From WSU News 2/7/2019:
Feb. 13, 14: WSU Hort Club’s Valentine’s Day plant sale
WSU’s Horticulture Club will host its annual Valentine’s Day
plant sales, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 13 and 14, at the
greenhouses by Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe on the Pullman campus.
Items will include:
--Combination planters with 3 primroses in and 3 hyacinths,
$18 each
--Tulips in 6‑1/2‑inch
pots, $9 each
--Primroses $2 each
--Succulent house plants, $9 each
For more information, contact James Holden, Department of
Horticulture, 509‑335‑7125, holdenjw@wsu.edu
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WSU’s Robert Franks Named Oscar Robertson National Player of
the Week
From WSU Sports Info
DALLAS – Washington State Men’s Basketball senior forward
Robert Franks has added another national honor as he was named the Oscar
Robertson National Player of the Week for games ending in the week of Sunday,
Feb. 10, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association announced, Tuesday. The weekly
honor is presented by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
A native of Vancouver, Wash., Franks had the weekend of his
career as he led the Cougars to their first sweep at the Arizona schools since
2006-07 and third all-time, as well as their first conference weekend sweep
since 2012. WSU started it off with a 91-70 victory at Arizona State, Thursday,
Feb. 7 and followed it with a 69-55 victory at Arizona, Saturday, Feb. 9.
Franks averaged 32.5 points on 65 percent shooting (22-34 FG, 12-18 3FG, 9-9
FT), 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the convincing
victories.
Franks is just the second Cougar to receive the Oscar
Robertson National Player of Week award, as Faisal Aden picked up the award
Jan. 23, 2012 following WSU’s last Pac-12 weekend sweep, at home against
California and Stanford.
At ASU, Franks tied his career-high with 34 points, 13
rebounds and 4 blocks, along with a career-high 4 steals. Twenty-three of his
points came in the first half, marking his second-most in a half, his most in a
first half and most in a half this season. Two days later at Arizona, Franks
followed it up with 31 points and 8 rebounds as WSU snapped its 13-game losing
streak to the Wildcats and got its first win over them since 2009-10. Franks
was 9-for-9 from the free throw line on the weekend and has made 28-consecutive
free throws.
Franks is averaging 22.6 points per game, leading the Pac-12
and ranking 15th in the country. The forward also moved into 21st on WSU’s
career scoring list and currently has 1,195 career points. With his 12
3-pointers over the weekend, Franks now has 141 3-pointers, which ranks 10th
all-time in WSU’s career record books.
Franks was also named the Pac-12 Player of the Week,
becoming the first Cougar to pick up the honor since 2015 as well as the
Citizen Naismith Player of the Week.
The Cougars look to continue their hot streak as they host
cross-state rival Washington, Saturday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.
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Football: How deep is WSU at outside WR entering spring?
It's ridiculous
By BRADEN JOHNSON Feb 11, 2019, Cougfan.com
Tay Martin shines in WSU's GameDay win over Oregon last fall
(Photo: Cougfan.com/Whittney Thornton)
CAN WASHINGTON STATE’S OUTSIDE RECEIVERS make a case as the
Cougars’ deepest position group heading into the start of spring workouts?
Steve Spurrier Jr., who coaches the crop of players, thinks a trio of
second-year freshmen put the position group squarely in the conversation.
The Cougars are expected to bring in Donovan Ollie (6-3,
205), who signed with WSU in December out of Texas, in June, and former WSU
quarterback Alex Brink said Ollie is skilled enough to play immediately. But
Spurrier said Kassidy Woods, Rodrick Fisher and Brandon Gray give him
unprecedented depth at outside receiver when WSU kicks off spring ball on March
21.
Woods (6-4, 205) utilized the NCCA’s four-game redshirt rule
this past season and is a wideout Spurrier is particularly high on.
“He had a lot of great practices for us,” Spurrier told
Cougs in 60 radio host Derek Deis recently. “He caught over 1,000 balls in
practices this year and he will have a great impact this fall.”
Spurrier also said Fisher (6-2, 195), who is competing in
the 60-meter dash for WSU track and field, is fully recovered from a
season-ending injury to his right shoulder suffered in October.
And Gray (6-5, 190) arguably had the most impressive fall of
the trio, as Spurrier and defensive line coach Jeff Phelps noted after Thursday
Night Football scrimmages the Detroit native was a headache for DBs, a trend
that began in fall camp.
“Brandon Gray is
another guy that had a good camp,” Spurrier said. “The defensive backs were
chasing him all over the place.”
STATISTICALLY, THERE IS CREDENCE to Spurrier’s high praise.
In addition to Woods, Fisher and Gray, the Cougars on the outside return
seniors Dezmon Patmon, Easop Winston Jr., and Calvin Jackson Jr. and junior Tay
Martin. Their production -- a collective 2,454 air yards and 23 TDs -- from
2018 is impressive:
Tay Martin: 69 catches, 685 yards, 8 TDs
Dez Patmon: 61 catches, 816 yards, 5 TDs
Easop Winston Jr.: 52 catches, 654 yards, 8 TDs
Calvin Jackson Jr: 26 catches, 285 yards, 2 TDs
Martin and Patmon were starters at the X and Z,
respectively, while Winston also got five starts at Z, and Jackson was next in
the rotation at X behind Martin. The addition of Ollie plus full seasons from
Woods, Fisher and Gray realistically give Spurrier (at least) eight outside
receivers who can play impact snaps in 2018.
Spurrier even acknowledged the Cougars will likely be unable
to give the trio of Woods, Fisher and Gray even reps and that someone may get
pushed out of the regular rotation. “One or two of them are going to play a lot
this year, and all three of them are going to contribute to this offense when
their day comes,” he said.
On the recruiting front, Spurrier said in December the
Cougars intended on signing one or two more wideouts in addition to Ollie and
inside receiver Billy Pospisil (5-11, 190) but pulled back due to the talent
base already in house. Patmon, Winston and Jackson are the only players set to
leave after the 2019 campaign due to graduation.
Spurrier went as far to say that he has never enjoyed
recruiting for WSU as much as he is now, and that an 11-2 season capped with an
Alamo Bowl victory makes the Cougar football brand an easy sell. He might sleep
and recruit easier, too, in part because his position group is anything but
stretched thin for talent.
::::::::::
Cougar Country closed until further notice
Moscow Pullman Daily News
A post this morning on Cougar Country Drive-In’s Facebook
page from the business’ owner says the popular Pullman restaurant is closed
until further notice.
The restaurant was closed Sunday and Monday, but its owner,
Rhonda Witt-Miller, wrote today she has applied for financing and has been
approved, which will help her pay employees who were not paid during their last
pay period.
Rumors the Pullman fixture would close began swirling Friday
after multiple news outlets quoted employees stating the future of the
restaurant was uncertain.
“I will hire, retrain and open as soon as possible. I take
full responsibility for this ... it IS my business and I should have been aware
of what was happening, especially to the employees!” the post says. “Many
customers had complained to me about Customer Service lacking in recent months
... probably due to an over worked staff!!”
Former employee James Shively said Monday he does not
believe the current staff will return to work at Cougar Country.
Cougar Country opened in 1973.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cougar Country's doors still shut
Unclear if closure was related to weather, staffing, lack of
supplies
Staff report Feb 12, 2019 Moscow Pullman Daily News
Cougar Country Drive-In in Pullman was closed Monday,
despite optimism from the owner the business would be back open.
Monday marked the restaurant's second consecutive day being
closed. Rumors the Pullman fixture would close began swirling Friday after
multiple news outlets quoted employees stating the future of the restaurant was
uncertain.
Restaurant owner Rhonda Witt-Miller told the Daily News on
Sunday via Facebook the business would reopen Monday and was only closed
because of a shortage in food. She wrote the restaurant was expected to open
after a meat shipment was supposed to come in Monday, but the business never
opened.
According to a post on Cougar Country's Facebook page, which
appears to be from the owner, the restaurant missed a delivery Friday morning
due to not enough cash being on hand. The restaurant was open on Saturday with
limited staff and shortened hours.
Calls to the business were not returned Monday and an
automated message stated, "We are currently out of most products and will
be closed until further notice."
Former employee James Shively said Monday he does not
believe the frustrated staff will be returning to work at Cougar Country.
Shively said he has received two consecutive paychecks from the business
returned because of insufficient funds.
Witt-Miller confirmed in a Facebook message to the Daily
News that employees' checks have bounced and she will see to it that all
employees are paid. Witt-Miller wrote she has since been forced to pay
employees in cash. Shively said he has not received any cash from Witt-Miller.
In a Monday message to the Daily News on Facebook,
Witt-Miller wrote she has not communicated with the staff but guessed Monday's
closure could be because of the weather or a lack of available crew members.
Several roads, including State Route 27, were closed Monday morning because of
bad weather.
Shively said the staff held a meeting Sunday, but he did not
attend. Shively said he is currently looking for other employment.
Cougar Country has been a popular restaurant in Pullman
since 1973.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WSU works to clear snow for students
Crews plan to remove snow 24/7 during winter storm, says
they can't move snow piles until Wednesday or Thursday
Evergreen Feb 12,
2019
WSU Facilities Services is prepared to clear the expected
five to seven inches of snow from roads, parking lots and sidewalks Monday
night, said Craig Cole, director of construction services for WSU Facilities
Services.
Large equipment crews use plows, dump trucks and excavators
to remove snow from streets and parking lot areas, Cole said. Crews also apply
chemicals, gravel and sand to add traction to the road.
To prepare for the storm that hit over the weekend, WSU
Facilities Services applied magnesium chloride to roadways, which helps the
snow become slushy, he said.
Cole said there are also ground crews that remove snow from
sidewalks, overpasses and staircases on campus. They use equipment like
hand-held shovels, forerunners and small tractors.
“Most of the parking
lots and sidewalks are as good as they are going to get,” Cole said. “But we
are supposed to get another five to six inches tonight. If that occurs, we will
assess and make the call in the morning.”
WSU Facilities Services crews dispose of the snow piles left
in parking lots from plows by stockpiling snow at Palouse Ridge Golf Club, Cole
said.
“[WSU Facilities
Services] is trying to pile snow in parking lots to be able to get the university
operational,” Cole said. “It won’t be until Wednesday or Thursday until we
remove the piles.”
Both ground crews and large equipment crews are scheduled in
two 12 hour shifts to make sure roads stay clear all day, he said.
Crews began efforts Saturday and had the majority of snow
cleared by 7 p.m. Sunday, Cole said. When Pullman received about five to six
inches of snow overnight, that is when administrators decided WSU’s delay would
need to be a full closure.
Pullman Transit buses also experienced delays today and
started routes at 8 a.m. due to harsh road conditions, John Shaheen, WSU
Transportation Services Director, said.
“People need to be
patient, drive slow and plan their day early,” Shaheen said. “Whatever mode of
transportation people use, they need to plan ahead so they can get where they
need to go.”
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WSU Women’s basketball Cougs break seven game losing streak
Hristova drops 37 points elevating WSU past Arizona for
third conference win of season
BY TY EKLUND, Evergreen Feb 9, 2019
Filed under Basketball, Sports, Women's
WSU women’s basketball earned a thrilling 90-88 victory over
Arizona on Saturday in Beasley Coliseum. The win ends the Cougars seven-game
losing streak.
Redshirt junior Borislava Hristova and junior guard Chanelle
Molina led the way for the Cougars scoring 37 and 28 points respectively.
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge said her team functioned well
together.
“I thought this was
one of our better games,” Ethridge said. “Things that we wanted to do before
this game and for this game I thought we [did] really good.”
Molina came out on fire in the first quarter. Within the
first five minutes, Molina scored a layup and hit two three-pointers to help
the Cougars (8-16, 3-10) build an early 10-9 lead over the Wildcats (15-8, 5-7).
WSU controlled the last three minutes of the first quarter
as Molina scored four more points and Hristova added a layup. In the last three
seconds of the quarter, senior guard Alexys Swedlund hit a three-pointer to put
the Cougars up 18-15 after 10 minutes.
To start the second quarter, Borislava hit two free throws
and converted four layups. However, Arizona stayed in the fight and went back
and forth with WSU. There was a total of six lead changes in the quarter but
the Cougars took a 42-38 lead into halftime.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half but
WSU held the lead. Hristova scored 12 points while on the opposite of the court
redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald kept the Wildcats in the game.
“I just wanted to be
aggressive,” Hristova said. “I saw the shots were going in so I kept being
aggressive.”
Gaining a 65-58 lead at the end of the third, the Cougars
didn’t take any breaks offensively in the final frame as Molina and Hristova
each scored a layup. WSU extended its lead to a comfortable 69-58, but the
Wildcats had junior guard Lucia Alonso who hit four three-pointers in the final
quarter.
On the other end, McDonald was pushing and pressing hard on
defense, but as her energy rose so did the Cougars’ and the two teams kept scoring.
The game ended with constant drawn fouls against Hristova,
who shot 8-10 from the free-throw line in the game.
In the last five seconds, the Wildcats trailed 90-88 as
McDonald took the ball and rushed to the three-point line where she threw up a
shot. The ball was tipped after its release resulting in an air-ball with no
foul being drawn. The crowd in Beasley roared as the Cougars finally picked up
their third conference win.
Hristova scored 25 points in the second half, the second
best scoring half in program history. Hristova and Molina combined for 65
points in the game and Swedlund added 12.
After her team’s performance, Ethridge is looking forward to
the rest of the season.
“I want our team to
really continue to improve this month,” Ethridge said. “I want to see us
playing our best basketball in March so we still have a lot of work to do.”
The Cougars return to action 7 p.m. Friday to face rival
University of Washington at Beasley Coliseum. WSU won the first matchup with
the Huskies this season 79-76.
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Garfield five-star linebacker Sav’ell Smalls includes UW,
WSU in top 12
Originally published February 10, 2019 at 2:33 pm Updated
February 11, 2019 at 10:27 am
By Mike Vorel Seattle
Times
Sav’ell Smalls is Washington’s top priority in the 2020
class.
But the Huskies certainly aren’t the only school that can
say that. Smalls — a 6-foot-3, 230-pound outside linebacker from Seattle — is
ranked as a consensus five-star prospect and the No. 2 overall 2020 recruit by
247Sports. His offer list stretches more than 30-deep.
Still, it appears the Garfield High School standout’s
recruitment is starting to narrow just a bit. Smalls tweeted his top 12 on
Sunday afternoon, and Washington made the cut, alongside Alabama, Florida,
Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Clemson, Florida
State and Washington State. He recently took an unofficial visit to UW on Feb.
2.
Smalls isn’t the only local product UW will likely target in
the 2020 class. Six Washington products are currently ranked in 247Sports’ top
247. Only one — four-star Sammamish Eastside Catholic wide receiver Gee Scott
Jr., who pledged to Ohio State — has committed as of yet.
::::::
Pac-12 Hotline newsletter: What the NFL Combine participant list tells us
about the Pac-12 talent (and coaching)
Conference has fewer invitees than any point in past five
years
By Jon Wilner San Jose Merc News 2/11/2019
NFL Combine invitations: What the numbers tell us
If the NFL Draft is the ultimate judge of talent … raw,
underwear-clad talent … then the Scouting Combine is a close second.
On Thursday, the NFL released the list of 338 participants
invited to Indianapolis later this month, and it’s a useful tool for reflective
evaluation of college rosters.
For longtime Pac-12 watchers who were convinced of, or
suspected, a decline in talent, the invite list provides a measure of proof.
The conference will send 39 players to the week-long event,
the lowest total in years.
Pac-12 invitees:
2015: 44
2016: 49
2017: 47
2018: 45
2019: 39
Not surprisingly, the SEC dominated the invite list, with
more than twice as many participants as the Pac-12.
You read that right: More than twice as many.
Invitations by Power Five conference:
SEC: 90
Big Ten: 53
ACC: 46
Pac-12: 39
Big 12: 33
Adjusting for the varying sizes of the conferences:
SEC: 6.4 (participants per team)
Big Ten: 3.8
ACC: 3.3
Big 12: 3.3
Pac-12: 3.3
The full list of Pac-12 participants is below, broken down
by team, and I’ve included the number of recruiting stars (per Rivals) with
each player, to provide a morsel of context.
It should come as no surprise given the history of the
coaches, but Stanford, Utah and the Washington schools all turned a slew of 2-
and 3-star prospects into Combine participants.
Could some of that be erroneous evaluation by the recruiting
services? Sure. (How was Taylor Rapp not a 4-star prospect, at least?) But those
programs typically outperform on the player development side.
A few other notes:
• Cal was the big winner in the wins-per-participant
sweepstakes: The Bears won seven games but received no Combine invitations.
#coaching
• Meanwhile, USC won five games and has five participants.
• In addition to Cal, both Arizona and Oregon State were
shut out.
• Kentucky had more invitees (eight) than USC (five) and
UCLA (two) combined. (That’s wrong on so many levels.)
Here’s the Pac-12 list, with the Rivals rating:
Arizona
No players invited
Arizona State
WR N’Keal Harry (5 stars)
DL Renell Wren (3)
Cal
No players invited
Colorado
S Evan Worthington (3)
Oregon
S Ugo Amadi (4)
LB Justin Hollins (3)
DL Jalen Jelks (3)
WR Dillon Mitchell (4)
Oregon State
No players invited
Stanford
WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside (3)
K Jake Bailey (2)
OL Nate Herbig (3)
CB Alijah Holder (3)
RB Bryce Love (4)
LB Bobby Okereke (4)
TE Kaden Smith (4)
UCLA
OL Andre James (4)
TE Caleb Wilson (2)
USC
LB Cam Smith (4)
OL Chuma Edoga (4)
LB Porter Gustin (5)
CB Iman Marshall (5)
S Marvell Tell (4)
Utah
OL Jackson Barton (4)
LB Chase Hansen (4)
LB Cody Barton (3)
K Matt Gay N/A
S Marquise Blair (3)
P Mitch Wishnowsky (2)
Washington
QB Jake Browning (4)
LB Ben Burr-Kirven (3)
DL Greg Gaines (3)
RB Myles Gaskin (3)
OL Kaleb McGary (4)
CB Jordan Miller (3)
CB Byron Murphy (4)
TE Drew Sample (2)
S Taylor Rapp (3)
Washington State
OT Andre Dillard (2)
QB Gardner Minshew (0)
RB James Williams (3)
The Combine starts the last week in February. The Hotline
will assess the top storylines for Pac-12 prospects before the festivities
begin.
