Fast Break
College basketball
UCLA picked 1st, Cougars last
As expected, UCLA has been picked to successfully defend its Pac-10 men’s championship in a poll of media members. Bruins coach Ben Howland isn’t sure that’s a good thing.
“I don’t put much stock into it,” Howland said Thursday at the conference’s annual media day. “I wish it meant we were going to finish first, that would be great.”
Twenty-one of 35 voters tabbed the Bruins to win the championship this season, and the Bruins collected 335 points to 280 for runner-up Arizona, which got 13 first-place votes.
Washington collected 236 points to finish third, followed by Oregon (one first-place vote, 193 points); California (177 points); Southern California (160 points); Stanford (127 points); Oregon State (75 points); Arizona State (69 points), and Washington State (54 points).
Coming Sunday
Take closer look at area teams
Who will step up for the Gonzaga men’s basketball team this season?
What lies ahead for new coaches Tony Bennett at WSU and George Pfeiffer at Idaho? How far can sophomore sensation Rodney Stuckey carry Eastern?
Starting Sunday with Gonzaga, we will preview the season for all four schools. Idaho will run Monday, Eastern on Tuesday and Washington State on Wednesday.
Baseball
Matsuzaka won’t wear M’s uniform
Major league teams wishing to sign Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka must submit their offers by Wednesday – and the Seattle Mariners won’t be bidding.
Matsuzaka was officially put up for auction Thursday by the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Pacific League. After the bidding has closed, the Lions will be told of the highest offer, without being informed of which team made it. The Lions have until Nov. 14 to accept.
If the offer is accepted, the big-league team that made the bid is notified and gets a 30-day window to reach a contract agreement with Matsuzaka, who is represented by agent Scott Boras.
The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets are thought to be interested in Matsuzaka.