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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Grip on Sports: The college basketball season can’t start fast enough for some but is too early for others

Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo meet a midcourt after the Spartans’ 75-71 win in 2011 in Spokane. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

A GRIP ON SPORTS • College basketball games are right around the corner. Seems awful early, doesn’t it? Not anymore it doesn’t. Read on.

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• Twenty years ago, Gonzaga basketball began a season that would change the trajectory of the program. It would finish in a classic matchup with Connecticut, one win from a Final Four berth.

But it all began in mid-November with a game versus the Jayhawks in Kansas.

By mid-November this season, the Zags will have played a “secret” scrimmage with Michigan State, an exhibition game with Central Washington and two regular season home games – against Idaho State and Texas Southern.

All that after weeks of practice, including a summer filled with either individual workouts, small group sessions or competitions overseas.

It’s almost a year-long sport.

As are most college sports.

Not that such schedules are all that new. It’s just that the high-profile sports – football and basketball – seem to take up more and more of the year.

Back in the late 1970s, when my knees didn’t ache all the time, I played baseball all year-round. We started school at UC Irvine in late September or early October, and baseball practice started the second week. Games were occasionally during the week, with a doubleheader on Saturday. I counted one year. We played 95 games, including all the fall games. There wasn’t much in the way of rules and the warm-weather schools just played all the time.

The NCAA stepped in, limited the time on the field and college baseball has never been the same.

(By the way, if I could have played eight hours a day, seven days a week, I probably would have. It was that fun. And I am sure many players in many sports feel the same way today I did then. )

With basketball, however, the NCAA is allowing coaches more and more time with players. It’s a good thing. Yes, there are limits. But if you limit the time a player can work with his college staff too much, the motivated ones will find someone to help them with their game, someone who is outside the NCAA’s sphere of control. It was happening more and more when the season limits were stricter.

That opens a plastic bag of worms no one wants opened, so the NCAA allowed college staffs more time with the players. It was one of the few good ideas the organization has instituted lately.

But the game schedule creeping into October isn’t needed. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen someday soon, though. It seems inevitable. Just like GU making the NCAA Tournament come March.

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WSU: The story of this Pac-12 season has been colored by the dominance of the North. But the South earned a couple key wins last weekend. And the division’s teams moved up in Theo Lawson’s power rankings this week. … Theo spoke with Larry Weir yesterday for the latest Press Box pod.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the bowl picture among the conference’s best becomes clearer each week. … The title picture should become a bit clearer after this Saturday. The biggest game is in Eugene, where Oregon hosts rival Washington. The Huskies’ defense will be in the crosshairs, as the Ducks’ offense tries to keep up with the UW stars. … Colorado’s defense will be tested by J.T. Daniels and a well-rested USC offense. … Utah will attempt to keep its momentum going against Arizona and Khalil Tate. … The UCLA defensive line hopes to have its way with California. … Injuries are always a part of football. Arizona State is dealing with a crucial one. … With the basketball media day coming up, there are ballots being sent in. We pass along any we find. One of the favorites, UCLA, has lost another freshman for the season. … Finally, if this court decision stands up, it may change the nature of the NCAA.

Gonzaga: Ya, it’s a secret. Big one. GU and Michigan State will meet in a scrimmage later this month in Minneapolis. The secret part is no one will be their to document it. Jim Meehan has more in this story.

EWU: You want to be successful at any level of football? You better have a strong backup quarterback. The Eagles do, and he’ll be called on this week once again. Ryan Collingwood has the story of Eric Barriere. … Around the Big Sky, will Northern Colorado win a game? … Montana and North Dakota have a history. … Montana State’s offense isn’t built to attack Idaho’s defensive weakness. … Idaho State’s offense is, and that’s one of the reasons the Bengals are doing so well this season.

Preps: It was a busy Tuesday night in the area and we have roundups from soccer, slowpitch and volleyball to pass along.

Boxing: Chauncy Welliver is returning to the ring. Dan Thompson shares why and what’s ahead for the local boxer.

Chiefs: In other WHL news, an Everett player is hit with a five-game suspension.

Seahawks: The biggest news this week? The Hawks get to try to tackle Marshawn Lynch. They tackled what he meant to them yesterday and the consensus was clear: The Seahawk players miss him. … Doug Baldwin isn’t hurt. … But others are. … Rashaad Penny isn’t, but he is frustrated.

Sounders: The Seattle fans are as passionate about their team as any group in the MLS. It’s not hard to understand. … As the regular season winds down, a player or two may have to step up to help the Sounders succeed.

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• There is a good chance there will not be a Grip on Sports column tomorrow. Not because I don’t want to do one, but due to a hurricane that may or may not disrupt my travel plans. Its impact on what I am planning for tomorrow is still unclear. If there is one, it will be available here, of course. If there isn’t one, I’ll send out the Bat Signal on Twitter. Until later …