acted as if he and Mike were regular pals.

“We both have feelings,” Henry said. “Mike wants me to do well, and vice versa.”

Huh?

“It’s not as he says,” Virginia Bibby told the Star. “It’s just not the way as Henry says it.”

Henry Bibby left home when Mike was a child and has been separated from Virginia more than 10 years. Their divorce is expected to be final soon.

Henry has paid child support, allowing Virginia to accompany Mike to various all-star games over the years, but Henry attended only one of Mike’s high school games. In fact, he did not know his son was a top-flight player until two years ago.

It all makes tonight’s forced reunion tense - especially for Virginia, who will be among the spectators in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

“I wish it would never have gotten to this point,” she said. “I really wish this game would not happen. I think Henry put this kid in this situation by going to a Pac-10 school.

“He created this situation. I pray for my kid…. Why put the kid in that situation?”

EWU’s Lewis hurting

Eastern Washington’s Michael Lewis, who has missed the Eagles’ last three games with a severe ankle sprain, remains unable to practice and is doubtful for tonight’s 7:05 matchup with Montana State in Reese Court, according to coach Steve Aggers.

“I doubt very much that he’ll even be ready for Saturday night (against Montana),” Aggers said of the 6-foot-6 junior guard, who was averaging 8.2 points per game.

Rogers mourns father

Gonzaga center Paul Rogers, who is taking a medical redshirt season after fracturing his right root in early December, did not attend last weekend’s home sweep of Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s because of the death of his father.

Rogers, a 7-foot senior, returned home to Adelaide, Australia, to attend the funeral. He is expected to be back on the GU bench for Saturday night’s game at USF.

The Bulldogs open their first West Coast Conference road trip tonight, against San Diego.

Around the conferences

Coach Kermit Davis believes Idaho is taking on the Big West’s best team tonight, although the Pacific Tigers probably will be without 7-foot junior center Michael Olowokandi, who sprained a knee ligament last week. Projected as a NBA draft pick, Olowokandi averages 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. Unfortunately for UI, Pacific will simply slide 6-9 Vic Trierweiler from power forward to center and insert 6-10 Rayne Mahaffey as the four-man… . With five players suspended for the season because of two separate shoplifting incidents, Idaho State will suit up just eight scholarship players and one walk-on… . Big Sky favorite Montana, off to a 1-3 league start, has lost 6-10 senior center Brent Smith for the season with a broken foot… . USC forward Jaha Wilson, removed from the starting lineup despite leading the team in rebounding, is unhappy with the way he’s being used. After hardly playing last week against Cal, Wilson walked out of a team meeting and was suspended for one game… . Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News had voted Oregon fourth in the AP poll, until the Ducks were swept by WSU and Washington. Wrote Jerardi: “Nice way to treat those who discover you.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Area leaders Scoring Player, school FG-FGA FT-FTA 3pt. Avg. Isaac Fontaine, WSU 92-214 78-103 33 20.6 Ben Heimerman, Whit 76-110 63-82 1 18.0 Jason Jackman, UI 98-173 74-88 0 18.0 Lorenzo Rollins, GU 86-185 41-53 25 17.0 Jeff Mix, Whit 72-113 30-43 1 14.6 Nate Williams, Whit 46-78 18-21 19 14.3 Carlos Daniel, WSU 77-152 53-78 0 13.8 Matt Santangelo, GU 62-146 25-37 20 12.1 Gabe Jones, Whit 48-119 20-28 21 11.4 Karim Scott, EWU 66-118 24-44 0 11.1

Rebounding Heimerman, Whitworth, 10.2 (122); Daniel, WSU, 8.8 (132); Mix, Whitworth, 7.9 (95); Bakari Hendrix, GU, 5.4 (75); Jackman, UI, 5.5 (83).

Assists Sean Weston, Whitworth, 5.2 (62); Santangelo, GU, 4.1 (58); Rollins, GU, 3.4 (48); Williams, Whitworth 3.3 (30); Travis King, EWU, 3.1 (44).

Steals Rollins, GU, 1.8 (25); Weston, Whitworth 1.7 (20); Fontaine, WSU, 1.7 (26); Scott, EWU, 1.6 (23); Jones, Whitworth, 1.5 (18); Tyler Jordan, Whitworth, 1.5 (18).

Schedule Tonight: Gonzaga at San Diego, 7 p.m.; Idaho at Pacific, 7; Montana State at EWU, 7:05; Friday: Whitworth at Pacific Lutheran, 8 p.m. Saturday: Washington at WSU, noon; Gonzaga at San Francisco, 7 p.m.; Montana at EWU, 7:05; Boise St. at Idaho, 7:05; Whitworth at UPS, 8.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Pac-10 basketball notebook