Basketball Preview - Thursday October 31, 2019

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OCTOBER 31, 2019

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A SPECIAL THANKS The Spokesman-Review would like to extend its gratitude to Halloween Express for the use of costumes and props for our photo shoots.

DAN PELLE/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Jesse Tinsley, Trevor Donelan (in clown costume), Mary Beth Donelan and Craig Walter set up for the basketball preview section photo shoot on Oct. 10.

ORDER OF FRIGHTS 15 16 17 18 19 20

Washington State, EWU and Idaho women all open season with eyes on NCAA Tournament berths.

Washington has high expectations in second season under coach Mike Hopkins, but the Pac-12 is crowded.

With forward CJ Elleby back in Pullman, new coach Kyle Smith ready to bring “Nerdball” to WSU.

It’s Big Sky title or bust for Eastern Washington, while Idaho hopes a coaching shakeup pays off.

Ben College is back as reloaded Whitworth looks to make another run into the postseason.

Offense won’t be an issue for the CCS men, while North Idaho must replace two standouts.

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OCTOBER 31, 2019

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Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert drives into the paint against Pacific during the Bulldogs’ 67-36 victory in January at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

TIME ON BULLDOGS’ SIDE GONZAGA MEN

Plenty of fresh faces; upperclassmen lacking

By Jim Meehan THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Stop us if you’ve read this before, like, one year ago practically to the day: Gonzaga’s outlook is bright, even with Killian Tillie battling an injury leading into the season.

Nothing’s changed this fall. Well, the faces have changed quite a bit, with just four returning scholarship players surrounded by the addition of two graduate transfers and six freshmen.

And Tillie’s circumstances seem far more positive, with the senior forward expected to return fairly soon compared to missing the first two months of the regular season a year ago.

What rarely changes around Gonzaga is the annual challenge of putting the pieces together, whether the Zags are stocked with fresh faces or proven upperclassmen.

The Zags have plenty of the former and some of the latter, which suggests it could take some time for this crew to mesh. Then again, a 103-87 victory – sans Tillie – over No. 1 Michigan State in an Oct. 19 scrimmage indicates they’re on the right path.

“This is a team that really is going to get better,” head coach Mark Few said earlier this month. “Last year’s team got better, but we were pretty dang good in Maui, too. This one I’m hoping will be on a real (upward) trajectory as the young guys get more and more minutes.”

PLAYER TO WATCH

minute. Tillie can knock down 3-pointers and works well in the high-low game.

Graduate transfer ADMON GILDER was a steady contributor at Texas A&M for three years before missing last season with a blood clot in his right biceps. He’s poised to be a breakout star in his lone season with the Zags.

The versatile, experienced Gilder is a do-it-all guard. He can play point or off guard. He can handle the ball, spot-up shoot, pass and score inside and outside. He has improved his 3-point accuracy every season – from 34.7 to 37.7 to 39.5 – and made 82% from the free-throw line as a junior.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Gilder is a quality defender and rebounder. “Rock-solid guy,” said assistant coach Tommy Lloyd.

Coaching Mark Few has guided the program to new heights in the past five years with four 30-win seasons, two Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and the 2017 run to the national championship game. The Zags are usually mentioned as Final Four contenders every year, even after losing key players to the pros.

Key games

Backcourt The Zags will lean on grad transfers Ryan Woolridge (North Texas) and Admon Gilder (Texas A&M) to log extended minutes.

That’s a bit of a concern, with Woolridge coming off kneecap surgery in April and Gilder returning from a blood clot that left him on the sideline last season.

Both can fill up the stat sheet, with Gilder probably more of a bigger scoring threat.

The duo’s defensive ability could be a huge difference-maker. The 6-foot-3 Woolridge has great quickness and ranks second on North Texas’ all-time steals list despite only playing three seasons. Gilder, at 6-4 and 200 pounds, led Texas A&M in steals as a sophomore and was second as a junior.

Frontcourt The Zags have assembled an impressive collection of bigs, with five players standing 6-10 or 6-11. Gonzaga has the ability to continue operating inside-outside with probable starters Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie. Petrusev has a high rate of points per

Bench Freshmen Anton Watson and Drew Timme are probably in line for the most minutes when Tillie returns to full strength.

The 6-8 Watson can also play on the wing.

Freshman center Pavel Zakharov, who played well in the Michigan State scrimmage, is also an option.

Incoming freshman center Oumar Ballo might have vied for playing time as well but was declared an academic redshirt by the NCAA on Monday. He won’t play in games but remains on scholarship and can practice with the team.

In the backcourt, redshirt sophomore Joel Ayayi is expected to become a rotation player. The 6-5 guard showed off his 3point shot and dribble penetration ability for France at the FIBA U19 World Cup this past summer. Freshman Brock Ravet has deep shooting range and a strong basketball IQ.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

After three solid seasons at Texas A&M, Admon Gilder joins the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer for his final college campaign; he’ll provide backcourt leadership.

Home games in GU history don’t get any bigger than blueblood North Carolina’s visit Dec. 18. Interestingly, the two could collide three weeks earlier in the finals of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Both should be favored to reach the championship game, but for that to happen the Zags will have to navigate No. 12 Seton Hall or the preseason Pac-12 favorite, No. 15 Oregon, in the semifinals. North Carolina restocked its roster with standout freshmen Cole Anthony and Armando Bacot and graduate transfers Justin Pierce (William & Mary) and Christian Keeling (Charleston Southern).

In a six-game stretch from Nov. 28 to Dec. 18, Gonzaga could face five ranked foes, including road dates against Washington (Dec. 8) and No. 21 Arizona (Dec. 14).

The Huskies, who have a pair of projected lottery picks in freshmen Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels, just missed cracking the Top 25. Arizona’s McKale Center is one of the loudest arenas in the country. The Wildcats boast top 15 recruits in point guard Nico Mannion and wing Josh Green.

Two meetings with rival Saint Mary’s (Feb. 8 and 29) should go a long way toward settling WCC supremacy. The Gaels are loaded with experience, led by WCC player of the year contender Jordan Ford and forward Malik Fitts.

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OCTOBER 31, 2019

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JESSE TINSLEY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Gonzaga fans alternately sway, chant, stomp and sing along with music before Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 5 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

Jordan Ford of Saint Mary’s dribbles around a Gonzaga player during the second half of the West Coast Conference Tournament title game in Las Vegas on March 12.

NIPPING AT ZAGS’ HEELS WCC PREDICTIONS

WCC MEN

1. Gonzaga Bulldogs 2. Saint Mary’s Gaels 3. Brigham Young Cougars 4. Pepperdine Waves 5. Santa Clara Broncos 6. San Francisco Dons 7. Loyola Marymount Lions 8. San Diego Toreros 9. Pacific Tigers 10. Portland Pilots – John Blanchette

Saint Mary’s, BYU will challenge GU

By John Blanchette THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The script is dog-eared, tattered and coffee-stained from two decades of re-use, as if plucked from the read-through table on the set of “Law & Order” or “Home Improvement.”

The same plot, the same characters – introduced in mostly the same order – and the same dialogue seem to be recycled every basketball season in the West Coast Conference.

There’s Gonzaga out front and high in the polls. There’s Saint Mary’s, either nipping at the Zags’ heels or a couple car lengths behind. There’s Brigham Young, wondering why parachuting into this little church league hasn’t allowed it to dominate the way its fans presumed.

Then there’s everybody else, wondering what they’ve signed up for – other than frustration, of course. None of the WCC’s other seven schools have made an NCAA Tournament appearance out of the league in the last 10 years, and for four of them the drought goes past 20.

Buckle in for another rerun.

There does figure to be drama at the top, what with Gonzaga returning but three players who spent any time in the regular rotation and seeing more than 70 percent of last year’s scoring go pro. Meanwhile, the Gaels return everyone but up-and-down center Jordan Hunter – and add two important pieces, point guard Kristers Zoriks and center Aaron Menzies, who missed last season with injuries.

And there always seems to be some drama with BYU – this time starting with the retirement of long-time coach Dave Rose, who surely felt a nudge after the Cougars failed to win 20 games for the first time in his tenure. The school went next door to Orem to poach Mark Pope from Utah Valley, and in turn Pope reeled All-WCC forward Yoeli Childs back from the draft – only to have a paperwork snafu result in the NCAA declaring him ineligible for nine games. And, finally, troubled guard Nick Emery opted to leave the program, an addition-by-subtraction situation.

One other new coach joins the WCC lodge – Todd Golden, who was promoted at San Francisco when Kyle Smith jumped to Washington State.

BYU forward Yoeli Childs celebrates after scoring and drawing a foul against Pepperdine in January. who will be in the conference MVP hunt, must sit for the season’s first nine games. TJ Haws, another all-WCC-level player, is just returning from knee surgery.

Promising Gavin Baxter looks to be lost for the season, and BYU is still waiting on NCAA waiver rulings on transfers Alex Barcello (Arizona) and Richard Harward and Wyatt Lowell, two big men who followed new coach Mark Pope from Utah Valley. Right now, the one sure thing is Utah Valley grad transfer Jake Toolson, whose career began at BYU.

Loyola Marymount Lions Coach: Mike Dunlap (70-87), 6th year 2018-19 record: 22-12. WCC: 8-8, 5th (tie) Key newcomers: Parker Dortch (6-7, F), Lazar Zivanovic (6-6, G), Jonathan Dos Anjos (6-8, F), Reilly Seebold (6-1, G) Key losses: James Batemon, Zafir Williams, Jeffery McClendon Outlook: Without All-WCC guard James Batemon, the Lions will have to find a new go-to leader. Maybe it’s Dameane Douglas, a talented wing who could stand to broaden his game. Maybe rugged Eli Scott will bounce back from a disappointing 2019 marred by illness. Or maybe 7-foot-3 Mattias Markusson will take a final step into becoming a dominant force inside. In the meantime, the Lions will try to keep things close with a grinding style and improved firepower outside from JC import Parker Dortsch and freshman Reilly Seebold. But they’ll need a point guard to make it go.

BYU Cougars

Pacific Tigers

Coach: Mark Pope, 1st year 2018-19 record: 19-13. WCC: 11-5, 2nd (tie) Key newcomers: Jake Toolson (6-5, G), Jesse Wade (6-1, G), Alex Barcello (6-2, G) Key losses: Jashire Hardnett, McKay Cannon, Luke Worthington Outlook: Right now, the most unsettled roster in the WCC belongs to the Cougars. Yoeli Childs,

Coach: Damon Stoudamire (39-58), 4th year 2018-19 record: 14-18. WCC: 4-12, 9th Key newcomers: Broc Finstuen (6-4, G), Gary Chivichyan (G, 6-4), Justin Moore (6-4, G) Key losses: Roberto Gallinat, Anthony Townes, Lafayette Dorsey Outlook: Some severe roster churn has brought a starting-over

vibe to Damon Stoudamire’s fourth Pacific team, not an ideal circumstance. Six players with eligibility remaining left along with leading scorer Roberto Gallinat, and now the Tigers rebuild around Jahlil Tripp, an all-around talent if not a high-volume scorer. Justin Moore started as a freshman on Georgia Tech’s NIT runner-up team and will run the show, with much-needed 3-point marksmanship coming from Idaho State transfer Gary Chivichyan and junior college recruit Broc Finstuen.

Massive 300-pounder Amari McCoy will provide some welcome muscle inside.

dumpster fire in Portland, where the Pilots became the first team since 2012 to go winless in WCC play. Then six players with eligibility remaining either left or got shown the door, leaving only little JoJo Walker as the only returnee among the top four scorers. Two grad transfers, Isaiah White from Maine and Lavar Harewood from South Carolina State, will help, but they come from programs in straits as dire as Portland. The Pilots are desperate for either Tahirou Diabate or Hugh Hogland to become a legitimate force up front.

Saint Mary’s Gaels

Coach: Randy Bennett (414174), 19th year Pepperdine Waves Coach: Lorenzo Romar (582018-19 record: 22-12. WCC: 62), 5th year (1996-99, 2018-pres- 11-5, 2nd (tie) ent) Key newcomers: Kristers 2018-19 record: 16-18. WCC: Zoriks (6-4, G), Aaron Menzies (7-3, C), Logan Johnson (6-2, G) 6-10, 8th Key newcomers: Sedrick AltKey loss: Jordan Hunter man (6-2, G), Skylar Chavez (6-5, Outlook: The Gaels have won F), Jan Zidek (6-9, F) 414 games in the Randy Bennett Key losses: Darnell Dunn, Er- era, but only once have reached the NCAA Tournament in backic Cooper Jr. Outlook: If any team can break to-back years. This will make up the same old, same old atop the twice. Behind the WCC’s best WCC standings, it figures to be the guard, Jordan Ford, and versatile Waves, who ended 2019 with a forward Malik Fitts, the Gaels rethree-win run in the conference turn all but a smidgen of last year’s tournament. Now they bring back production. The key is how sophoa knotty three-man problem in more point guard Kristers Zoriks Colbey Ross, the conference’s best bounces back from a second knee point guard, and the Edwards surgery; the Gaels were last in the brothers, Kameron and Kessler, conference in assists a year ago, who give opponents a completely and he figures to change that. Getdifferent look from the wings. Sky- ting Cincinnati transfer Logan lar Chavez, California’s JC player Johnson an NCAA waiver to play of the year, will provide some new immediately is another boost. outside pop, but the Waves will need some of their slender big men San Diego Toreros to hold their own against the preCoach: Sam Scholl (23-17), 2nd mium teams. year 2018-19 record: 21-15. WCC: 7-9, 7th Portland Pilots Coach: Terry Porter (28-69), Key newcomers: Braun 4th year Hartfield (6-6, G), Marion Hum2018-19 record: 7-25. WCC: phrey (6-3, G), James Jean-Marie (6-7, F), Jared Rodriguez (6-8, F) 0-16, 10th Key newcomers: Lavar HaKey losses: Isaiah Pineiro, rewood (6-3, G), Isaiah White (6-5, Isaiah Wright, Olin Carter III G), Cody Collinsworth (7-1, C) Outlook: Though they made Key losses: Marcus Shaver the NIT, the Toreros were a disapJr., Josh McSwiggan, Franklin pointment in the WCC round-robin and now must replace four sePorter Outlook: It’s become a bit of a niors who hogged the bulk of the

floor time. They’ll try to move on behind the returning five-men, Yausen Massalski and Alex Floresca, and some new faces. Transfer Braun Hartfield averaged 13.6 points at Youngstown State, and JC recruit James Jean-Marie will try to fill the Isaiah Pineiro role.

Getting a waiver for Idaho transfer Jared Rodriguez would be a nice bonus, but the Toreros really need a point guard. Maybe Belgian Noel Coleman will fill the bill.

San Francisco Dons Coach: Todd Golden, 1st year 2018-19 record: 21-10. WCC: 9-7, 4th Key newcomers: Khalil Shabazz (6-1, G), Isaiah Hawthorne (6-8, F), Josh Kunen (6-8, F) Key losses: Frankie Ferrari, Matt McCarthy, Nate Renfro Outlook: Kyle Smith became the rare coach who was able to use a WCC gig as a springboard for a better job. His top assistant, Todd Golden, now tries to carry on with a few holdover pieces, the best of which is Charles Minlend, a steady producer without the flash of the departed Frankie Ferrari. The Dons have a blossoming big man in Jimbo Lull, but if they’re going to get more scoring up front it’s going to have to come from newcomers Josh Kunen and Isaiah Hawthorne. They could also use a bounce-back year from Jordan Ratinho – or a surprise from Central Washington transfer Khalil Shabazz.

Santa Clara Broncos Coach: Herb Sendek (44-51), 4th year 2018-19 record: 16-15. WCC: 8-8, 5th (tie) Key newcomers: DJ Mitchell (6-8, F), David Thompson (6-0, G), Jaden Bediako (6-10, C), Juan Ducasse (6-9, F) Key losses: KJ Feagin, Henrik Jadersten, Josh Martin Outlook: Herb Sendek has had to do some rebuilds in his several coaching stops, but this one may start to pay some dividends.

Guards Tahj Eaddy and Trey Wertz are problem-makers for WCC defenses – Eaddy as a volume shooter, Wertz as a playmaker. Up front, the Broncos have another all-conference candidate in Josip Vrankic, who somehow manages to hold up against brawnier big men. There are other intriguing pieces along the front line in Keshawn Justice and Guglielmo Caruso – along with Wake Forest transfer DJ Mitchell and Canadian prep Jaden Bediako.

See Gonzaga preview on page 3

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OCTOBER 31, 2019

Kispert, Tillie, Petrusev and Ayayi will have their opportunities to seize the spotlight

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All-transfer backcourt of Gilder and Woolridge joined by highly regarded freshman class

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onzaga has just four returning scholarship players, but don’t expect to see the 2018-19 versions of Killian Tillie, Corey Kispert, Filip Petrusev and Joel Ayayi this season.

All four are slated for bigger roles on the court and in the locker room.

If all goes according to plan, the veterans, along with graduate transfer guards Admon Gilder and Ryan Woolridge, will form the backbone guiding one of the youngest teams in program history.

Their challenge is similar to those faced by past teams, but expectations have climbed higher in recent years. Gonzaga is trying to extend a 21-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. The Zags are the only program in the nation to reach at least the Sweet 16 the past five seasons.

That’s a healthy amount of pressure on the foursome as they assume additional responsibilities.

Health concerns have unfortunately been a recurring theme for Tillie, who has battled numerous injuries over the past three seasons, including foot and ankle issues that limited him to 15 games last season.

He never found his footing coming off the bench as Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke put together memorable seasons.

Tillie probably wouldn’t be back for his senior year if it hadn’t been for a sprained ankle in his first NBA

OCTOBER 31, 2019

H TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert gestures to the crowd after the Bulldogs defeated Baylor in an NCAA second-round game March 23. workout last spring.

His senior year is off to a bumpy start with an Oct. 3 knee surgery, but there is optimism that this ‘clean-up’ procedure bodes well for a healthier future and won’t keep him out of any regular-season games.

The talented 6-foot-10 forward has proven he’s a unique talent with his 3-point accuracy, passing and nose for the ball.

“Depth and health go hand in hand,” Kispert said of the foremost key for the team. “I think the main

thing to put us over the top would probably be Killian’s health. He’s just so lethal for us, you saw that two years ago. He’s so unbelievably talented and makes a big difference for us and the way we run offense.”

Said Tillie: “Obviously health is one key, but I’m kind of tired of talking about that. Maybe communication, trying to have more leadership at practice first and transferring it to games.”

See RETURNERS, 20

ABOVE: Gonzaga returning players, from left, Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie, and incoming freshmen Drew Timme and Anton Watson.

COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

ead coach Mark Few settled on “new guys” when describing essentially three-fourths of Gonzaga’s 2019-20 roster.

That phrase covers six highly decorated freshmen and graduate transfers Admon Gilder and Ryan Woolridge. The latter two have played more college basketball than anyone on the roster, just not in Zag uniforms.

“We’re really counting on those two grad transfers,” Few said of the probable starting backcourt tandem.

And the Zags are counting on contributions of varying degrees from perhaps three or four freshmen who helped comprise the 13th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to 247sports.

With Gonzaga seeing more players exit early for NBA, roster churn is becoming more commonplace.

“This is how college basketball is these days,” assistant coach Tommy Lloyd said. “Sometimes your best players are going to leave, whether you want them to or not.

“So far we’re pretty happy. I enjoy going to practice and it’s been fun watching guys like Anton (Watson) finally get his chance and show he’s ready to play at this level, and Drew (Timme) that picked our program over a lot of other ones.”

Still, it’s not an easy transition go-

JESSE TINSLEY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Freshman Brock Ravet, second from right, is congratulated Oct. 5 after winning the three-point shooting contest at Kraziness at the Kennel. ing from prep standout to immediate contributor on a preseason a top-10 squad that faces a stellar Battle 4 Atlantis field and December dates against Washington, Arizona and North Carolina.

It helps that Watson, Timme and guard Brock Ravet played for successful high school programs and strong AAU teams, and Pavel Zakharov (Russia) and Martynas Arlauskas (Lithuania) have extensive experience on their respective youth national teams.

“It’s a lot different from high school, but I think it’s a challenge all the freshmen, including myself, are willing to step up to,” said Watson, who led Gonzaga Prep to a pair of 4A state championships.

Watson added that the biggest difference is “probably just the physicality in practice and other teams are going to be quicker, the pace of the game (faster) and everyone is a lot stronger.”

See NEWCOMERS, 20

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

OCTOBER 31, 2019

Kispert, Tillie, Petrusev and Ayayi will have their opportunities to seize the spotlight

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THURSDAY

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SPECIAL

All-transfer backcourt of Gilder and Woolridge joined by highly regarded freshman class

G

onzaga has just four returning scholarship players, but don’t expect to see the 2018-19 versions of Killian Tillie, Corey Kispert, Filip Petrusev and Joel Ayayi this season.

All four are slated for bigger roles on the court and in the locker room.

If all goes according to plan, the veterans, along with graduate transfer guards Admon Gilder and Ryan Woolridge, will form the backbone guiding one of the youngest teams in program history.

Their challenge is similar to those faced by past teams, but expectations have climbed higher in recent years. Gonzaga is trying to extend a 21-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. The Zags are the only program in the nation to reach at least the Sweet 16 the past five seasons.

That’s a healthy amount of pressure on the foursome as they assume additional responsibilities.

Health concerns have unfortunately been a recurring theme for Tillie, who has battled numerous injuries over the past three seasons, including foot and ankle issues that limited him to 15 games last season.

He never found his footing coming off the bench as Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke put together memorable seasons.

Tillie probably wouldn’t be back for his senior year if it hadn’t been for a sprained ankle in his first NBA

OCTOBER 31, 2019

H TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert gestures to the crowd after the Bulldogs defeated Baylor in an NCAA second-round game March 23. workout last spring.

His senior year is off to a bumpy start with an Oct. 3 knee surgery, but there is optimism that this ‘clean-up’ procedure bodes well for a healthier future and won’t keep him out of any regular-season games.

The talented 6-foot-10 forward has proven he’s a unique talent with his 3-point accuracy, passing and nose for the ball.

“Depth and health go hand in hand,” Kispert said of the foremost key for the team. “I think the main

thing to put us over the top would probably be Killian’s health. He’s just so lethal for us, you saw that two years ago. He’s so unbelievably talented and makes a big difference for us and the way we run offense.”

Said Tillie: “Obviously health is one key, but I’m kind of tired of talking about that. Maybe communication, trying to have more leadership at practice first and transferring it to games.”

See RETURNERS, 20

ABOVE: Gonzaga returning players, from left, Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie, and incoming freshmen Drew Timme and Anton Watson.

COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

ead coach Mark Few settled on “new guys” when describing essentially three-fourths of Gonzaga’s 2019-20 roster.

That phrase covers six highly decorated freshmen and graduate transfers Admon Gilder and Ryan Woolridge. The latter two have played more college basketball than anyone on the roster, just not in Zag uniforms.

“We’re really counting on those two grad transfers,” Few said of the probable starting backcourt tandem.

And the Zags are counting on contributions of varying degrees from perhaps three or four freshmen who helped comprise the 13th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to 247sports.

With Gonzaga seeing more players exit early for NBA, roster churn is becoming more commonplace.

“This is how college basketball is these days,” assistant coach Tommy Lloyd said. “Sometimes your best players are going to leave, whether you want them to or not.

“So far we’re pretty happy. I enjoy going to practice and it’s been fun watching guys like Anton (Watson) finally get his chance and show he’s ready to play at this level, and Drew (Timme) that picked our program over a lot of other ones.”

Still, it’s not an easy transition go-

JESSE TINSLEY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Freshman Brock Ravet, second from right, is congratulated Oct. 5 after winning the three-point shooting contest at Kraziness at the Kennel. ing from prep standout to immediate contributor on a preseason a top-10 squad that faces a stellar Battle 4 Atlantis field and December dates against Washington, Arizona and North Carolina.

It helps that Watson, Timme and guard Brock Ravet played for successful high school programs and strong AAU teams, and Pavel Zakharov (Russia) and Martynas Arlauskas (Lithuania) have extensive experience on their respective youth national teams.

“It’s a lot different from high school, but I think it’s a challenge all the freshmen, including myself, are willing to step up to,” said Watson, who led Gonzaga Prep to a pair of 4A state championships.

Watson added that the biggest difference is “probably just the physicality in practice and other teams are going to be quicker, the pace of the game (faster) and everyone is a lot stronger.”

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DRESS TO IMPRESS:

Mead graduate Adam Morrison was the hometown hero for Gonzaga and became a national phenom when he battled and ultimately defeated Duke’s J.J. Redick for national scoring honors, averaging 28.1 points a game. He and Redick were co-players of the year in 2006.

Morrison left after his junior season and was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.

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Still looking for the perfect, albeit last-minute costume for trick-or-treating tonight? Cut out our Adam Morrison or Courtney Vandersloot mask, throw on a Gonzaga hoodie and you’ll be sure to score an extra piece of candy or two from the Zag fans in any Spokane neighborhood. Better yet, cut out both masks and make two trips around the block – that’s the kind of effort Adam and Courtney put in at Gonzaga.

STAFF ILLUSTRATIONS BY MOLLY QUINN

Vandersloot is the only woman in WCC history to be named the player of the year three times and the WCC tournament MVP three times. She was also the first Gonzaga and WCC woman to earn Associated Press second-team All-America honors.

She is the first male or female in NCAA history to compile more than 2,000 points (2,073) and 1,000 assists (1,118). She was drafted No. 3 by the Chicago Sky in the 2011 WNBA draft.

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Building the perfect Zag JOHN BLANCHETTE SPOKESMAN COLUMNIST

Ol’ Doc Basketball has a wonderful mix of ingredients

O

l’ Doc Frankenstein – movie Frankenstein, anyway – had it easy.

He copped parts from any old cadaver. Gave his creation the brain of a psychopath (here’s where a better assistant coach would have been helpful). Hit him with a jolt of electricity and called it good.

OK, so there were complications.

Still, ol’ Doc Basketball has it tougher. Especially if the assignment is something like this: Building the Perfect Zag. More specifically, what qualities can be sampled from the best basketball players Gonzaga University has produced to construct the epitome of the species?

Whose heart do you pick? Whose athleticism? Whose skills?

Where do you even start?

Technically, such an endeavor would mean there are 114 years worth of basketball players to navigate, though given what’s transpired over the past two decades, this is going to be mostly a modern-era exercise.

And which attributes count? Is a wing jumper, say, as vital as will?

So, some ground rules: • Dispense with the stat-sheet virtues like shooting, rebounding, passing, shot-blocking. You can’t win without them, obviously, but we all read the box scores.

• Likewise, we’ll not whittle down too specifically on the physical properties like best hands or best footwork. Or hair – no matter how much it’s meant to the fan base over the years.

• If we pluck a characteristic from one Zag, he’s eliminated from further use. We’re working with virtually unlimited resources. And everyone recycles at home, so no need to do it here.

• John Stockton is ineligible, just to keep it a sporting exercise.

“The easy answer for a lot of these is Stocks,” said Matt Santangelo, one of a handful of Zag alums whose advice was solicited for this project. “We’ve all been trying to live up to that standard.”

With all that understood, let’s step into the laboratory, where the first of our 12 ingredients is ...

Athleticism. As prized as some of these mental markers are, your Perfect Zag can’t get by without phone-book vertical -especially as thin as phone books are these days. If the Bulldogs aren’t renowned for uber-athletes, they’ve had a few – from Erroll Knight to Micah Downs to Jeremy Pargo.

“For a guard to be able to elevate and play above the rim and through contact like Jeremy did was impressive,” said Dan Dickau, another Zag alum with a TV analyst for nine years.

And he’d be the guy, except there are eyeballs still AWOL from their sockets after Brandon Clarke’s block of Tennessee’s Yves Pons last season – just a tiny sample of Clarke’s athletic wonder on both ends that makes him the choice here.

Leadership. Lots of choices here – the Bulldogs have never lacked for leaders. Don Baldwin, whose career ended in 1981, was an old-school alpha too rarely remembered in GU’s back-loaded basketball history. Jeff Brown set a tone when the program made its first hard turn upward in the mid-1990s. Santangelo was the driver when the Zags burst into the national consciousness. And the tandem of Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell were maybe the most adaptable: they grew up fast because they had to, subjugated themselves as scorers to

STAFF ILLUSTRATION

BY MOLLY QUINN

NBA-bound big men and simply kept the program grounded as the talent level surged.

But there was always a different vibe to Nigel Williams-Goss, coming as he did from the “outside” and assuming command of an eight-man rotation that had five Zags wearing the uniform for the first time. Insisting on defending West Virginia’s Jevon Carter on the final shot in the 2017 Sweet 16 was a leadership moment. And getting to the Final Four looks pretty good on the résumé.

Competitiveness. It’s in the Gonzaga DNA, borne out by the rise from little engine that could to bullet train. There are, simply, too many possibilities to mention, which makes it the perfect field for a dark horse: Quentin Hall.

Just go back to that transformational 1999 NCAA Tournament. At 5-foot-8, Hall – spelled by Mike Nilson – hounded Minnesota’s 6-7 scoring machine Quincy Lewis into a 3-of-19 shooting nightmare. In the Elite Eight, he tied Connecticut great Khalid El-Amin in an 0-of-12 knot. In the game that got the Zags there, he ignored an order to foul and badgered Florida’s Brent Wright into the game-turning traveling violation, took it upon himself to hoist the potential game-winning shot, and while Casey Calvary was tipping in the miss, jousted with the 6-8 Wright to do it himself.

At Gonzaga, competitiveness is spelled with a Q. Court vision. Stockton is the absolute here, but we have our rules. Blake Stepp’s many virtues tend to get lost with the march of time and this is one of them, and if he tested a fan’s patience, Josh Perkins “really did see things –

and had a lack of fear to try it,” said current GU assistant coach Brian Michaelson.

But this was also a Dickau strength, even if his shooting touch often overshadowed it.

Other than Stockton’s years as a starter, no Zag point guard assisted on a higher percentage of his team’s buckets than Dickau.

Strength. Always seen as the province of big men, though guys like Nilson and Ira Brown were notable exceptions. But there’s been an evolution in big-man strength. Watch Rui Hachimura or Domantas Sabonis in the post and they’re remarkably strong, “but the weights guys like Casey and Corey Violette would move around was something else,” Michaelson said. We’ll take J.P. Batista. They didn’t call him the Brazilian Beast for nothing.

Toughness. “Casey is the epitome for me,” said Santangelo of Calvary. “He’ll still get those blue eyes bearing down on you and you kind of go, ‘OK, Case, whatever direction you’re going, we’re there.’ ” Us, too.

But somebody else break it to Bakari Hendrix, OK? Decision-making. Five minutes into the second half of Gonzaga’s 2014 victory over Georgia at Madison Square Garden, something extraordinary happened: Kevin Pangos committed a turnover. It was the Bulldogs’ fifth game of the season, Pangos’ 118th minute of play ... and his first turnover. Only Kyle Bankhead – unsung in this department himself – and Baldwin have better career assist-to-turnover ratios than Pangos, who handled the ball much more. “He just kept himself in a position where he made the correct play,” said Dickau.

Heart. Can’t measure it. Can’t necessarily define it, though watching Stepp grind through injuries was a moving picture.

But in another category that could summon countless nominees, the high-motor Sabonis was a constant example of a burning will.

Confidence. “There are guys,” Michaelson said, “and I think of Kyle Wiltjer and Nigel here, who just say, ‘No, I’m better. I’m the best player, and I’m going to do this.’ ” But surely no Zag personified that more than Adam Morrison, whose confidence only amped up his competitive side and was central to his becoming, it can be easily posited, Gonzaga’s best or most accomplished collegiate player.

Confidence, of course, is a requisite for ...

Clutchness. Is that a word?

Clutchitude? Clutchage?

Whatever, the best teams need players who can deliver when needed the most. Morrison, Williams-Goss, Wiltjer, Dickau – all embraced the big moment and can look back on game-turning or game-winning baskets. The two most memorable in GU history, of course, were Calvary’s tip-in against Florida and Jordan Mathews’ 3-pointer that helped subdue West Virginia.

So why does Zach Norvell Jr. constantly come to mind? Well, because he made himself Big Shot Snacks his freshman year – cashing out BYU and San Diego with daggers, and continually erupting in the second halves of games after being punchless in the first. His biggest 3-pointer saved the Zags from the ignominy of a first-round loss to UNC Greensboro in 2018 – after he’d missed six in a row. So many times, he loomed as the unlikeliest hero.

“A lot of shots,” laughed Santangelo, “became clutch after he shot them.”

Passion. It seems as if a category had to be created for Ronny Turiaf, so here it is.

Though Robert Sacre could fill it nicely, too. Which brings us, at last, to ....

Zagness. There’s not much of the underdog mentality left at Gonzaga, now a Top 25 perennial attracting top-tier recruits, but it was essential in launching the program’s incredible rise. So it’s worth preserving, embodied by those players who walked on to the team and made themselves indispensible, such as Geoff Goss, Mark Spink, Ryan Floyd and David Stockton, to name four. To winnow one out, it’s hard not to land on Mike Hart, a starter on GU’s first No. 1-ranked team, who once earned a mid-possession standing ovation for tracking down two offensive rebounds.

There you go. Mix them all together and there’s your perfect Zag. And now, somebody flip the switch.

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TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Junior guard Jill Townsend, who connected on 45% of her 3-pointers last season, smiles during a practice in July at Gonzaga's Volkar Center for Athletic Achievement.

DEPTH IS GU’S STRENGTH GONZAGA WOMEN

Minus three starters, Zags are still loaded

By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Did Gonzaga really lose three starters from last year?

Officially, the answer is yes: Zykera Rice, Chandler Smith and Laura Stockton are gone.

However, it doesn’t feel that way, thanks to head coach Lisa Fortier’s habit of playing deep into her bench.

Eight returnees averaged at least 20 minutes last season, and two of them – forward Jenn Wirth and wing Jill Townsend – came off the bench so impressively that they made this year’s West Coast Conference preseason team.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Fortier said as practice began earlier this month.

PLAYER TO WATCH The most productive player last year for Gonzaga last season might have been forward MELODY KEMPTON. As a true freshman last year, the former Post Falls star averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds – so-so numbers until you consider that she played saw less than 14 minutes a game.

“She also brings a lot of energy to the court,” said head coach Lisa Fortier, who typically brought Kempton in as the second frontcourt player off the bench.

The 6-foot-1 Kempton responded with 109 rebounds, 56 of them coming on the offensive glass She also had 20 blocks, trailing only Zykera Rice’s 26.

“She’s really consistent, strong, and does a lot of the little things correctly,” Fortier said of Kempton.

Will that translate into more minutes this year? It’s hard to say, because 6-5 transfer Anamaria Virjoghe is now eligible, while 6-2 true freshman Eliza Hollingsworth may get minutes if she isn’t redshirted.

Backcourt Katie Campbell was one of the best 3point shooters in the land last season (hitting 63 of 140 shots for a 45% average).

Close behind at 44% was Townsend, whose ugly leg injury this past March in the WCC Tournament left many wondering about her future.

“That’s one of the biggest questions I’ve gotten – how is Jill?” Fortier said.

She’s just fine, thanks, and hoping to start.

“That’s what every player wants, right?” said Townsend, a 5-11 junior from Okanogan who’s the most versatile player in the lineup.

Last year she ranked second in scoring (9.8 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (4.7) while playing almost 22 minutes a game.

Complementing them both is senior point guard Jessie Loera, who ranked third in minutes played last year while backing up Stockton.

Quick to push the ball upcourt and with an improved sense of the half-court game, Loera also shot 33% from long range and her assist-to-turnover ratio was almost 2:1.

Bench There’s plenty of talent on the bench. Junior Louise Forsyth is a strong spot-up shooter (46% from beyond the arc last year) with high energy but needs to cut down on her fouls.

Fortier also will count on the Truong twins, Kayleigh and Kaylynne, freshmen who may be the backcourt of the future.

In the frontcourt are seldom-used junior Gillian Barfield and true freshman Eliza Hollingsworth, a 6-2 international from Australia.

However, depth took a hit during fall camp when redshirt freshman Kylee Griffen suffered a season-ending injury.

Coaching Five years after being promoted from assistant, Fortier not only has been a consistent winner, she’s managed to keep her young staff intact.

Last year’s season was one of the best in school history: a 29-5 record, fourth straight West Coast Conference regular-season title and a program-best No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The title was Gonzaga’s fourth under Fortier, who has a 73-17 record in the WCC and is 127-40 overall.

Key games If Gonzaga doesn’t have the glitziest nonconference schedule this year, it’s not for lack of trying.

“For whatever reason, people don’t like coming to the Kennel,” said Fortier.

The exception is Stanford, but that rivalry goes back to the Bay Area this year. The Zags’ other high-profile nonconference games will be in late November at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida, where Gonzaga will face Dayton and possibly Auburn, Purdue or Arizona State.

The biggest nonconference home game is Dec. 20 against Missouri State, which returns 12 players from last year’s Sweet 16 team. Other potential pitfalls are Dec. 8 at Washington State and nine days later at Wyoming.

GU’s WCC opener is Jan. 2 at BYU, which beat the Zags three times last year.

Frontcourt Rice will be hard to replace. As a senior she led the Zags in scoring (15 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). She also brought tenacity and physicality in the paint, traits that Jenn Wirth is still perfecting.

“I learned a lot from Zykera, especially her toughness,” said the 6-foot-3 Wirth (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), who will inherit a lot of scrutiny along with Rice’s starting spot.

“It’s different when you get all the attention,” Fortier said. “It’s brutal in the post, but Jenn is practicing very strong, very assertively – like a better version of Jenn.”

Wirth will be joined by twin sister LeeAnne, who started every game last year and made a big impression on the defensive

end while averaging 6.5 points and 4.6 boards.

“We feel comfortable with her guarding anybody,” Fortier said. “Jenn has a stronger body and is a little bit more assertive, but LeeAnne is more perceptive and open to what else is going on.”

The wild card in the paint is Anamaria Virjoghe, a 6-foot-5 transfer from NAIA Northwest Christian.

“She learned a lot last year while redshirting,” said Fortier, who also got big minutes off the bench from former Post Falls star Melody Kempton.

DAN PELLE/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Zags forward Melody Kempton, from Post Falls, plays tight defense against Colorado State forward Tatum Neubert last November at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

CONTACT THE WRITER:

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COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Gonzaga senior guards Jessie Loera, left, and Katie Campbell have played in a combined 158 games for the Bulldogs.

Senior guards Campbell, Loera eager to step into expanded roles for Bulldogs

By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

T

hey’ve already raised their game. Now Katie Campbell and Jessie Loera are raising their voices.

That’s harder than it sounds: In the interview room, both speak barely above a whisper.

Yet Campbell and Loera know that senior leadership will play a big part in lifting a Gonzaga team that’s both loaded with college experience and utterly lacking in it.

“It’s an interesting mix,” Coach Lisa Fortier said early in fall practice.

The Zags are coming off a 29-5 season with five upperclassmen who figure to comprise the starting five: Loera, Campbell and juniors Jill Townsend and the Wirth twins, Jenn and LeeAnne. All averaged 20 minutes or more last year.

Of the remainder, only backup forward Melody Kempton and reserve guard Louise Forsyth saw appreciable playing time.

The others are talented but green, and could use a little guidance from the two seniors.

Speaking of which, Campbell noted that she’s “talking more in general practice, which is the last step in working on my leadership.”

“I’m still finding my voice and getting better at directive talk,” said Campbell, one of the top 3-point shooters in the nation last year.

But can she shoot daggers at an outof-line teammate as well as she shoots from outside? Campbell thinks so.

“I’m energetic and good at getting people going,” Campbell said.

TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Gonzaga guard Jessie Loera, facing, reacts with Katie Campbell after the Bulldogs defeated Saint Mary's in the WCC Tournament semifinals in March.

However, there’s nothing like draining a couple of big 3-pointers to lift a team. Campbell’s big moment came last year against No. 7 Stanford, when she hit five out of six to give the Zags their biggest win of the season.

When Campbell gets hot, everyone agrees, it boosts everyone’s confidence.

In another example of leadership by example, Campbell hopes to diversify her game. “I’m trying to open up that

midrange part of my game, with more pull-up jumpers.”

For Loera, leadership has usually meant running the offense at the point.

For three years she backed up Laura Stockton, who along with Zykera Rice provided the emotional spark last season.

“I know she was competitive, and she was one of the players I’ve always looked to, showing me the ropes and how things worked,” Loera said.

Now it’s Loera’s turn. She’s already getting some leadership lessons by working as a student teacher at Bemiss Elementary School in Spokane.

“You have to be a leader in the classroom,” Loera said.

Mostly, Loera has led by example. A fan favorite since her freshman year because of her fast motor, her role has grown steadily. In each of the last two seasons, she took over the starting role when Stockton was injured.

Almost every phase of her game improved last year, including a 33% effort from 3-point range and an assist-toturnover ratio of 132 to 64, or better than 2:1.

Her 43 steals were third best on the team behind Stockton and Chandler Smith.

On the court this fall, Loera has been dispensing advice to her probable successors, Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong.

“They’ve asked a lot of questions, but they’re doing so well already,” Loera said.

It also didn’t hurt that the entire squad got a leg up on team bonding during a 10-day summer trip to Spain and Italy.

Along with the extra practices, the trip helped new players get a head start toward finding their comfort zone.

And if the need arises, Townsend has the voice to take them out of that comfort zone.

She’s more comfortable calling people out,” Fortier said.

CONTACT THE WRITER:

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Gonzaga senior point guard Jessie Loera tosses a T-shirt into the crowd before FanFest on Oct. 12 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

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LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Washington State University’s Borislava Hristova led the Cougars with 19.9 points per game en route to all-conference honors last season.

HRISTOVA ON A MISSION WSU WOMEN

All-Pac-12 selection returns to lead Cougs

By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

At the end of a tough season, Washington State women’s basketball coach Kamie Ethridge was ready turn the page.

However, her star player still wants to write a few more chapters.

Forward Borislava Hristova ended her junior season with a 19.9 scoring average and a big decision to make: return home and go pro, or spend a fifth year and help the Cougars get back to the NCAAs for the first time since their lone appearance in 1991.

“This team has never been to the NCAA tournament for a long time, and this is something I wanted to be part of,” said Hristova, who is one of 20 players on the watchlist for the Cheryl MIller award for best small forward in the nation.

“I think we can build something special this year, so I wanted to be part of it and leave something behind me when I leave, because I’ve got one last chance at this.”

Hristova also has a chance to make some history for herself. A first-team all-Pac-12 pick last year, the 6-footer from Varna, Bulgaria, enters her final season with 1,699 points.

That ranks third on the WSU career scoring list and within range of all-time leader Jeanne Eggart, who had 1,867 points from 1977-82.

Hristova will get help from another senior, point guard Chanelle Molina. The first five-star recruit in program history, Molina

Eagles in rebuild mode EWU WOMEN

Team fell one win short of NCAAs last season

By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

After narrowly missing a spot in the NCAA Tournament last year, the Eagles have some rebuilding ahead.

Gone is Violet Kapri-Morrow, who led EWU in scoring (18 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg), and starters Alissa Sealby and Uriah Howard.

However, Eastern has a solid foundation in Grace Kirscher, a 6-foot sophomore from Sandpoint who made a big impression last year.

Kirscher played in all 33 games last year, making 25 starts and averaging 10.4 points, sixth-best among freshmen in EWU history. She also helped the Eagles (13-20, 9-11 Big Sky) reach the conference title game, where they fell in overtime to Portland State.

Picked to finish in the middle of the pack in coach Wendy Schuller’s 19th season, the Eagles will also count on sopho-

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eastern Washington's Jessica McDowell-White, right, averaged eight points a game last year. more guards Jessica McDowell-White (8.5 ppg, 2.8 apg) and Bella Cravens, junior Cailyn Francis and lone senior Leya DePriest.

Also back are redshirt freshmen Tatiana Reese, Tessa Burke, Trinity Golder and Millyu Knowles. Eastern also has four true freshmen. “(Coming a win short of the NCAA Tournament) left a bad taste in our mouth, and we want to get back to the championship and finish the game,” Schuller said. “But we have to get there first.”

MARXEN NOW VANDALS’ GO-TO PLAYER IDAHO WOMEN

By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

It’s time for someone else to make a splash in Moscow, and it probably will be Gina Marxen.

The Big Sky Conference may never again see the likes of hotshots Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce – the Splash Sisters – who helped the Vandals reach the postseason four straight years.

They also dominated the scoring last year, averaging 41 points (or 53% of the Vandals’ output). That was OK, since Idaho won the Big Sky regular-season

title, but now someone else must fill the void.

That figures to be Marxen, a Marxen 5-foot-8 guard from Sammamish who was last year’s Big Sky freshman of the year after averaging 8.6 points, three assists and 41.1% shooting from the arc. She also started 31 games, and is the biggest reason the Vandals are picked to finish second in the conference.

Also back are the Klinker sisters of Fairfield, Montana. Natalie, a 6-1 junior post, started all 34 games last year while lead-

ing the Vandals in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and field-goal percentage (56.8%).

Lizzy Klinker, a senior guard, was UI’s thirdleading scorer last year (9.3 ppg) and second-best rebounder (7.3 rpg).

“I’d like to be able to play a lot of kids early, that's my plan,” coach Jon Newlee said. “Kind of give everybody that chance, everybody their shot, and see what happens.”

The Vandals will get a boost in January from Arizona transfer Shalyse Smith, a Tacoma product who was ranked the seventh-best wing prospect in the country as a senior at Bellarmine Prep.

averaged almost 16 points and 5.1 assists last year and was an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention pick.

However, the Cougs relied heavily on their two stars, who combined for almost 60% of their points last year.

Not surprisingly, WSU went 9-21 overall and 4-14 in the conference. They also lose every-game starters Alexys Swedlund (11ppg) and Maria Koustourkova (6.7ppg, 4.5rpg) and are picked to finish 10th in the conference.

However, the inside game will be boosted by sophomore Ula Motuga, a solid low-post rebounder who emerged as a late-season starter last year. Another post player, Jovana Subasic, offers strong shooting along with a 6-4 frame.

Also back is sophomore wing Shir Levy, who started much of the season, and Molina’s younger sisters, Celina and Cherilyn.

“I’m glad year one is over,” Ethridge said.

“The thing that was the most difficult for us was just learning your own team in the midst of a season.”

“And now a year later I just feel like I know this group better,” Ethridge said.

“We’re built a little bit better. We have a little bit more depth in our program now, and having been the way we want to play and our system for a year.”

The Cougs might be better this year, but their final record may not reflect it. The nonconference schedule includes defending NCAA Tournament champ Baylor plus strong programs Gonzaga (in Pullman on Dec. 8), BYU and Boise State.

In the conference, WSU will contend with a trio of preseason top-10 teams in Oregon, Stanford and Oregon State.

CONTACT THE WRITER:

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DIVISION I SCHEDULES

GONZAGA MEN Nov 5 Nov 9 Nov 12 Nov 15 Nov 19 Nov 23 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Dec 4 Dec 8 Dec 14 Dec 18 Dec 21 Dec 30 Jan 2 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 11 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 30 Feb 1 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Feb 29

vs Alabama State vs Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs North Dakota @ Texas A&M vs UT Arlington vs CSU Bakersfield vs Southern Miss TBD at Bahamas TBD at Bahamas vs Texas Southern @ Washington @ 21 Arizona vs 9 North Carolina vs Eastern Washington vs Detroit Mercy @ Portland vs Pepperdine @ San Diego @ Loyola Marymount vs Santa Clara vs BYU vs Pacific @ Santa Clara @ San Francisco vs Loyola Marymount @ 20 Saint Mary's @ Pepperdine vs San Francisco @ BYU vs San Diego vs 20 Saint Mary's

WSU MEN Nov 7 Nov 12 Nov 17 Nov 21 Nov 25 Dec 4 Dec 7 Dec 15 Dec 19 Dec 21 Dec 29 Jan 2 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 11 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 23 Jan 25 Jan 29 Feb 1 Feb 9 Feb 13 Feb 15 Feb 19 Feb 23 Feb 28 Mar 5 Mar 7

vs Seattle at Santa Clara vs Idaho State vs Omaha vs Nebraska at Idaho vs New Mexico State vs UC Riverside vs Florida A&M vs Incarnate Word vs Arkansas- Pine Bluff vs USC vs UCLA at California at Stanford vs 15 Oregon vs Oregon State at Colorado at Utah vs Arizona State vs 21 Arizona vs Washington at UCLA at USC vs California vs Stanford at Washington at 21 Arizona at Arizona State

EWU MEN Nov 5 Nov 9 Nov 13 Nov 20 Nov 23 Nov 26 Dec 4 Dec 8 Dec 13 Dec 17 Dec 21 Dec 28 Dec 30 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 27

vs Portland Bible @ Seattle @ Saint Louis @ Boston College @ High Point vs Belmont @ Washington vs North Dakota vs Multnomah vs Omaha @ 8 Gonzaga @ Weber State @ Idaho State vs Portland State vs Montana @ Idaho @ Montana State vs Southern Utah vs Northern Colorado

Feb 1 Feb 3 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Feb 29 Mar 5 Mar 7

@ Sacramento State @ Northern Arizona @ Montana vs Montana State vs Idaho @ Portland State vs Sacramento State vs Northern Arizona @ Southern Utah @ Northern Colorado vs Idaho State vs Weber State

IDAHO MEN Nov 5 Nov 9 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 17 Nov 23 Nov 26 Nov 30 Dec 4 Dec 14 Dec 21 Dec 28 Dec 30 Jan 2 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 27 Feb 1 Feb 3 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 17 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Feb 29 Mar 5 Mar 7

vs Evergreen State @ UC Riverside vs UC Davis vs VMI @ Arkansas State vs Walla Walla vs North Dakota State @ Seattle vs Washington State vs CSU Bakersfield @ South Dakota State @ Idaho State @ Weber State vs Portland State vs Montana State vs Eastern Washington @ Montana vs Northern Colorado vs Southern Utah @ Northern Arizona @ Sacramento State @ Montana State vs Montana @ Eastern Washington @ Portland State vs Northern Arizona vs Sacramento State @ Northern Colorado @ Southern Utah vs Weber State vs Idaho State

GONZAGA WOMEN Nov 10 Nov 14 Nov 17 Nov 22 Nov 29 Dec 5 Dec 8 Dec 14 Dec 17 Dec 20 Dec 29 Jan 2 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 11 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 23 Jan 25 Jan 30 Feb 1 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 29

vs CSU Bakersfield vs UT Martin @ Stanford vs Eastern Washington vs Dayton @ Montana State @ Washington State vs Texas Southern @ Wyoming vs Missouri St vs Portland @ BYU @ San Diego vs Saint Mary's vs Pacific @ Santa Clara @ San Francisco vs Pepperdine vs Loyola Marymount vs San Diego vs BYU @ Pacific @ Saint Mary's vs San Francisco vs Santa Clara @ Loyola Marymount @ Pepperdine @ Portland

WSU WOMEN Nov 5 Nov 9 Nov 20 Nov 24 Nov 28 Nov 29

vs Pepperdine vs BYU at Boise State vs CSU Northridge vs Baylor vs South Carolina

Nov 30 Dec 4 Dec 8 Dec 15 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 29 Jan 3 Jan 5 Jan 11 Jan 17 Jan 19 Jan 24 Jan 26 Jan 31 Feb 2 Feb 7 Feb 9 Feb 14 Feb 16 Feb 21 Feb 23 Feb 28 Mar 1

vs Indiana vs Arkansas- Pine Bluff vs Gonzaga vs UC Irvine vs Southern at Miami vs Washington at Stanford at California at Washington vs Arizona vs Arizona State at USC at UCLA vs California vs Stanford vs Colorado vs Utah at Arizona State at Arizona vs UCLA vs USC at Oregon at Oregon State

EWU WOMEN Nov 5 Nov 8 Nov 18 Nov 22 Dec 1 Dec 8 Dec 15 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 28 Dec 30 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 27 Feb 1 Feb 3 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Feb 29 Mar 4 Mar 6

at Stanford at San Jose State at Utah at Gonzaga vs Pepperdine vs Northwest Christian vs Boise State vs UMKC vs Bradley vs Weber State vs Idaho State at Portland State at Montana at Idaho vs Montana State at Southern Utah at Northern Colorado vs Sacramento State vs Northern Arizona vs Montana at Montana State vs Idaho vs Portland State at Sacramento State at Northern Arizona vs Southern Utah vs Northern Colorado at Idaho State at Weber State

IDAHO WOMEN Nov 5 Nov 13 Nov 18 Nov 20 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 4 Dec 15 Dec 21 Dec 28 Dec 30 Jan 2 Jan 9 Jan 16 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 27 Feb 1 Feb 3 Feb 6 Feb 8 Feb 13 Feb 17 Feb 20 Feb 22 Feb 27 Feb 29 Mar 4 Mar 7

at Oklahoma St vs Colorado State at San Francisco at Seattle vs Lamar vs Old Dominion at San Diego at South Florida vs Hawai'i vs Idaho State vs Weber State at Portland State at Montana State vs Eastern Washington vs Montana at Northern Colorado at Southern Utah vs Northern Arizona vs Sacramento State vs Montana State at Montana at Eastern Washington vs Portland State at Northern Arizona at Sacramento State vs Northern Colorado vs Southern Utah at Weber State at Idaho State

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THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington junior forward Nahziah Carter, who averaged 8.1 points last season, is one of the top returning players for the Huskies.

IN SEARCH OF RESPECT PAC-12 MEN

Oregon, UW chasing Colorado

By John Blanchette FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Key newcomers: Nico Mannion (6-3, G), Max Hazzard (6-0, G), Stone Gettings (6-9, F), Josh Green (6-6, G) Key losses: Brandon Randolph, Justin Coleman, Ryan Luther Outlook: With the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class, Sean Miller has restocked in a major way – and it all revolves around Nico Mannion, whose size and ability to score and dish make him a complete point guard out of the wrapping. And even though Brandon Williams will miss the season with a knee injury, UC Irvine transfer Max Hazzard solidifies the backcourt.

Freshman Zeke Nnaji and Cornell transfer Stone Gettings are welcome additions next to holdover Chase Jeter on the front line, giving Miller the size he prefers to go with improved shooting on the perimeter.

PAC-12 PREDICTIONS 1. Colorado Buffaloes 2. Oregon Ducks 3. Washington Huskies 4. Arizona Wildcats 5. USC Trojans 6. UCLA Bruins 7. Arizona State Sun Devils 8. Oregon State Beavers 9. Utah Utes 10. Stanford Cardinal 11. Washington State Cougars 12. California Golden Bears – John Blanchette

The good news for Pac-12 basketball?

Well, the NCAA still hasn’t gone nuclear on Arizona and USC for transgressions that landed their assistant coaches in front of a judge. One of its teams even reached the second weekend of March Madness last spring.

And . . . that’s about it.

Key newcomer: Maddox Oh, OK, maybe it’s not all that Daniels (6-6, G) dire. Surely things have improved Key loss: Namon Wright a skosh since 2018, when the Outlook: So are you still a basscandal unfolded and the conferketball Luddite who prizes exence’s representatives were out perience over 5-star one-andof the NCAA Tournament before dones? Then the Buffs are your sundown on the first Thursday, Arizona State Sun Devils team. Colorado returns its top seamong other things. There are Coach: Bobby Hurley (73-58), ven scorers from a year ago, led by maybe five to seven teams that re- 5th year one of America’s undersung point alistically could be tournament2018-19 record: 23-11. Pac-12: guards, McKinley Wright IV. caliber, and new coaches have 12-6, 2nd Shane Gatling and D’Shawn been brought in to try and resurKey newcomers: Alonzo Schwartz are capable, if hot and rect respectability at Washington Verge Jr. (6-3, G), Khalid Thomas cold, shooters at the wing, and State and Cal. there’s a double-double grinder (6-9, F), Andre Allen (6-9, F) Still, only two Pac-12 teams – Key losses: Luguentz Dort, up front in Tyler Bey, blossoming Oregon and Arizona – cracked Zylan Cheatham, De’Quon Lake into one of the Pac-12’s best the AP’s initial Top 25, and it Outlook: Is Remy Martin rea- players. Evan Battey and Lucas didn’t particularly bode well for dy to be the Devils’ marquee Siewert bring different skills to the conference’s talent pool when player? The playmaking guard the other inside role, and JC newsix players declared for June’s may not have a choice in the wake comer Maddox Daniels could NBA draft and weren’t even of the departure of Luguentz Dort have a role as a defender and perselected. and other roster turnover if the imeter scorer.

So on the national front there Devils want to sustain their reare still challenges. Doesn’t mean cent gains. Guard Rob Edwards, a Oregon Ducks the conference race can’t be some premium shooter, and forward Coach: Dana Altman (235fun, though.

Kimani Lawrence also return as 96), 10th year Oregon’s annual remake starters, but the intrigue comes 2018-19 record: 25-13. Pac-12: showed mixed dividends last year from Alonzo Verge Jr., who blew 10-8, 4th (tie) – just a fourth-place finish in the up in junior college to the tune of Key newcomers: C.J. Walkconference, but a Sweet 16 run. 30.9 points and 8.2 assists per er (6-8, F), N’Faly Dante (6-11, C), Now the Ducks have reloaded game. Two other JC imports, Anthony Mathis (6-3, G), Shakur again with a mix of transfers and Khalid Thomas and Andre Allen, Juiston (6-7, F) two standout recruits who reclas- will join improving Taeshon Key losses: Bol Bol, Louis sified from the 2020 high school Cherry in the frontcourt.

King, Paul White, Kenny Wooten class to join the team this year – Outlook: Payton Pritchard though the NCAA has decided California Golden Bears must be good at introductions that 6-foot-11 N’Faly Dante will and farewells by now. The Ducks’ Coach: Mark Fox, 1st year have to sit the first nine games.

2018-19 record: 8-23. Pac-12: senior point guard seems to be the Likewise, Washington has used 3-15, 12th only smidgen of stability in Oreto a top-tier recruiting class – inKey newcomers: Kareem gon’s annual As the Roster Turns cluding three McDonald’s All- South (6-3, G), Kuany Kuany (6-9, drama. Which makes him the Americans – to restock a roster F), D.J. Thorpe (6-8, F) right guy to pull together Dana gutted by graduation after a 27-9 Key losses: Justice Sueing, Altman’s latest wave of top-level season.

Darius McNeill, Connor Vanover talent, which includes grad transAnd yet both could be looking Outlook: Mark Fox’s tenure fers Shakur Juiston, a rugged up at Colorado – yes, Colorado – at Georgia came to a desultory board man from UNLV, and New at the end. end – no NCAA appearances his Mexico’s top scorer Anthony The Buffaloes haven’t won a final three years. But even that Mathis, once Pritchard’s high regular season conference cham- looks like an upgrade at Cal after school teammate. But it’s the pionship anywhere since taking back-to-back eight-win seasons. youngsters who stir the imaginthe 1969 Big Eight title, but will The Bears don’t have to be that ation. Shot-blocking phenom try to make it happen the old- bad this year, but they may not be N’Faly Dante and Canadian guard fashioned way – with an experi- a lot better. Guard Paris Austin is Addison Patterson both reclassienced roster constructed pains- one of two returning starters, fied to enroll in 2019, and forward takingly without visiting the with grad transfer Kareem South C.J. Walker is a 5-star prospect. transfer portal. joining the battle in the backAnd lurking in case the favo- court. But the Bears’ awful shootOregon State Beavers rites falter is Arizona, back after ing needs to improve, and perCoach: Wayne Tinkle (75-83), scandal and attrition sucked out haps sophomore Mark Bradley 6th year the heart of its 2019 season and will be an answer. Cal’s holdovers 2018-19 record: 18-13. Pac-12: ready to contend, presuming the up front will get a push from in- 10-8, 4th (tie) NCAA ax doesn’t somehow fall ternational freshmen Kuany KuaKey newcomers: Sean Millbefore the season is done. ny and Lars Thiemann. er-Moore (6-5, G), Jarod Lucas (6-3, G), Payton Dastrup (6-10, F), Dearon Tucker (6-10, F) Arizona Wildcats Colorado Buffaloes Coach: Sean Miller (264-89), Coach: Tad Boyle (189-123), Key losses: Stephen Thomp11th year 10th year son, Gligorje Rakocevic 2018-19 record: 17-15. Pac-12: 2018-19 record: 23-13. Pac-12: Outlook: Tres Tinkle’s de8-10, 8th (tie) 10-8, 4th (tie) cision to pull out of the NBA draft

might have been less about further developing his stock and more about getting his dad’s team back to the NCAA Tournament. With standout guard Ethan Thompson doing the same, the Beavers have two big pieces – but can the Beavers put enough around them?

Center Kylor Kelley, the Pac-12’s top shot blocker, is a good start, but the Beavers need a breakout from shooter Alfred Hollins and contributions from newcomers.

Guard Jarod Lucas is the most likely, but JC find Sean MillerMoore has a bouncy game that could cause problems for opponents.

Stanford Cardinal

Outlook: Here comes the latest crackerjack recruiting class from Andy Enfield, and maybe this time he can goose the most out of it. Around two proven producers in Nick Rakocevic and Jonah Matthews, Enfield will sprinkle in grad transfers Daniel Utomi and Quinton Adlesh – double-figure scorers at Akron and Columbia, respectively – and some gifted freshmen. Onyeka Okongwu and Isaiah Mobley are potential one-and-dones up front, while Kyle Sturdivant and Ethan Anderson had athleticism at guard.

There’s even the chance footballer Drake London can offer some help, along with Charles O’Bannon Jr., who missed most of 2019 with an injury.

Coach: Jerod Haase (48-49), 4th year 2018-19 record: 15-16. Pac-12: Utah Utes 8-10, 8th (tie) Coach: Larry Krystkowiak Key newcomers: Tyrell Ter- (155-111), 9th year ry (6-1, G), Spencer Jones (6-7, F), 2018-19 record: 17-14. Pac-12: Keenan Fitzmorris (7-0, C) 11-7, 3rd Key losses: KZ Okpala, Josh Key newcomers: Rylan Sharma, Cormac Ryan Jones (6-1, G), Jaxon Brenchley Outlook: After a promising (6-5, G), Mikael Jantunen (6-8, step forward in 2018, suddenly it F), Alfonso Plummer (6-1, G), seems as if the clock has started Key losses: Sedrick Bareticking on Jerod Haase, whose field, Donnie Tillman, Parker Van three-year tenure has not been an Dyke, Jayce Johnson improvement on the previous reOutlook: Maybe no team in gime. Losing the splendid Okpala college basketball experienced to the pros will not help. But the roster upheaval of the Utes, there’s one of the Pac-12’s best who were riddled by transfer baipoint guards in Daejon Davis, louts and wound up with a roster though that also happens to be that lists no fewer than 11 freshthe position played by the top men. Which leaves three sophofreshman recruit, Tyrell Terry. mores central to Utah’s hopes.

No one up front approximates Forward Timmy Allen becomes Okpala’s skill set, but Oscar da Sil- the Utes’ immediate go-to option, va seems ready to become a go-to but 6-7 Both Gach and 6-9 Riley and 7-footer Keenan Fitzmorris Battin offer dynamic, skilled play, will have to develop quickly after though both must improve on the a redshirt year. defensive end. JC sharpshooter Alfonso Plummer also offers some needed experience but UCLA Bruins Coach: Mick Cronin, 1st year some of those freshmen will have 2018-19 record: 17-16. Pac-12: to help – guard Rylan Jones and two-way forward Mikael Jantu9-9, 7th Key newcomers: Shareef nen being the most likely.

O’Neal (6-9, F), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (6-6, G), Tyger Campbell (5-11, G) Washington Huskies Key losses: Kris Wilkes, JayCoach: Mike Hopkins (48len Hands, Moses Brown 22), 3rd year Outlook: Mick Cronin was 2018-19 record: 27-9. Pac-12: hardly UCLA’s first choice to 15-3, 1st clean up after the Steve Alford Key newcomers: Isaiah Stecollapse, but he may turn out to be wart (6-9, F), Jaden McDaniels the guy to restore some of the (6-10, F), Quade Green (6-0, G) toughness that was the hallmark Key losses: Jaylen Nowell, of Ben Howland’s tenure when Matisse Thybulle, Noah Dickerthe Bruins enjoyed Final Four son, David Crisp success. Of course, there’s but a Outlook: Washington’s exsingle returning starter – fifth- perienced core paid dividends year senior Prince Ali – but there with a Pac-12 regular-season title is talent. Shareef O’Neal, Shaq’s and NCAA berth last year, and kid, has been cleared to play after now Mike Hopkins will try to a heart condition sidelined him duplicate it with youth – but reallast year, and forwards Cody Ri- ly talented youth. The third-year ley and Jalen Hill and rangy coach landed two national Top 10 guard Chris Smith and Jalen Hill recruits in forwards Isaiah Steall seem due for breakout seasons wart and Jaden McDaniels, who – or at least fresh starts. don’t figure to be around long.

Just as key is Kentucky transfer Quade Green, a 3-point sniper at USC Trojans Coach: Andy Enfield (110-93), the point guard position who is awaiting an NCAA decision on his 7th year 2018-19 record: 16-17. Pac-12: pending eligibility. Among the holdovers, Nahziah Carter and 8-10, 8th (tie) Key newcomers: Isaiah Mo- Hameir Wright will log importbley (6-10, F), Daniel Utomi (6-6, ant minutes. The question is, can G), Quinton Adlesh (6-1, G), so many youngsters grasp the nuances of Hopkins’ zone deOnyeka Okongwu (6-9, F) Key losses: Bennie Boat- fense? wright, Kevin Porter Jr., Derryck See Washington State preview Thornton, Shaqquan Aaron on Page 16

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KATHY PLONKA/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Washington State forward CJ Elleby, left, worked out for several NBA teams during the offseason before electing to return to the Cougars for his sophomore campaign.

BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA WSU MEN

Smith brings ‘Nerdball’ to Cougar basketball

By Theo Lawson THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The first year of the Kyle Smith era at Washington State won’t be as telling as the second or third, but a program that averaged 11 wins per season under Ernie Kent and never won more than 13 should expect to be more competitive, and more capable on defense, than it has in the past.

Backcourt When Ahmed Ali elected to transfer in August, it opened up a late roster spot for Smith. The coach spent it wisely, picking up Texas State graduate transfer Jaylen Shead, who started for the Bobcats’ 24-win team in 2018-19 and led the Sun Belt in assist-toturnover ratio. Another former Division I player, Isaac Bonton, could anchor the other starting backcourt spot for Smith. Bonton, an explosive slasher, most recently played at Casper College in Wyoming, where he scored 21.3 ppg, but began his career at Montana State. Marvin Cannon, another athletic guard, returns after starting in 20 of 32 games last season and hitting the 20-point plateau twice.

Frontcourt CJ Elleby was one of the conference’s most dynamic freshmen in 2018-19 and will be counted on to carry the scoring and rebounding load with the departure of Robert Franks, who’s now a two-way player for the Charlotte Hornets. Elleby led WSU with 28 games started last season, averaging 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds. Former Utah State forward Daron Henson brings Division I experience to the frontcourt, as does Deion James, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound grad transfer from Colorado State who made 21 starts for the Rams in 2017-18 before redshirting last year due to an injury.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington State head coach Kyle Smith employs an analytical approach to his profession.

PLAYER TO WATCH He could’ve tried his luck in the pros, but after testing NBA Draft waters CJ ELLEBY elected to return to WSU for his sophomore season, giving Kyle Smith an elite scorer and top-end rebounder in his first season at the helm. After working out for the Sixers, Rockets, Celtics, Hawks, Bucks and Pacers, Elleby was encouraged to emphasize his defense, so it doesn’t hurt that he’s playing for a coach who places a high priority on that as well. Elleby broke WSU’s freshman scoring record, moving past the likes of Klay Thompson and Steve Puidokas with 471 points.

Bench If Jeff Pollard isn’t in the starting five, the senior captain who elected to stay in Pullman after spending time in the transfer portal will be the first option off the bench. Nobody on the roster has more Pac-12 games under his belt than the 6-9 forward and Pollard’s commitment to defense should make him a valuable asset in the new regime.

Freshman guard Noah Williams should push for a starting role, too, but the 6-5 combo guard from Seattle will be part of the rotation nonetheless. The son of former WSU point guard Guy “The Fly” Williams was an All-Metro League football player and averaged 17.5 points per game on the hardwood

while leading O’Dea to a 3A championship.

Coaching Smith and his coaches track more than 50 statistical categories for each player – everything from how many “blow bys” or “fly bys” they allow on defense, to how many feet they have in the paint in rebounding situations.

Assigning value to every player allows coaches to have a better understanding of what the team does well and which players are more deserving of floor time. At USF, Smith’s style was known as “Nerdball,” but some WSU fans have urged the coach to

adopt the nickname “Data Raid.” Smith hired his former director of operations at USF, John Andrzejek, to be a top analytics assistant. Another assistant, Jim Shaw, is a former UW assistant who’ll help with the Cougars’ recruiting presence in Seattle and the Northwest.

Key games Fans should flock to Pullman for a Jan. 18 game against Oregon State, and not necessarily for the Cougars or the Beavers. That’s when Washington State will enshrine standout shooting guard and three-time NBA

champion Klay Thompson, who’ll become just the second player in program history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Less than a month later WSU will celebrate the career of George Raveling, and the Cougars will hold a halftime ceremony for their former coach when the Washington Huskies bring highly-regarded freshmen Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart to town on Feb. 9. WSU, which went 0-2 against its rival last season, makes a return trip to Seattle on Feb. 28.

The nonconference schedule was assembled by Smith’s predecessor and is mostly filled with non-intriguing games against low-major opponents. But the Cougars should be tested in their Nov. 7 season opener against Seattle U, led by former Eastern Washington coach Jim Hayford, and they play WAC frontrunner New Mexico State in Spokane on Dec. 7. WSU travels to the Caribbean in late November for the Cayman Islands Classic, where the Cougars open against Nebraska. They could see NMSU there, too, which would signify the third of four meetings between the schools in just two seasons.

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COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Eastern Washington guard Jacob Davison fired in a season-best 41 points against Northern Arizona last season.

EAGLES SOARING SKY HIGH PLAYER TO WATCH

EWU MEN

EWU favored to win conference title

By Ryan Collingwood

He doesn’t have the resume of Jacob Davison and Mason Peatling, but KIM AIKEN JR.’s upside is massive, The 6-7 forward seemingly improved each game last season, creating matchup problems with his ability to shoot the long jumper, put down thunderous dunks and defend both guards and bigs.

He scored in double figures in six of EWU’s last nine games last season and is widely expected to continue that level of production.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Coaches around the Big Sky Conference believe experienced, talent-stocked Eastern Washington has the means to clear a hurdle that’s tripped the Eagles the last two seasons: The Big Sky Tournament championship game.

So does EWU. Now it’s eager to prove it.

EWU, picked first in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll, returns two of the league’s premier players in forward Mason Peatling, guard Jacob Davison and a rising talent in explosive swingman Kim Aiken Jr., an AllBig Sky Tournament team selection as a freshman last season.

Throw in veterans Jack Perry and Tyler Kidd – point guards with a combined 57 career starts – and a touted incoming freshmen class, and the preseason hype is justified.

The Eagles are aiming for the program’s third NCAA Tournament berth, the previous two trips coming in 2015 and 2004.

“The last couple of years we’ve been lucky

enough to get to the championship game but lost to Montana both times,” EWU head coach Shantay Legans said. “The players think that a lot, and I’ve thought about that all the time.

“We just have to get better, and that come tournament time we have the depth to get back.”

Backcourt Before Davison, an All-Big Sky talent, went down with a late-season injury that sidelined him for last year’s Big Sky Tournament, the spring-heeled junior averaged 24 points in a nine-game Big Sky stretch.

He looks even better this year, Legans said, and will complemented by a pair of experienced distributors in Kidd and Perry.

“I think I’ve improved my game since the injury, but mentality is the same,” Davison said.

Legans is also high on true freshman point

guard Ellis Magnuson, a Boise product who was the USA Today Idaho Player of the Year after leading Borah High to a 5A state title.

Frontcourt Peatling (15 ppg, 7 rpg), a 6-foot-8 senior who is both physical inside and a capable shooter, missed 12 games last season and still earned All-Big Sky distinction the previous two seasons.

Leadership is also one of Peatling’s biggest assets, and he’ll help lead a young group of big men who will be counted on to provide depth to the Eagles’ frontcourt.

“I got to spend a lot of time with the younger guys this summer to help get them up to speed,” Peatling said. “And I was healthy, so I got to work a lot on my individual game.”

Shadle Park product Tanner Groves appeared in 28 games as a redshirt freshman last season and helped spell the Eagles’ senior big men. His role is expected to in-

crease, and fellow 6-8 forward and true freshman Abdullah Mohamed also brings a big body to the guard-heavy Eagles.

Bench The Eagles’ depth at guard could be boosted by Steven Beo – if he’s healthy.

Beo played as a true freshman at BYU before sitting out the 2017-2018 season due to NCAA transfers. He missed all but three games last season due to a knee injury.

He’s “awesome” when healthy, Legans said of Beo, who once led the state of Washington in scoring (27.7 ppg) at Richland High.

True freshmen Steele Venters (Ellensburg) and Jacob Groves (Shadle Park) – both 6-7 shooters – could also see the floor in their first year of college baskeball.

Coaching Despite suffering a slew of injuries last season, Legans had EWU playing its best basketball for the second straight year.

Legans and his 3-pointer-heavy squad are a combined 29-15 against Big Sky foes the last two seasons, A former California Bear and Fresno State Bulldog point guard, Legans can etch his name into EWU lore if the Eagles live up to lofty preseason expectations.

If the Eagles reach the NCAA Tournament, Legans would have done it faster than any previous EWU coach.

PLAYER TO WATCH

IDAHO MEN

Vandals look ahead after upheaval Promoted coach Claus carries interim label

By Peter Harriman FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

from four key returners plus Wilson and 10 newcomers is talented and fully invested in playing for the Vandals. However, a seasonopening exhibition loss to Division II Central Washington, 8881, suggests Idaho’s transition game is far ahead of its set offense.

While the Vandals showed they could play tight, harassing defense they only did it sporadically and not against Division I talent.

Emerging from a season of discontent even William Shakespeare’s malevolent King Richard would have found bleak, the rebuilt Idaho Vandals are looking for better days. And where Richard cried forlornly for “a horse, a horse,” the Vandals have the prospect of one racing to their rescue in January. Oregon State junior transfer Jack Wilson will be Backcourt eligible then. Horse, indeed. A 7Senior Trevon Allen is Idaho’s footer quick as a small forward, leader. Though spending time at built like a tight end, who can small forward, he has played both shoot threes like a guard improves guard positions and can seamlessalmost everything on a basketball ly shift from front court to back. court.

Allen led the Vandals in scoring at Until then, however, Idaho may 14 points last year and averaged have a time of it trying to emerge four rebounds and three assists. from the shadow of last season’s Marquell Fraser returns from a young team that plummeted to 5 season cut short by injury after 8 wins following 5 years of averag- games with a healed hip and, ing nearly 20. That unsatisfying seemingly, an expanded role. Last campaign was only the start of the year, at 6-3, 200 pounds, Fraser Vandals’ woes. Coach Don Verlin was a rebounder and defensive was suspended and subsequently enforcer. Against CWU, he fired in June following allegations grabbed six boards and made a of several seemingly minor NCAA steal but also lit up the Wildcats violations, and seven players left with 20 points on 7-of-14 shootthe program. ing, 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Interim coach Zac Claus says Ja’Vary Christmas, 6-3, origthe team he stitched together inally an Oregon redshirt before

PETE CASTER/LEWISTON TRIBUNE

Idaho senior Trevon Allen led the Vandals in scoring last season with 14 points per game. leading Sheridan College to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament last year, and Keyhaad Dixon, 6-1, who led his junior college Ranger College team to the NJCAA title game, should be key newcomers at guard. Junior swingman Chance Garvin, 6-4, added valuable depth and experience but suffered a knee injury in the opening exhibition.

Frontcourt Scott Blakney, 6-8 junior, averaged 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds a year ago. He and graduate transfer Quinton Forrest, 6-4, 230, will anchor Idaho’s interior until Wilson can play. Forrest had stops at Bethune Cookman and Jacksonville before coming to Idaho. He is an adept scorer inside and a powerful rebounder.

Bench Babacar Thiombane, 6-7, opened the season as a reserve but

may find his way into the starting lineup soon. He averaged 9.1 points, 7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks last year at East Los Angeles College. Three steals and two blocks in the opening exhibition keyed by his quickness, jumping ability and long arms suggest Thiombane is up to the task of guarding Big Sky players. Khadim Samb, 6-6, began finding playing time for the Vandals as a freshman about onethird of the way through the season. He finished averaging four points and two rebounds in 21 games. He and Thiombane are similarly skilled.

Backcourt reserves include Isaac Berglund, a 6-2 freshman from Deer Park, and Gabe Quinnett, 6-4, from Moscow High School.

Coaching Following four years as an assistant at Idaho, Zac Claus took over as interim head coach in July. Before his tenure in Moscow,

The Big Sky Conference doesn’t see many post players like JACK WILSON, 7-0 and 247 pounds.

He played briefly at Oregon State last year before suffering a back injury. He transferred to Idaho and will be eligible to play for the Vandals in January.

In high school, Wilson was a four-star recruit, averaging 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a junior. He missed his senior season of high school with a back injury.

In practice with the Vandals, Wilson moves exceptionally quick.

At the same time, he uses his size to control the paint as a close-in scorer, rebounder, screener and passer. He can also give defenders fits with an accurate shooting touch from the high post and even beyond the three-point line.

Claus spent four years as an assistant and six as director of basketball operations at Nevada. Before that, he was at Sacramento State three years as an assistant and spent a year each as director of basketball operations and as an assistant at Portland State. He also coached for a year each at Nebraska Wesleyan and at Austin College. Claus played two seasons for Eastern Washington University, graduating in 1998. He had prior stops at Creighton and Nebraska.

Tim Murphy returns for a ninth season working with Idaho’s big men. Newcomers to the coaching staff are Doug Novsek and Kenny Tripp.

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COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Whitworth senior guard Ben College led the Pirates in scoring last season and is the team’s best shooter from the perimeter.

PIRATES STARTING ANEW PLAYER TO WATCH

WHITWORTH MEN

Defense a cornerstone of successful program

By Dan Thompson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Having established a foundation of excellence, the Whitworth Pirates are doing their best to maintain it.

Gone is Matt Logie, the men's basketball coach the last eight years. And gone is Kyle Roach, a Northwest Conference player of the year and one of the great players in Whitworth history. The challenge for the Pirates this year is to prove that the program can withstand turnover.

Backcourt The Pirates’ greatest asset is senior Ben College, the team’s leading scorer a year ago (19.7 ppg) who sank 43.1% of his 3-point attempts.

“I don’t think I’ve played with a better shooter,” said senior Sam Lees. “He has the greenest of lights, and even a tough shot for

Last November, GARRETT HULL suffered a season-ending knee injury that ended the season for arguably the team’s best defender.

Hull was on the sidelines in practices this fall, and while he has not yet been cleared to play, the senior is progressing just as the team hoped, coach Damion Jablonski said. That bodes well for the Pirates.

“It makes all the difference in the world. The guy does all the little things.

He’s great at what he does,” teammate Ben College said. “It showed his junior year when he was an all-conference caliber player, and its someone we really miss when he’s not on the court. We’re looking forward to having him back.”

him is a high-percentage look.”

College will be the focal point of the Pirates offense. But Whitworth’s most proven corps is its backcourt with senior Jordan Lester (12.5 points and six assists per game) and junior Isaiah Hernandez (8.4 ppg and 40.0% from beyond the arc) expected to step up their production to fill the void left by Roach’s graduation.

Frontcourt Jared Christy and Ben Bishop held down the forward and post positions last year, making all 27 possible starts. That void will be filled by a cast of characters, for whom

the distribution of minutes has yet to be determined by coach Damion Jablonski.

“There’s been some guys who have come back in a better shape and just in better condition and with a good mentality to compete,” Jablonski said. “Chewy Zevenbergen has done an excellent job in his transition from last year to this year. He always brings a lot of energy, rebounding, (and) physicality.”

Behind him, it gets less clear. Lees, at 6foot-4, will get his share of minutes at forward, but junior Reed Brown and sophomores JT McDermott and Liam Fitzgerald will have their opportunities as well.

“They each bring something different and important to the table,” College said of the team’s post players. “I can’t tell how everything’s gonna shake out right now, but what I can say is, they’re all working really hard.”

Bench Jablonski said he had ideas but hadn’t yet settled on a rotation, be it an eight-man or something longer than it has been in the past. With seniors consuming 49.7% of the team’s minutes last season, there are a number of unknowns as to who will provide the Pirates their depth.

Coaching Jablonski said if there is any tweak to be made to what he and Logie did during their time together (when Jablonski was associate head coach), it is that the new head coach will put a greater emphasis on defense as the NWC picks up its collective pace offensively. In practices so far, that’s been the case, players said.

“We have to problem solve, where previously we were a little more scripted and I think we’d often overthink things,” Lees said. “I think our defense is more reactionary in a good way.”

WHITWORTH-CCS-NIC WOMEN

North Idaho returns talent, experience

Underclassmen power Pirates CCS, NIC seeking NWAC tourney berths

By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Whitworth was a hair short of reaching the Northwest Conference tournament in coach Joial Griffith’s first year, a transitional season with a relatively young squad.

The Pirates will be even younger this winter, looking to improve on last year’s 13-12 mark.

Whitworth was dealt a loss in the offseason when its best player, two-time All-NWC guard and leading scorer Camy Aguinaldo, transferred to conference foe Pacific.

But the underclassmen-led Pirates – a team with two seniors, no juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen – return a few contributors, including starting forward Megan Dorney and guard Jordan Smith, a Mt. Spokane product.

Dorney (7.7 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game) and Smith (8.3 ppg) have the most experience, but guards Sydney Abbott (6.5 ppg) – a Davenport graduate – and Talia Brander (8.2 ppg)

registered starts last season and were big off the bench.

Former Northwest Christian standout forward Courtney Gray is also back after starting five games last season in a bounceback year, having sat the 20172018 due to a knee injury.

Griffith, who last year replaced longtime coach Helen Higgs, brought in more local talent in her first true recruiting class after being hired in March 2018.

The Pirates added a big scorer in freshman Quincy McDeid, an All-Greater Spokane League talent at North Central who set the school’s all-time scoring mark (1,234 points).

Former St. George’s star Abby Jones and ex-Mead guard Alexa Brandt are also among the sizable freshmen class.

Whitworth opens its season Nov. 9 at Colorado College.

Spokane hopes for health, more wins The Community Colleges of Spokane women’s basketball team has had the talent to be in the last two Northwest Confer-

DAN PELLE/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Whitworth women’s basketball coach Joial Griffith guided the Pirates to a 13-12 record last season. ence tournaments.

Unfortunately for the Sasquatch, much of that talent was glued to the bench with injuries.

Playing in the brawny East Region didn’t help matters.

Bruce Johnson, the longesttenured head women’s basketball coach in the NWAC, believes the 2019-2020 edition of his squad has the means to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017, when it captured both East Region and NWAC titles.

“But we have to stay healthy,” said the head coach who will retire at the end of the season after 32 years. “We’re going to be one of the smallest teams in the East Region.”

CCS, which finished 14-13 last season, does return a longer guard in its best returning player, former Lapwai sensation and All-

East Region selection Koyama Young.

The versatile, 5-foot-8 Young led the Sasquatch in scoring (14 ppg) and pulled down six rebounds nearly three assists a game.

CCS also returns starting guard Katlyn Ostrowski (8.7 ppg) and two ex-Shadle Park products in guards Makenna Grier and Willow Risinger. Shae Anderson returns at forward, starting two games last season and primarily coming off the bench.

Johnson also brought in a few talented locals, including freshman Faith Adams, the former East Valley star who led the Knights to the 2A state title game earlier this year.

CCS opens its season Nov. 15 at home against a CCS alumni squad.

North Idaho went 20-9 and reached its second straight NWAC tournament a season ago.

Two of its better players – Alivia Williams and Heidi Sellman – since have left Rolly Williams Court, taking their respective games to the University of AlaskaAnchorage and Lewis-Clark State.

Just about everyone else is back, though.

Longtime NIC coach Chris Carlson welcomed back three returning starters, including forward Keara Simpson (12.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.6 apg) and guards Alex Carlton (10.6 ppg) and Halle Eborall (7.5 ppg).

Simson, a former Lake City star, is a double-double machine who earned All-East Region honors earlier this year.

Montana products and guards Sydnie Petersen and Anna Schrade also started a few games last season, each averaging 20 minutes a contest.

Carlson said this is the most experience he’s had since NIC -a former NJCAA member who won a national title in 2010 – moved to the NWAC in 2016.

“At a two-year college, when you have this much experience that’s pretty awesome,” Carlson said. “We have what it takes (to win a East Region and NWAC title), but it’s a long season. (We) have to stay healthy and motivated.”

The Cardinals open their season Nov. 18 against Cochise College in Mesa, Arizona.

SPECIAL 20

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THURSDAY

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OCTOBER 31, 2019

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

North Idaho point guard Nate Pryor (1) battles for a rebound with Community Colleges of Spokane forward Garrett White (22) in an NWAC contest in February.

SASQUATCH STEPPING UP CCS & NIC MEN

plant NIC as the East’s best team in the tournament.

No postseason for talented Cardinals

Hard-working Spokane ready for more

By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Northwest Athletic Conference’s East Region flexed its muscle on the 34-team junior college athletic association in March.

Three of the region’s men’s basketball squads – North Idaho, Walla Walla and Community Colleges of Spokane – reached the NWAC Final Four. They finished 1-2-3.

Each of those three programs has won a NWAC Tournament title since 2016, affirming the East Region’s depth.

But an offseason of controversy will have a big effect on the next three NWAC tournaments.

North Idaho is banned from the postseason from 2020-22, the result of an NWAC investigation stemming from the program’s extra benefits for student-athlete housing.

The Cardinals were forced to vacate their 2018 and 2019 NWAC tournament titles, one of the several sanctions the Coeur d’Alene team was handed.

North Idaho is still loaded, though, and looks to move forward under veteran head coach Corey Symons.

Community Colleges of Spokane, often one of the top scoring teams in the NWAC and annually in trophy contention, looks to sup-

RETURNERS Continued from 10 6 Those duties are on the to-do list for all four returners, but more so for the most seasoned players in Tillie and Kispert, and to a some degree Gilder and Woolridge. The four have played in 343 career games, with Gilder’s 98 for Texas A&M and Woolridge’s 89 for North Texas.

Kispert and Petrusev might see the biggest adjustments in their roles. Kispert was reliable last season, but considered more of a secondary scorer on a team with plentiful options. His job description has changed and he’s off to a promising start after dropping 28 points on Michigan State in a closed scrimmage on Oct. 19.

“Everything from shooting, putting up more shots, ball-handling more, being an emotional and vocal leader all falls on my shoulders for year three,” the junior wing said. “I learned from a lot of really good players the last few years, and I think I have what it takes to take on a new role with everything that comes with it.”

Petrusev was an effective scorer last year coming off the bench but had lapses at the defensive end. The 6-11 Serbian native should move into the starting unit and have ample opportunities with extended playing time. Last year he was the third big in the ro-

NEWCOMERS Continued from 117 “The coaches have been great and so have the older guys, especially (Killian) Tillie and Corey (Kispert),” Timme said earlier this month. “They’ve really been teaching us because it’s a lot, it’s a lot getting thrown at you early and you have to be on it. Now we’re starting to get comfortable.”

Watson has stepped in at the ‘4’ with Tillie sidelined by knee surgery. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Timme should be a regular in the rotation. Another option is the 611, 235-pound Zakharov. Incoming

Eighth-year CCS coach Jeremy Groth’s teams have always been able to light up the scoreboard.

He expects much of the same in the coming months, but that’s not what the former Curlew star likes most about this team.

“This is one of the tougher teams I’ve ever coached,” said Groth, whose team averaged 87 points a game last season. “We have a lot of hard workers on this team.”

CCS was sophomore-heavy when it went 22-10 last season and returns two players who saw substantial time in forward Garrett White (North Idaho Christian) and guard Tanner McClimentCall (Post Falls).

tation and dropped to fourth when Tillie was available.

Petrusev does his best work in the paint but has the ability to stretch the floor (9 of 30 on 3s last season). It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him double his scoring (6.5) and rebounding (2.7) averages from last season.

“He’s going to be our main big guy, a huge piece for our offense,” Tillie said. “He scores quickly, finds ways to get rebounds, duckins, post-ups, hit a 3.”

Ayayi redshirted as a freshman and barely saw court time last season, but the 6-5 guard has continued to mature and develop his game after enrolling at Gonzaga at age 17.

He starred on France’s U18 and U19 teams the past two summers, showing an improved 3-point shot and the ability to penetrate and finish. Ayayi looks to be the first guard off the bench and see a significant increase in playing time.

“I think he had 10 points against Michigan State,” assistant coach Tommy Lloyd said.

“He’s been really consistent and he was really good in practice last year. He’s had a good fall. We were all surprised by how far he had to go when he first got here, but he’s done the work and he never complained about not playing.”

An opportunity to step into the spotlight awaits Ayayi, Tillie, Kispert and Petrusev.

“For sure,” Tillie said, “everybody is going to get a bigger role.”

freshman center Oumar Ballo would have been another option, but he was declared an academic redshirt by the NCAA on Monday.

He won’t play in games, but remains on scholarship and can practice with the team.

Ravet, the all-time leading scorer in Washington prep history, is expected to see time as a backup guard.

Gonzaga has utilized true freshmen throughout its rise to national prominence and several cracked the starting lineup over the past decade: Elias Harris (2010), Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos in 2012 and current Zag Corey Kispert, who started the first seven games

White, a second-team All-East Region selection, averaged 13.9 points and six rebounds.

Groth signed another North Idaho product, 6-foot-11 Josiah Haaland from Lakeland High School, who he believes will boost the Sasquatch frontcourt and continue to develop.

“You just don’t see that kind of size in the NWAC,” Groth said of Haaland, son of former Gonzaga forward Dale Haaland.

The Sasquatch open their season Nov. 15 against a CCS alumni team.

North Idaho still experienced, talented North Idaho, which is 81-15 since joining the NWAC in 2016, lost league MVP RayQuan Evans to Florida State and forward Alphonso Anderson to Utah State.

But the Cardinals return six

players from a team that beat each of its NWAC opponents by an average of 32 points last season, including leading scorer and Division I recruit Nate Pryor (18.9 ppg, 5.3 assists per game).

Emmitt Taylor, the team’s best long-range shooter (114 3-pointers), is also back, as well as dependable guard Phillip Malatare (8.3 ppg, 3.3 apg).

The Cardinals are still big, featuring 6-foot-11 Yusuf Mohamed and 6-9 forwards James Carlson and Ismael Valdez.

North Idaho picked up a Division I transfer in the offseason in former Coeur d’Alene star Joey Naccarato, a 6-4 guard who saw time as a true freshman at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

The Cardinals open their season Nov. 15 against Chemeketa CC at the Harold Williams Invitational in Portland.

TYLER TJOMSLAND/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Bulldogs forward Killian Tillie celebrates during the second half of a 100-74 West Coast Conference semifinal win over Pepperdine. He had 9 points and 6 rebounds.

two seasons ago before suffering an ankle injury.

More often, freshmen have come off the bench, including the run of talented big men Kelly Olynyk, Przemek Karnowski, Domantas Sabonis, Zach Collins, Rui Hachimura and Tillie. Four of those players were NBA lottery picks.

“I just try to tell them every day to focus on something you’re not good at, and focus on what the coaches are telling you to do and get better at that,” said Bell, now a Gonzaga grad assistant. “Once you get better at that, you can focus on the next thing. You’re learning on the fly, everything is pretty new and you have to stay confident.

“You’re messing up in practice a lot and the coaches are on you, but think of it as a learning experience and not that they’re mad at me.”

There are bound to be plenty of ups and downs.

“They’re super talented and clearly want it. They’re all gym rats, all run around in a pack together, whether it’s going to class or getting food or working out,” Kispert said of the freshmen.

“We’ll finish up practice and it’s, ‘Wow, we look pretty good.’ We’ll also finish up a practice and it’s, ‘Wow, do we even know each other?’ But every day we’re getting better and making huge leaps toward getting better.”

The Michigan State scrimmage on Oct. 19 boosted confidence, but the learning process never stops.

Watson said the freshmen rely on instruction from the coaching staff and returning players.

“The guys that have been around know coach Few and the assistant coaches and they’ve helped us with the offense and how practice is going to be,” Watson said. “They’re helping slow the process.

“At first it was kind of tough because it was coming so fast, but once you get used to it, it’s a smooth offense. I think it’s going to work out if we just stay focused on the plan.”