A Grip on Sports: Let it snow (college basketball coverage)

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Woke up this morning to snow on the deck. Everywhere else, too, including the limbs of every tree within our vision. Lots of snow. Is that the Big Fella’s way of saying college basketball season is upon us?

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• Why not? But there is a less obtrusive way to spread the news. The Spokesman-Review published its college basketball preview section this morning. Thousands of words, hundreds of prepositional phrases and dozens of inarguable points, though the last one isn’t going to stop us – or you probably.

But we won’t argue this and, hopefully, no one else will either: Snow or not on Nov. 4, we are lucky as heck to live in the Inland Northwest, where the college hoops is not just fun, it is great. Exceptional at certain times and in certain places.

In our lifetime we’ve been blessed to experience the talents of such players as diverse as Anton Watson and Derek Ravio at Gonzaga, Derrick Low and Efe Abogidi at Washington State, Rodney Stuckey and Marc Axton at Eastern Washington, Deon Watson and Victor Sanders at Idaho and Bryan DePew and Kenny Love at Whitworth. And on and on.

And that’s only among the men. From Courtney Vandersloot through Mikayla Ferenz through Delaney Hodgins to Charlisse Leger-Walker and beyond, the women’s game has shown its strength and excellence as well.

It’s our area’s strength. It has been our area’s strength for a long time. And will be in the foreseeable future.

Including the next few months. But it all starts now. And, luckily, we have a guide.

• S-R sports editor Ralph Walter, who writes himself occasionally, asked us a while back to write a few words about who we consider the ultimate Zag. The player who personified the run the school has put together the past two decades.

It was one of the toughest assignments he’s ever given us. Not just because it ended up involving math, either. After all, how do you answer a question like that without coming up with a mathematical equation? And what variables do you include?

We did our best Sheldon Cooper imitation and began filling up whiteboards.

We listed candidates. John Stockton. Matt Santagelo. Dan Dickau. Vandersloot. David Pendergraft. Sean Mallon. Adam Morrison. JP Batista. Heather Bowman. Mike Nilson. Raivio. Blake Stepp. Melody Kempton. Casey Calvary. Jeff Brown. Drew Timme. Jill Townsend. Ronny Turiaf. Richie Frahm. Domantas Sabonis. Przemek Karnowski. Mike Hart.

Too many names. We had to narrow down the list some way. But there were too many variables to consider as well.  

Personal connection. (Not surprisingly, being involved in the Spokane basketball community in a personal and professional way, there has been a lot of interaction.) Winning. Scoring. After-Gonzaga accomplishments. Intangibles.

Winning games is probably the ultimate variable as, to use a way-too-often-cited quote, it is why you play the game. In that regard, Karnowski is the ultimate Zag. But longevity is crucial to the Zags as well, as the school’s run of excellence is unmatched in some ways. Who helped lay the foundation for that? Or what?

We came to realize there are two elements at the base of the success. Selflessness and determination. Though both are exhibited at every successful program, Mark Few has built upon those two above all else.

So, who personifies them more than anyone?

If you want to know who we chose, you’ll have to read the story. Buy the paper. Oh, wait. If you are reading this, you already have.

We picked Pendergraft. And not just because, like ourselves oh-so-many-years-ago, he has red hair. But it didn’t hurt.

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WSU: Before we get to Colton Clark’s basketball stories, we would be remiss to not remind everyone football season is still ongoing. As if you need that reminder, snow or no snow. Colton looks at Washington State two outstanding rush edges, Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson, and how they have built a friendly rivalry. … On the basketball front, Colton has stories on the men’s team, which has an optimistic air, and its injury issues. … Jim Allen covers the women, who return Leger-Walker and other starters. … John Blanchette delves into the Pac-12 overall in this preview. … Heck, even Jon Wilner gets involved, with 10 storylines to watch in today’s Mercury News. Yes, it is just a happy coincidence. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 and college football, Jon Wilner has his picks for the week in the S-R today. … He also has a weekend preview in the Mercury News. … Washington hosts No. 23 Oregon State tonight. It’s worth watching, if only because of these reasons. And, of course, the Husky offense. … There is no chance Colorado can upset No. 8 Oregon, is there? Or even make them punt? The Ducks are on an offensive roll. … Utah is not, mainly because Cam Rising has been hurt. Will he play? … USC has a new leader of its defense. And another strong receiver. … Better late than never for this UCLA player as Arizona State looms. … In basketball news, Oregon is really beat up to start the season. … One Colorado player has an extra gear. … UCLA is more athletic than it has been in a while. … Arizona can take some hope from the Louisville punishment.

Gonzaga: A lot to unpack here. We’ll start with Theo Lawson’s preview of the roster, one that could have featured more new players. … Theo also has this look at the early season schedule. … The ultimate Zag story, which we also linked above, was written by Theo as well. … Jim Meehan delves into Timme’s outstanding career, as does Dave Boling in his column. … There was also news yesterday, covered by Jim. Timme is up for another award. … John has a look at how the WCC stacks up this season, the final one with BYU in the league. … Jim Allen returns with his in-depth look at the Zag women, who are reloading a bit. … He also has a story on Vandersloot’s number retirement and who might be next. … Back to the men, Theo rewinds Wednesday night’s exhibition win over Warner Pacific. … Elsewhere in the WCC, Saint Mary’s was better than expected last season. What about this one?

EWU: We start with football here too, as the Eagles face Idaho in Moscow this week. Dan Thompson has a story on Eastern’s linebacking corps. … On the basketball front, Dan covers the men’s team while Jim once again delves into what’s on tap with the women. … Elsewhere in the Big Sky, Montana is ready for Cal Poly. … Similar teams, close outcome for Northern Colorado and Portland State? … UC Davis needs to get on a roll. … The best matchup of the weekend pits fifth-ranked Weber State hosting No. 2 Sacramento State. Nothing else comes close. … In basketball news, Northern Colorado has leaders to bank upon.

Idaho: With Eastern coming to town, Peter Harriman takes a look at six players who have played a key role in the Vandals’ rebuild. … The men’s basketball team hopes to continue to improve. Peter has that story. … The women hope to continue to excel. Jim has that story.

Whitworth: Dan returns with a preview of the men’s team, once again hoping for an NCAA Division III appearance – and a longer run. … Justin Reed has this preview of the women, a story that also includes CCS and North Idaho. All three programs have new head coaches.

Community colleges: Justin has this coverage of CCS and North Idaho, both of which are coming off successful seasons.

Preps: We are fully into playoff mode, as is Dave Nichols, who previews this week’s crossover football games. … Dave also has a roundup of Thursday’s action. … State cross country is Saturday in Pasco. Keenan Gray has a preview.

Seahawks: Who would have thought? Seattle has two offensive players who won player of the month honors and a rookie defender who also did. … Clint Hurtt has had a big role in the team’s turnaround. … There is some good injury news coming soon. … Geno Smith and Seattle. What does the future hold? … We have one more look back at the win over New York. … Arizona is looking back at its loss in Seattle.

Mariners: The Houston Astros are on the verge of their first World Series title – or at least they should be. The one in 2017 should have been vacated. Anyhow, their 3-2 win last night in Philadelphia sends the Astros home with a 3-2 edge in the Series.

Sounders: Albert Rusnak did not get everything he wanted out of his first year in Seattle. … Seattle is one of America’s best soccer cities.

Kraken: Seattle is surging. It won 4-0 last night in Minnesota. … Shane Wright played more.

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• It is supposed to reach almost 50 degrees around here today, so the snow won’t last long. But college basketball season? It ends during my favorite Earth season, the spring. By the way, Ray Guy died yesterday. He was the best punter we ever saw. And had the best job ever. Until later …