Good morning Coug fans. We’ve reached that time of year where new and highlights can be sparse—except when the school’s president announces his retirement. With little to feature on its own, let’s go through some happenings in Pullman in recent days.
Baseball and women’s swimming joining the Mountain West
If you’d forgotten that baseball and women’s swimming were still without a conference affiliation after this academic year, you’re probably not alone. But the two sports are now officially affiliate members of the Mountain West Conference. They join football as MWC members for the time being. Currently, only seven MWC teams sponsor baseball, making WSU the eighth. Oregon State is moving forward right now as an independent in baseball.
All other sports, except for track, are competing in the WCC. If you ever snickered at mid-major schools and/or conferences, time to accept the fact that we’re one of them now.
David Riley nabs two EWU transfers
Riley’s roster is sloooooowly taking shape, as two of his players from his EWU days are following him to WSU. First, 6’10 forward Ethan Price announced he was transferring and will have one more year of eligibility. Price was a one-time Big Sky Freshman of the Year and was second team All-Big Sky last season.
Next, LeJuan Watts announced his transfer. Watts was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year last season and averaged 9.4 points a game and 4.9 rebounds a game. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining.
Former Cougs land in Gainesville, Brookings and Bozeman
For those keeping track like jilted ex-lovers:
- Oscar Cluff is transferring to South Dakota State.
- Rueben Chinyelu is transferring to Florida. Former WSU assistant John Andrzejek is now an assistant at Florida, if you’re looking for a connection.
- Jabe Mullins is transferring to Montana State, which is coached by the almost-head coach of WSU, Matt Logie.
Baseball’s roller coaster season continues
Things were looking good for WSU last night in Tucson. Ace Grant Taylor was on the mound, and thanks to a four-run top of the ninth, the Cougs had a 7-5 lead heading into the final half inning. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as Arizona scored three runs—unearned runs!—in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off in the first game of the weekend series.
The Cougs sit at 18-18 overall and 7-12 in Pac-12 play.
Football hosts second spring scrimmage today
Depending on when you read this, WSU football will host, is hosting, or already hosted its second spring scrimmage. The scrimmage begins at 10:30 a.m. for those wandering around Pullman.
Spring football doesn’t usually provide much content fodder, but The Spokesman-Review has done a nice job keeping tabs on things, including a nice story on transfer quarterback Zevi Eckhaus, who committed to WSU without even visiting.
The S-R also has a story on wide receiver Tsion Nunnally leaving the program and a feature on nickel Kapena Gushiken, who’s recovering from hernia surgery.
The annual Crimson and Gray Game is in one week, so be on the lookout for promotion from the school next week.
That’s all for now. Go Cougs.