A Grip on Sports: Even a snowstorm won’t keep folks away from today’s huge sporting events in Pullman, Spokane
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Please, Mr. Plow, do a great job on U.S. 195 today. There’s a big event in Pullman this afternoon that we don’t want to miss, but we also would like to be back in time to see Gonzaga and BYU match up in the Kennel. It’s a day-night doubleheader of the best college basketball has to offer.
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• The event in Pullman is less about the game – Washington State, fresh off an upset of eighth-ranked Oregon, hosts Oregon State – and more about the halftime ceremony. That’s when the Cougars will retire Klay Thompson’s number 1 and hang the banner in Beasley’s rafters.
Much has been written about Thompson, WSU and the basketball program – we link more in the Cougar section below – but more will be written today. Heck, some of the words will even come from yours truly, who was along for the ride the entire time Thompson was in Pullman.
We’ll try our best not to screw it up.
Along those lines, we’ll save our thoughts for the column that will appear online this afternoon and in the printed newspaper tomorrow morning. Don’t want to scoop ourselves, if you get my drift. But we will give a sneak peek of the type of thoughts we have of those days.
The Klay Thompson that first walked on campus in the fall of 2008 was a radically different person that left Pullman after the spring of his junior year in 2011. Like most college students, his personality changed a bit, as did his outlook on the world.
Washington State didn’t make Thompson who he is, but it certainly played a part.
And no one knows that better than he does.
• This evening, Gonzaga basketball’s personal bête noire, the BYU Cougars, invade the McCarthey Athletic Center. Who can forgot those senior days and nights the Cougars ruined in the past half-decade?
Nothing like that tonight, but there are the little matters of GU’s top national ranking and the West Coast Conference race on the line.
Both schools come in without a key piece, though BYU can expect Yoeli Childs back sometime in the near future. Hey, maybe even tonight in a Willis Reed-like appearance? Probably not, but it would add more spice to the rivalry.
The Zags won’t have Anton Watson anymore this season, as the freshman big will undergo shoulder season soon and begin preparing for the fall.
No matter who is on the court for these two programs, however, there is no love lost. Respect? Sure. But that’s accompanied by animosity. Maybe not to the level the Bulldogs have for Saint Mary’s, but it’s there.
Which makes the games here and in Provo can’t-miss events.
And brings us back to our original thoughts. It’s supposed to begin snowing this morning and not stop until the Zags and Cougars tip.
That means 195 will be a bit slower than usual. But, hopefully, the Plow King will be able to keep it clear and dry until we get back in front of our television set.
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WSU: As we said, there is more about Klay’s visit, including this Dan Thompson story that tells part of his history through the words of teammates and coaches. (That’s also the narrative of this piece from the San Jose Mercury News.) … Theo Lawson stays more in the moment, well, not really. He looks back at the basketball program’s most recent upsets of top 25 teams. It amazed me how many of them I was lucky enough to see. … The women lost at home to Arizona with Klay in attendance. … Gardner Minshew seems to enjoy life, doesn’t he? Justin Reed has a synopsis of Minshew’s recent road trip across the country, a trip chronicled on social media. … There is still more on new football coach Nick Rolovich to pass along. I have a desire to see this guy named defensive coordinator. Maybe it’s just because I’m old. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Washington is hoping to hand the Ducks their second consecutive loss. … Utah is struggling for a reason. … Colorado isn’t, but Arizona at home is a different animal to subdue. … USC is on a roll and pounded California last night. … In football news, Washington has lost a player to the transfer portal. Will the Huskies pick up a quarterback from the portal as well? … Oregon needs some help inside on the defensive line. … Johnathan Smith is going to be getting some raises. A couple of his former players will be in Missoula next season. … Another UCLA football player says goodbye. The Bruins have hired a new assistant coach. … USC may be losing its offensive coordinator, Graham Harrell. … Is Arizona State the conference’s best story?
Gonzaga: No WCC team, not even the hated Gaels, have ruined Gonzaga home games more recently than BYU. Which is all part of Jim Meehan’s preview of tonight’s contest. … With Childs out, Jim turns to a bounce-back transfer in highlighting the Cougars’ key player. … With a win tonight at USF, the women have a chance to move up a few spots in the Associated Press poll. Maybe even as high as they have ever been. Jim Allen has more in this preview. … Around the WCC, tonight is another chance for BYU to add a top-ranked upset to its resume.
Whitworth: It wasn’t easy, but the Pirates remained undefeated in Northwest Conference play with a 92-90 victory at George Fox. The road is always tough, no matter what level.
Preps: Rivalry week continued in GSL play, with Dave Nichols traveling to Mt. Spokane for the Pack the Palace games. The Wildcats won both contests. … Dave also put together roundups of the rest of the GSL girls and boys games. … We can pass along roundups from around the area as well, in boys and girls play.
Chiefs: Portland is dominating the U.S. standings and the Winterhawks displayed why last night in the Arena. Kevin Dudley was there and has this coverage of Portland’s 5-3 victory.
Seahawks: This is Russell Wilson’s prime. The Hawks need to make the most of it. … There is a chance Seattle could play outside the country this season.
Sounders: The “A” team will play in Seattle’s Champions League opener.
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• “Mr. Plow is a loser and we hear he is a boozer …” My favorite song ever from The Simpsons. Linda Ronstadt. Barney as the Plow King. What an episode. Until later …