THE COUGARS AND THE HUSKIES LIE IN WAIT UP IN THE NORTHWEST. BOTH PROGRAMS ARE BETTER, STRONGER, AND WELL-COACHED!

The Cougs are breaking a lot of crockery in the PAC12 China Shop. To date, they've beaten the Huskies, Beavers, Ducks, Sun Devils, and Wildcats.  

On Friday night in Pullman they'll pour their hearts and souls into beating the Cardinal for the first time. Four of their starters average double-figure scoring this season and take down 26 rebounds between them. Usually the Cougar's scoring is guard-oriented, but this season Bella (Murekatete) and Ula (Matuga) are carrying more of the scoring load averaging 34 points between them. Matuga is another 6'-1" Pili-like paint-dweller who is strong, slow, stout, and deceptively-able to score over and around bigger people. Murekatete is a 6'-3"much improved post player and is averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds.

Charlisse Leger-Walker is still there causing problems.

Astera Tuhina is a freshman addition from Kosovo who we haven't dealt with before. She's been a regular for her country's age-group teams and is a 5'-9" guard averaging 10 points per game.

Kamie Ethridge has re-written most of the team records in Pullman. She's been the head coach for six years and every year the win-total has increased. The last two years have been back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. Last season was the first time the Cougs have been listed in the AP Top 25 rankings and their highest ranking in the PAC12 - tied for 2nd.

We can't think of this team as an easy "W" or we'll get ambushed like their last ranked opponent, the Arizona Wildcats, who lost to the Cougars last weekend 70 to 59. So bear-down Cardinal!

The Washington Huskies are a work-in-progress. Tina Langley is in her second year as head coach, after leaving Rice University in 2021. Three of her starters came via the Transfer Portal, Dalayah Daniels is a 6'-4" post player from Cal, Lauren Schwartz is a 5'- 11" forward from Rice, and Trinity Oliver is a 5'-9" guard from Baylor.

Ms. Langley brought about a massive turnaround down in Houston - bringing a perennial doormat to national prominence in short order. She was head coach at Rice University for six years, had four 20-win seasons, three consecutive conference championships, the University's first WNIT championship in 2019, was named to the cancelled 2020 NCAA Tournament, and then played in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 for the first time in program history. The PAC12 coaches continue to get better and better.

We can expect a strong effort and a well-coached team in Seattle for our game next weekend and for many years to come.

LET'S BRING OUR VERY BEST TO THESE TWO WASHINGTON GAMES NEXT WEEKEND! GO CARDINAL!!