Cougs earn second chance

LOS ANGELES – The Washington State Cougars were picked to finish second in the Pac-10 on Thursday by the media members who cover the conference.

The Cougars, 26-8 and an NCAA tournament team a year ago when they were picked 10th in the same poll, received one first-place vote and 273 points. The second-place finish is the highest for the Cougars since the poll began in 1992-93.

“The only way I know to deal with that stuff is to acknowledge it, say, ‘OK, yep, there are some expectations,’ ” said WSU head coach Tony Bennett, “and then let’s get lost in the process. If we do our job, there is a chance for something like that, or better, but that’s all a byproduct of doing our job.”

Bennett sees one possible pitfall.

“Because it’s uncharted waters, maybe the biggest thing could be if it would get into the head of the players, the staff, and they think they have to be perfect. If we have a bump in the road … it could affect us like, ‘Well, we’re not living up to what everybody thinks we should.’

“But you have to look at it for what it is: It’s a preseason prediction which isn’t that significant – as was last year’s.”

Defending champion UCLA received the other 33 first-place votes and 339 points overall, one short of a unanimous selection.

Oregon, despite the loss of Aaron Brooks, was picked to finish third with Arizona fourth. Washington, which missed the postseason last year, was tabbed eighth while Oregon State was near unanimous choice for 10th.

Conference play doesn’t begin until Jan. 3.

Vince Grippi