Saturday links from LA

COUGARS

FROM LOS ANGELES — It’s another Pac-12 Saturday, and Washington State will spend it in the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion. We have more on that and some other links for you after the jump. Read on.

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We have an advance of tonight’s game (7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks) in today’s newspaper, focusing on WSU’s desire to put Thursday’s close-as-usual loss to USC behind them. … There is also some sad news to pass along, as former Cougars coach Jim Sweeney — who coached WSU athletic director Bill Moos, among many others — has died at the age of 83. … Howie Stalwick has this feature on D.J. Shelton in the Kitsap Sun. … Here’s a story about last night’s WSU football event in the Tri Cities. … This advance of today’s game focuses on the constant criticism thrown Ben Howland’s way, a good portion of it coming from a particularly notable former Bruins player.

Around the Pac-12 … Arizona State tries to complete a home sweep of the Bay Area schools tonight when it hosts Stanford (4 p.m., ESPNU). The Sun Devils’ backup big man is an ultimate team player. … The other game tonight features struggling Oregon and even-more-struggling Utah (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). The Utes use their practices to try to find a winning formula . … Arizona’s coach is good at keeping things in perspective . … Washington hopes to heal along with its leading scorer. … Colorado is relying on its defense until its offense finally returns. … A football note: USC reportedly fired its offensive coordinator.

Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com . Twitter: @ChristianCaple