WASHINGTON STATE MEN
It's a new era for Washington State basketball. What was once a Power 5 program is now not. This was a Pac-12 program — and last year it sure felt like one with an NCAA Tournament run — even if it didn't look like one for many recent years. But the next couple seasons, it will be a West Coast Conference team. Speaking frankly, Wazzu fits in pretty well in this league. WSU was often a cellar-dweller in the Pac-12, but in the WCC it should be middle of the pack at worst. The Cougars were picked to finish fifth in the 11-team league in the preseason poll.It's up to new head coach David Riley — who led Eastern Washington to back-to-back regular season Big Sky titles — to outperform that.
Along with Riley are four transfers from Eastern Washington — Cedric Coward, Ethan Price, Dane Erikstrup and LeJuan Watts — who will add some semblance of continuity to an otherwise overhauled roster. There is only one returning scorer from the team that won a game in the NCAA Tournament last season, sophomore Isaiah Watts, who averaged just 3.7 points per game. Otherwise, it's basically a whole new batch of Cougs.
Wazzu will be the new kids on the block in the WCC, and the roster reflects that. There is potential on the Palouse, but more uncertainty than anything. (WM)
Game to watch: Dec. 18 at Washington
WASHINGTON STATE WOMEN
After three-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars took a big, injury-plagued step back last season. But the momentum returns for head coach Kamie Ethridge, who had increased Wazzu's win total in each of her first five seasons prior to last year.Moving from the Pac-12 into the WCC, the Cougars were picked to finish second in their new league and landed two players on the preseason all-conference team — senior guard Tara Wallack (10.5 points per game last season) and sophomore guard Eleonora Villa (12.9 points per game). There is certainly belief in the talent down on the Palouse.
It looks to be a Northwest battle for the WCC this season, with the Cougars coming just one point behind top-placed Gonzaga in the preseason poll — one of four teams (along with the Zags, Portland and fellow Pac-12 rival/new arrival Oregon State) to receive first-place votes. Without a Leger-Walker sister on the roster for the first time in years, things will look a lot different for Wazzu in 2024-25, but Ethridge's track record brings more than enough hope for a successful season. (WM)
Game to watch: Jan. 11 vs. Gonzaga
EWU MEN
There is some serious upheaval in Cheney. For the first time since 2011, the Eagles have moved away from the Jim Hayford coaching tree. After two in-house hires with Shantay Legans and David Riley, both of whom have since moved on to bigger jobs, Eastern went out and hired Dan Monson after 17 years at Long Beach State.
While the Eagles left their nest to hire Monson, they didn't exactly stray all that far. Monson got his start just down the road at Gonzaga, where he led the Bulldogs to their Cinderella Elite Eight run in 1999.
Monson will have a rebuilding project on his hands in Cheney as the only returning upperclassmen on the roster are junior guards Nic McClain and Tyler Powell, who played a combined two games last season. Beyond those two, Seattle product Mason Williams enters his sophomore year after appearing in 16 of Eastern's 32 games last year.
EWU has been a consistent factor in the Big Sky Conference for a decade, and the Eagles have won the regular season title in each of the past two seasons. Considering the roster turnover, a three-peat will be hard to ask for but that's okay (the respective preseason Big Sky media and coaches polls project EWU to finish sixth and ninth). Eastern feels like it has found its guy in Monson, even if fans might need to be a bit patient this season. (WM)
Game to watch: Jan. 4 vs. Montana State
EWU WOMEN
Coming off their most successful season in recent memory, the Eagles are looking at a significant rebuilding effort in the fourth year under head coach Joddie Gleason. EWU ran through the Big Sky a season ago to a 29-6 record and 16-2 mark in conference play. The Eagles made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history and first since 1987.There will not be many familiar faces returning from that team, however, as Alexis Pettis (4.2 points per game) is the leading returning scorer after ranking seventh on the team a season ago. This upheaval has led to a lack of belief in the team around the Big Sky. Eastern came in seventh in the league's preseason media poll and eighth among the coaches.
Of the 16 players on the roster this season, eight are new to the program including three transfers who will need to make an immediate impact — keep an eye on Seattle U graduate transfer and Central Valley product Peyton Howard in the backcourt — and five freshmen who could provide a foundation for the future. Eastern went from nine wins in Gleason's first season to 19 in year two and then 29 a season ago. It would be hard to expect that upward trajectory to continue in season four. (WM)
Game to watch: March 3 vs. Montana
IDAHO MEN
In his second year at the helm, there are reasons to be hopeful about what head coach Alex Pribble is building in Moscow. It's always difficult to pull a program up from being the doormat of a small major conference, but there's more intriguing talent on this year's Vandals squad than there's been in years.Leading the way is senior forward Julius Mims. After stuffing the stat sheet as Idaho's best defender (Big Sky All-Defensive Team) and most-efficient offensive weapon (11.1 points per game on 63.3% shooting), Mims was tapped to the Preseason All-Conference team. Newcomers via the transfer portal include CdA's Kolton Mitchell coming over from Idaho State and former Gonzaga Prep standout Jayden Stevens returning closer to home after two seasons at Oregon State.
Preseason polls don't project the Vandals to be Big Sky contenders (ranked seventh and ninth by the coaches and media), but having a talent like Mims anchoring things gives Idaho a shot in most any Big Sky contest. And as the Idaho football team has showcased, turning things around on the Palouse is possible. (SS)
Game to watch: Jan. 4 vs. Montana
IDAHO WOMEN
Next time an old head complains about college players moving around too much, maybe remind them that Idaho head coach Carrie Eighmey bailed on the Vandals for a different situation after one losing season. Taking her place is Arthur Moreira, the first Brazilian Division I head basketball coach.It will be a rebuilding process for the new man in charge, as the UI roster boasts 11 new players for 2024-25. Of all the new faces, the biggest get for Moreira might be guard Kelbie Washington, a former four-star recruit and transfer from Oklahoma who proved she can play at a big-time level when she made the All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2022 before having to medically redshirt last season. Washington's incoming backcourt compatriots include some international flair with Serbian Anja Bukvic and Ana Pinheiro from Portugal.
While the team isn't expected to compete for the Big Sky title (picked seventh and eighth in the preseason coaches and media polls), the hope is that the Vandals can find some stability under Moreria in order to build a base for the future. (SS)
Game to watch: Jan. 18 vs. Eastern Washington
WHITWORTH MEN
Continuity is the name of the game in north Spokane where Whitworth has a roster loaded with upperclassmen. Super senior Jake Holtz is back to lead the way after earning second team All-Northwest Conference honors and averaging 16.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Joining Holtz are two other seniors and eight juniors, which will make the Pirates one of the oldest teams around.It's not just continuity, but quality as well. Whitworth went 20-9 last season and advanced to the second round of the DIII NCAA Tournament. The Pirates have been perennial contenders in the NWC and regular participants in DIII tourney. They may be overshadowed by the crosstown Bulldogs, but don't sleep on the Pirates' basketball pedigree. (WM)
Game to watch: Jan. 21 vs. Whitman
WHITWORTH WOMEN
The Pirates enter a serious rebuilding season in 2024-25, which was to be expected considering last year's roster included five seniors. This year, there are no seniors on the roster, three juniors, two sophomores and seven freshmen. Overall, the team returns just three letterwinners: juniors Mya Bair and Keely Maves, and sophomore Ashlyn Neilsen.While this young squad might not be ready to bring the Pirates to their first winning season since 2019-20, there is plenty of reason for local excitement on the roster. All but one player hails from Washington, including three from the immediate Spokane area.
Freshman Rylee Darnold was twice named Lakeside High School's team MVP. Fellow freshman Juju Jeross is coming off a 16-point-per-game senior year at University High School that saw her land second team All-GSL honors. Prior to her time at Everett Community College, junior Ella Curry spent four seasons as a varsity player at Reardan. (WM)
Game to watch: Dec. 13 vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor ♦
