WSU up to 10th, but rough stretch ahead
PULLMAN – On the same day that Washington State secured a top-10 ranking for the first time in school history, the Cougars were also secure in the knowledge that a Pac-10 championship, with five games left in the season, goes through Friel Court.
The Cougars climbed to No. 10 in this week’s Associated Press poll – they’re 11th in the coaches poll. But what may be more significant for WSU is that it now controls its own destiny in the conference, something that would have seemed unimaginable not that long ago.
“I’ve never had this much fun in a season ever before,” forward Daven Harmeling said. “Obviously, we haven’t experienced this kind of success before, but going to practice every day, everything’s just been fun. It’s been a magical year that way.”
After embarking on a three-game road trip that begins Wednesday at Washington, WSU finishes its season in Beasley Coliseum, where it hosts conference-leading UCLA and third-place USC. And while five wins in the final five games may be asking a lot, getting them would give the Cougars the league championship because they would hold the tiebreaker against the Bruins.
Should both teams end up at 15-3 in the league, the Cougars would win out because both have losses to the same teams in the league. By virtue of a hypothetical better overall record against Division I opponents – the count would be 26-4 for WSU and 25-4 for UCLA, which also defeated Division II Chaminade this season – the top seed in the league tournament would go WSU’s way.
Given the natural propensity for people to think big, the Cougars are aware the talk about their team has changed dramatically.
“We’ve always had goals of winning a Pac-10 championship, and that’s a very realistic goal and very much in reach,” forward Ivory Clark said. “People around school and in class are talking about a national championship. I’m like, ‘Whoa. Let’s not get carried away.’ We’ve got the Huskies on Wednesday.”
And WSU is well aware of the fact its arch-rival will have an axe to grind in Seattle this week. The Cougars put a 28-point spanking on Washington in Pullman last month. And if that doesn’t serve as enough motivation, the Huskies – winners of five of six since that first game – need this game to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive.
“It’s so hard to think about (the conference race) because we have so many hard games coming up,” Harmeling said. “We’re so focused on Washington right now, and we know how badly they need to win to help their tournament resume. So we’re aware of that.
“If you think about all those games, whoa, it’s a tough task.”
If nothing else, the Cougars can travel this week comfortable in the knowledge they’ll be able to rest well following this game. WSU doesn’t play again until Feb. 22 after the Valentine’s Day matchup against Washington, so should have no trouble pouring its effort into winning a fourth consecutive game against the Huskies.
And as for that ranking? Well, the Cougars and head coach Tony Bennett have a well-rehearsed response ready when it comes up.
“Ten, 11, 14, it’s just a number,” Bennett said.