OREGON AT WASHINGTON STATE
Following a lost weekend in Los Angeles, the Cougars (2-2 in the Pacific-10 Conference and 6-5 overall) return to Friel Court to take on the surprising Ducks (3-0 and 11-1). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
At a glance
Oregon brings a decided experience edge to the table. The 17th-ranked Ducks, who lead the Pac-10, start four seniors - including guard Orlando Williams, a longrange bomber, who ranks 5th in the league in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game. "Oregon is a very difficult team to play," WSU coach Kevin Eastman said. "They're experienced, they shoot the ball well, they shoot a lot of threes and they make a lot of threes." In addition, the Ducks go nine deep. Eastman hopes to counter with quickness on the perimeter. Sophomore point guard Donminic Ellison and backup forward Tavares Mack are back after serving a one-game suspension for breaking curfew. That should help Eastman keep his players more rested than they were in last Saturday's 91-78 loss at UCLA. Mark Hendrickson, who leads the Pac-10 in field-goal percentage (64.2) and ranks second in rebounding (10.1), is playing the best basketball of his career and will need another big showing on the front line against an Oregon team that ranks No. 2 in the league in rebounding. School is back in session at WSU, which should help pump up attendance figures and the crowd noise. The Cougars have won eight straight at home, including five this season.