Location Pullman, WA Colors Crimson and Gray Away Alternate Arena/Stadium Beasley Coliseum Division Division I (NCAA) | Nickname Cougars Home Away Head coach Ernie Kent Conference Pacific-12 Conference | |
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University Washington State University Profiles | ||
The Washington State Cougars men's basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12) of NCAA Division I. The Cougars play their home games at Beasley Coliseum, which has a capacity of 11,566.
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History
Washington State began varsity intercollegiate competition in men's basketball in 1902. The Cougars were retroactively awarded the 1917 National Championship by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. The team played to large crowds in the late-1970s when George Raveling was head coach.
For the better part of seven decades, the Cougars were a consistent contender in the Pac-10 and its predecessor, the Pacific Coast Conference. After a dark period in the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was the beginning of a resurgence under coach Dick Bennett. The 2004-05 season saw a large increase in student support as the team finished within a few wins of a .500 record (along with a stunning upset win against eventual Elite Eight team Arizona). Bennett retired at the end of the 2005-06 season and was replaced by his son, Tony. Before becoming head coach, Tony Bennett spent three seasons as an assistant to his father, the last three seasons as head coach before leaving for the University of Virginia.
2006-07
The Cougars earned a #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat Oral Roberts 70–54 in the first round. The Cougars then lost to Vanderbilt in the second round 78–74 in double overtime. Their final record was 13–5 in the Pac-10 and 26–8 overall, which tied the school record for most wins in a season. During the 2006–07 season, the Cougars swept rival Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, Oregon State, and California. In the tournament, the coaching staff wore a pin saying TAY, which stood for Turn-Around Year. After the season, Coach Tony Bennett received the Naismith Coach of the Year award, the highest honor for a college basketball coach.
2007-08
In 2008, the Cougars returned to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars earned a #4 seed and were matched up against #13 seed Winthrop University. The Cougars dominated in the second half after a 29–29 tie in the first half to finish 71–40, far beyond the 9 point margin they were favored by.
After two straight victories in the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in school history. In the Sweet Sixteen, Washington State was matched against the #1 overall seed North Carolina. During the first half, both teams seem evenly matched, but North Carolina took control in the second half and won by a score of 68–47. The Cougars finished the 2007–08 season with a record of 26–9.
Coaches
Head coach Tony Bennett announced that he was leaving Washington State to take the head coaching job at Virginia following the 2008-09 season. Bennett, who became head coach after his father Dick Bennett's retirement, finished the season with a 17-16 record. The previous years, he led the Cougars to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Both the father and son coached for three years at the school.
NCAA Tournament results
The Cougars have appeared in six NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–6.
NIT results
The Cougars have appeared in five National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 7–5.
CBI results
The Cougars have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their combined record is 4–2.
Gonzaga
Gonzaga University is a Jesuit university in Spokane, Washington, about 75 miles north of Washington State University. As of the 2013–14 season, Washington State has a 98–50 lead in the all-time series against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a series that began in 1907 and has most recently been played annually since 2001. The Gonzaga/WSU game on December 5, 2007 marked the first time the two schools played each other as ranked teams. Washington State, ranked #6 in the AP Poll, won over #19 Gonzaga 51-47.
Idaho
Currently an out-of-conference series, Washington State has played the Idaho Vandals annually since 1906 in a rivalry dubbed the Battle of the Palouse, derived from the fact that Washington State University and the University of Idaho are fewer than 8 miles apart in the Palouse. Washington State has a 162–108 lead in the series as of December 3, 2014; in the latest game in the series, Idaho won 77-71 in Idaho's first win over Washington State since 2002.
Washington
The University of Washington is located in Seattle, approximately 300 miles west of Pullman. As of 2014, the Washington Huskies have a 177–101 lead in the series vs. Washington State that began in 1910.
Record vs. Pac-12 opponents
The Washington State Cougars have the following all-time series records vs. Pac-12 opponents. They lead the series vs. four opponents and are exactly even in one other series.