Depleted Cougars Hope Eight Is Enough Injuries, Illnesses Whittle WSU Roster As Southern Cal, Ucla Games Loom Southern Cal Vs. WSU

The Washington State University men’s basketball players - the ones left standing, that is - have dubbed themselves the Elite Eight.

Perhaps Able-Bodied Eight would be a more appropriate title. Injuries, sickness and a late arrival have cut the Cougars down to eight players.

Three players - Mike Bush, Mike Malloy and J. Locklier - are sick. Two others - Bryan Whitehead and Tyrone Evans - have knee injuries. And Marcus Moore, a freshman late qualifier, has not yet made it to Pullman.

“Gary Stewart, Randall Dickey and Chris Croft (the assistant coaches) have all been practicing this week,” said WSU coach Paul Graham.

The problem is that those three are ineligible to play for the Cougars (5-4) against USC (7-5) tonight in the Spokane Arena. Another problem is that Graham is not sure when his injured players will return.

Evans strained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee against Colorado State. Graham initially thought Evans might require surgery, which could have sidelined him for the year.

Wednesday, the junior had an MRI, which indicated a second-degree sprain. Evans is extremely doubtful for tonight’s game, but he feels he could be ready as early as Saturday against UCLA.

Whitehead, a freshman, injured his right knee in practice and he is doubtful for both the USC and UCLA games.

“We are a little thin up front anyway,” said Graham. “Even though we have (post player) Eddie Miller now, we still need all our horses.”

Whitehead and Evans have been big inside for the Cougars. Whitehead has contributed solid minutes of the bench. Evans, a 6-foot-6 forward, has 22 points and 17 rebounds in his last two games.

“Both of them have been showing signs of playing well,” Graham said. “Tyrone played really well at Colorado State. We had 22 offensive rebounds against Colorado State and he was a big reason.”

Without the two interior players, the Cougars will have to rely on more minutes from freshman Milton Riley and possibly walk-on Paul Mencke. Bush, the Cougars’ leading rebounder, went through a limited practice on Wednesday. He is expected to play against USC, but will be limited because of his illness.

As for Moore, the Cougars are still waiting and wondering when he will show.

“He has been admitted to school,” said Graham. “It is just a matter of his mother getting him up here. Classes start Monday, so hopefully he will be here today, tomorrow or the next day.”

The 6-foot-5 guard from Dominguez High in Compton, Calif., apparently is having troubles finding a ride to Pullman. Washington State’s coaches are restricted by the NCAA from providing help.

But when he does arrive, Graham plans to throw him right into the fire.

Graham is still not sure if Moore will play.

Moore, who is considered an excellent passer, is one fourth of what recruiting expert Bob Gibbons called the second-best class in the Pac-10 and the No. 28 class in the nation.

Tommy Johnson from Crenshaw High in L.A., Jerry McNair from Fullerton College and Kendall Minor from Southern Idaho are the other three players in the Cougars’ 2000 recruiting class.