College basketball is back – thank goodness

• The answer to that last question is, of course, Eastern Washington coach Jim Hayford, who is, like everyone else at EWU, always looking for ways to attract interest for his program. Starting a game at 8 in the morning is certainly one way to do that, if not the most well-received by people like me. Well not me, exactly, as I am always up at this time. But we’re an anomaly among media circles – quit snickering – though I’m sure you don’t really care. If you are a college basketball fan, you’re just happy to have games to watch again, no matter what time are where they are. It’s been a long time since Connecticut hoisted the NCAA title trophy, a long six months plus without the best sport in the world (opinions expressed here are my own, but better be shared by the readership or they should head somewhere else). So it doesn’t matter if this game starts at 8 or if Texas Southern (new nickname: Sacrificial Lambs, but more on that in a moment) is the opponent or if Mike Davis, the former Indiana and UAB coach, is on the visiting bench. Or if the only students are ones without morning classes, though Fridays are the lightest day of the school week at our fine institutes of higher learning, so there’s that. This is college basketball and that’s enough.

• Eastern expects a lot out of this team this season, what with a starting lineup populated by mostly upperclassmen, including captain Parker Kelly from Gonzaga Prep. But it’s Tyler Harvey (pictured above), a returning first-team All Big Sky member last season who will make them go. The lefthander averaged 21.8 points last season, making 43.3 percent of his 252 3-point attempts. If the Eagles are going to make the Big Sky tournament - they were picked to finish as high as second in some preseason polls – it is Harvey who will have to supply much of the offensive punch.

• Texas Southern is a member of the SWAC, the conference of Grambling and Prairie View, a historic conference in football for what the schools meant to the African-American community. Basketball, on the other hand, hasn’t been the conference’s strong suit, with many of the schools playing a road schedule that rivals Moses’ back in the day. The Tigers play today in Cheney. They play Monday night at Indiana. But that’s only the beginning. By January 17, they will have returned to the Inland Northwest (to face Gonzaga Dec. 15), will have played in every time zone, will have played 16 games and have played in their own arena exactly once. Yes, one home game between now and Jan. 17. That’s more than two months away. I’ve heard the term “money games,” but I’ve never heard of “luggage games.” Talk about road warriors.

• UPDATE: After a sloppy and hard-to-watch first half, Eastern used a second-half-opening 27-6 run to kick start a 86-62 win over Texas Southern. There were 1,623 at Reese Court to see it. For the record, college basketball in the Inland Northwest began with a 1-0 home record.

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• WSU: The bye week continues, as does Thursday night football in Pullman. Jacob Thorpe uses this week’s version to highlight the scrimmages in this feature . He also has a practice report and a morning post with links. … The Ernie Kent era begins tonight, though on the road. The Cougars will be in El Paso to face Tim Floyd’s UTEP team. Jacob has an advance of that opener as well.

• Gonzaga: The Zags begin the 2014-15 season tonight as well, hosting Big Sky member Sacramento State at the Kennel. Jim Meehan has an advance of the contest. … The women begin the season this weekend too, so Tom Clouse has an advance of the games in the area.

• EWU: Jim Allen doesn’t have an advance of this game in the newspaper – why would he as many people won’t be awake when it started – but there is a short basketball story as the Eagles announced their fall recruiting class.

• Idaho: John Blanchette is out here in Cheney for the game but he also has a column today in the S-R on center Mike Marboe, who has started one heck of a lot of games for the Vandals. Though he would have liked to have played in a few more – and a few more wins.

• Chiefs: Spokane was off last night as was the rest of the WHL. Tri-City returns home tonight as does Everett .

• Seahawks: We’re getting tired of writing about injuries , so we won’t mention Marshawn Lynch missed practice yesterday – not unusual – because of a rib problem – now, that’s not usual. On the positive side, Kam Chancellor is glad to be back. … If the Hawks are going to show their championship mettle , then Russell Wilson will have to return to form . … Wilson is ready if the field is frozen in Kansas City…. Brandon Mebane may not be playing but he has things to do .

• Mariners: Some final thoughts on the American League Cy Young Award. I promise.

• Sounders: Did you know the Sounders are seven-years-old ? They are. … They have a big match coming up – if you didn’t know – and hope to have Ozzie Alonso available.

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• Now we’re done and can watch basketball. We’ll be back on the radio with Dennis Patchin and Rick Lukens today between 3 and 6 p.m. You can listen here . … By the way, if you are an old Sonic fan, you might be interested in this story . Until later …