preseason
Wazzu keeps preseason in one place: 3 stories so far. The section currently leads with “Another Cougar on a national watchlist, Alex Covill makes the cut”, “Two D-Linemen Land Ronnie Harrison and Ladji Dembele on Pac-12 Impact List”, and “Kamie Ethridge steps to the mic with a roster ready to run”. Alex Covill is on another national watchlist, and at this point, it's starting to feel like a habit we don't mind getting used to. Ronnie Harrison and Ladji Dembele just made the Pac-12 impact list, and if you're a Coug who pays attention to the guys in the trenches, you already know why. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every preseason story on Wazzu, newest first.
Another Cougar on a national watchlist, Alex Covill makes the cut
Alex Covill is on another national watchlist, and at this point, it's starting to feel like a habit we don't mind getting used to. The Cougar women's basketball guard has made the cut, and while we don't have the full list of names in front of us, seeing a Coug's name on a national radar is always worth a second look. Covill has been building a reputation, and the recognition is catching up to the work. This isn't her first nod of the preseason. We wrote earlier about her and Villa landing on the Pac-12 impact list, and that kind of company says something about the direction Kamie Ethridge's roster is heading. The program is coming off a tough year, but the talent is stacking up. Covill is a big part of why the Cougs might bury that 9-25 season sooner than people expect. We don't stretch stories here, but we do notice patterns. A player who shows up on multiple lists, with national eyes starting to look, is a player worth watching. Covill isn't just filling a spot on the floor. She's earning her name in the conversation. Go Cougs.
Two D-Linemen Land Ronnie Harrison and Ladji Dembele on Pac-12 Impact List
Ronnie Harrison and Ladji Dembele just made the Pac-12 impact list, and if you're a Coug who pays attention to the guys in the trenches, you already know why. Two defensive linemen getting that kind of conference-wide nod isn't just a pat on the back. It means opposing offensive coordinators are losing sleep over Pullman again. Harrison brings the kind of size and power that makes running backs hesitate. Dembele plays with a motor that doesn't quit. Together, they give this defense a real shot at wrecking backfields, not just filling gaps. The Pac-12 impact list doesn't hand out spots for participation. These two earned it. If you missed it, our earlier piece on the Cougar duo Covill and Villa landing on the same preseason list shows this isn't a one-off. The staff is building something across multiple position groups. That's the kind of depth that turns close games into wins. Kamie Ethridge is also getting her roster ready to run, which you can read about elsewhere on the site. But today, the story is about two big dudes who are about to make life hard for everyone not wearing crimson. Go Cougs.
Kamie Ethridge steps to the mic with a roster ready to run
Kamie Ethridge stepped to the mic, and for the first time in a while, the roster behind her looked ready to run. Not just run the floor, run *through* someone. The Cougs have spent the fall taking hits and getting back up, which is its own kind of conditioning. But Ethridge's team looks different now. Faster. Meaner in the right ways. You can hear it in her voice. She knows what she's got. This isn't the same program that spent last season searching for an identity. The pieces fit now. The bench has depth. The freshmen aren't deer in headlights. And the returners? They've got that look, the one that says they've been waiting for their turn to be the story. If you've been following along with guys like Matyus McLain and Trey Leckner, featured in our recent pieces on why some Cougs keep smiling through a 1-7 season, you know the culture is already there. Ethridge just needs to add the Ws. This roster looks like it can do that. Pullman winters are long. But this team might make February interesting. Go Cougs.