WSU ready to get back at it

COUGARS

FROM PULLMAN — With the Pac-12’s modified basketball schedule this season, there’s even less time than before to simmer over a Saturday loss/celebrate an important win. For WSU this week, that’s a good thing. Read on.

…

Hard to believe that a little more than 24 hours after Ken Bone and WSU players address the media on Tuesday, the Cougars will be back on the court for a game against Utah on Wednesday night. They’ll be trying to snap a 3-game losing streak, their second such drought this season. And while Utah is considerably better than it was last year — the Utes are tough defensively and had chances to win three of their first four conference games, all of which resulted in losses — there probably isn’t another team in the Pac-12 the Cougars would rather see after a rough trip to the Bay Area. … Speaking of those losses, they’ve got some folks a little upset , as detailed by Howie Stalwick in this story quoting Bill Moos from his weekly call-in show. Moos’ stance, as is customary: wait and see how the season plays out. … The editorial board of the Walla Walla Union Bulletin weighs in on Mike Leach and the football program. … Utah is trying to simplify its offense as it prepares to face WSU.

Around the Pac-12 … The big news yesterday was the firing of USC coach Kevin O’Neill, who compiled a 48-65 record as the Trojans’ coach. (And does anyone else find it odd that athletic director Pat Haden wasn’t available for comment on the day he fired his basketball coach?) … Washington’s C.J. Wilcox, who was named Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday, is his team’s go-to guy . … Arizona’s rotation has been shaved to nine players . … UCLA’s coach is a man of many faces . … Oregon State is regaining two suspended players this week. … Oregon jumped into the AP top 25 after sweeping the Arizona schools. UCLA returned to the rankings, too, while Arizona dropped a bit. … It’s players-only-meeting time in Colorado.

That’s all for now.

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