Tuesday morning links from WSU
COUGARS
FRFOM PULLMAN -- Not a whole lot to report from Pullman itself this morning -- the basketball team had yesterday off and doesn't play until Thursday -- though there are a few items here and there that are worth your attention. With that, read on.
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We noted briefly on the blog last night that WSU forward Brock Motum has been named Pac-12 Player of the Week after he scored 23 points in two different games last week. ... Sean Kugler was introduced as the new coach at UTEP yesterday, and according to this story, he said that reports about Jeff Choate already being hired as defensive coordinator are inaccurate, noting that he hasn't even signed his own deal yet. Not sure I'd read a whole lot into that comment. WSU's assistants, after all, worked for quite a while before actually signing their contracts (they sign an employment agreement that allows them to begin working before a deal is finalized), so Kugler could simply mean that no paperwork has been signed yet. Or it could mean that Choate-to-UTEP isn't a done deal. Stay tuned on that front. ... The WSU football team reportedly picked up another pair of verbal commitments for the class of 2013 yesterday. Mutlple outlets reported the commitment of Dorsey High School cornerback Daquawn Brown, who committed to WSU after taking a visit to Washington. Braulio Perez also reported last night that the Cougars received a commitment from Jacob Seydel, a junior college offensive tackle. Here's Scout.com's list of WSU's known verbal commitments, which is now at 22, not counting a pair of players -- OL B.J. Salmonson and WR Robert Lewis -- who signed last February and are expected to enroll in January.
In Pac-12 football news ... Colorado hired its new coach yesterday -- Mike MacIntyre, who rebuilt San Jose State into a viable program. Arizona State has sold all of its travel packages for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, though tickets still remain. ... Oregon State has suspended its (alleged) bar-fighting trio. ... Interesting read here from Ken Goe about the problem with hand-picked successors as it pertains to state law in Oregon. ... The San Jose Mercury News wants to know whether Cal or Colorado hired the better coach.
In Pac-12 basketball news ... Arizona's game against Florida will feature two well-rested teams.
We'll be back with more from Ken Bone's press conference later today.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple