Emerald City Swagger
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WSU Cougars Take on No. 5 Arizona at Beasley Coliseum

By Ben Renner

Feb 9, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes guard Parker Van Dyke (5) shoots the ball during the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 74-70. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes guard Parker Van Dyke (5) shoots the ball during the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Utah won 74-70. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a pitiful performance against Colorado, the WSU Cougars take on the fifth-ranked Arizona at home tomorrow night. Do they stand a chance?

Conventional wisdom says no, the WSU Cougars don’t have a chance against the mighty Arizona Wildcats, even at home, but the Cougs have surprised people in the past, and Ernie Kent’s team has a scrappy edge to it this year after being trampled as a doormat last season.

The WSU Cougars played an awful game against the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday in Boulder. In the 81-49 stomping, Washington State turned the ball over an astonishing 24 times. That’s not a typo. It was by far the most turnovers they’ve committed in a game all season, and the most in a game since 2009, when the Cougs had 25 against Kansas State.

The once-lowly Buffs have gone 5-1 since they lost to Washington State in Pullman. The Cougars since that game? 1-5. Colorado started the Pac-12 season 0-7.

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The WSU Cougars have followed pitiful performances with strong ones at different points this season. After a demoralizing 41-point loss to Utah on January 18th, the Cougs rebounded to beat Colorado at home in overtime. In their first meeting with Arizona this year, the Cougars kept things close on the road before abdicating 79-62.

The Cougars have rebounded from a one-win season a year ago to overtake their rivals, the chronically underachieving Washington Huskies, in the Pac-12 standings. Although they still reside in the bottom fourth of the league, there are signs of hope for the future with this team.

Tip-off is at 5 pm at the Beasley Center in Pullman. The game will be televised on Fox Sports One.

Next: How Far Will Gonzaga Go?

Forward Josh Hawkinson is on the ballot for the NCAA’s Senior CLASS Award. Go vote for him here.

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