West Coast Conference
3 stories filed under West Coast Conference on Wazzu. The newest of them: “Utah State sold out a Gonzaga game before the Pac-12 even released a schedule”, “Cougs and Redhawks to clash at Climate Pledge in December doubleheader”, and “WSU and Gonzaga close league play with a Wednesday night showdown”. Ten thousand people bought tickets to see Gonzaga play Utah State before anyone knew what day the game was on. David Riley is doing something smart: getting the Cougs back in front of the Seattle crowd. The unofficial read for people who left Pullman and stayed Cougs. The list below is every West Coast Conference story on Wazzu, newest first.
Utah State sold out a Gonzaga game before the Pac-12 even released a schedule
Ten thousand people bought tickets to see Gonzaga play Utah State before anyone knew what day the game was on. That's not a typo. Utah State's ticket office opened the doors, fans showed up, and the Spectrum sold out two full weeks before the Pac-12 even bothered to release its schedule. That tells you everything about what this new conference is walking into. The reimagined Pac-12 isn't the SEC. It's not the Big Ten. But it's also not lacking for programs that know how to pack a building and compete in March. Gonzaga and San Diego State have combined for three national championship appearances in nine years. Utah State has punched six NCAA tickets in eight seasons. Boise State and Colorado State have made their own runs. This isn't a collection of schools hoping to be good. They've already been good. The Cougs are in there too, sitting at No. 8 in the preseason rankings, and if you want to know how David Riley is handling another roster rebuild, his third in three years, go read "David Riley finally lets Cougs hit each other in practice." It's the kind of Pullman story that explains why we keep showing up. This new league might only send three teams to the tournament in a normal year. But with an expanded 76-team bracket, there's room for one or two more. And out West, we've got plenty of dates to circle beyond Jan. 21 in Logan. Go Cougs.
Cougs and Redhawks to clash at Climate Pledge in December doubleheader
David Riley is doing something smart: getting the Cougs back in front of the Seattle crowd. On Dec. 19, Wazzu meets Seattle U at Climate Pledge Arena as part of a doubleheader that also features UW and Baylor. That's a good night of hoops in a building that deserves it. This is the third meeting in two seasons between the Cougs and Redhawks. They split last year, Seattle U won 69-55 at home, WSU answered 70-58 in Pullman. Those games had some juice. Riley and Seattle U coach Chris Victor worked together at Eastern Washington, and last season they even ran the same first play. Riley called it funny. He's right. That kind of history makes a mid-December game feel like more than a tune-up. Riley's roster is almost entirely new, 13 newcomers, including transfers from TCU, Wake Forest, UNLV, and Oregon. That's a lot of new faces to gel before conference play. A game like this, in front of Coug fans west of the mountains, is a chance to build something. For more on the schedule and what's ahead, check out our coverage of WSU and Gonzaga closing league play. That one's a Wednesday night showdown worth circling. Go Cougs.
WSU and Gonzaga close league play with a Wednesday night showdown
The Cougs and the Zags will close out the new Pac-12 women's basketball regular season against each other on March 6, and it will be in Spokane at McCarthey Athletic Center. That's a Wednesday night showdown with some history behind it. The full conference schedule dropped Friday, and it's a clean 16-game slate for the eight-team league. Every team plays everyone home and away. Washington State opens league play at home against Texas State on Jan. 9. Gonzaga starts earlier, hosting Oregon State on Jan. 6. Times and TV are still TBD, which is the standard dance this time of year. The head-to-head numbers are what they are. Gonzaga leads the all-time series 14-7, and they swept all four meetings when these two shared the West Coast Conference the last two seasons. That stings. But this is a new league and a new chapter. The Cougs get one more shot at the Zags to close things out, and there's something fitting about that. For more on what's happening around the program, check out the update on Trey Leckner healing up fast and maybe finally seeing the field. Tight end room could use the help. Go Cougs.