Time to renew WSU-Gonzaga men's basketball rivalry?

[PeteTheChop]

Seems to be a lot of excitement — both in Pullman and elsewhere — with CKS and his analytics-driven approach to continuing the rebuild of WSU men's basketball.

Would Mark Few be interested in bringing the back series that expired in 2015 when Zag nation insisted on playing two out of every three games in Spokane and got a "not on my watch" reply from Coach Ernie Kent?

Maybe Coach Few would be more inclined to a straight home-and-home with one of his WCAC buddies running the show at Beasley Coliseum?

WSU-GU is arguably the most hotly contested in-state basketball rivalry considering proximity and the divided fan base in Spokane.

Is the resumption of this rivalry (which continues to this day in baseball and women's basketball) something we should want and expect to see in the very new future?

 

[Observer11]

Won't happen as long as Few and Roth are in charge. Gonzaga is now on the level of UNC, Duke, Villanova, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan State and the rest of the perennial Top 10 programs.

So if you also expect to get any of those blue bloods on a home and home, fine. But those aren't realistic expectations. Gonzaga can essentially schedule any time, any place they want with much more exposure and upside.

Any future contests will have WSU at a distinct disadvantage in terms of home/home agreements. The ONLY possibility I could see is an annual game in either the Spokane Arena or Key Arena in Seattle.

But the true home and home is long gone. GU is in a position where they can schedule all home games for their less than blue blood OOC games. They'll save the home and homes for where it benefits them from a recruiting or strength of schedule perspective.

 

[jourdand]

I agree a true home and home situation is probably a long way from occurring but I still have always thought GU, WSU, Idaho and EWU should play every year or at least every other year. It’s not like GU is scheduling all top level schools, they still have some dogs in their home schedule... they could throw a bone to the PNW schools. I can remember going to GU games when you rarely had to pay! there was so few people there you thought you had the wrong night lol.

 

[SaveFerris]

They picked up the UW. Whether we are good, bad, or ugly they aren't going to play us again. It was fun when Dick and Tony were in town. We were good and they weren't quite as good as they are now. Now it's like they would be doing us a favor to play them. No thanks!

I like that we are still playing on the women's side though even though we haven't been competitive in a couple years now.

 

[PeteTheChop]

Gonzaga picked up the UW. Whether we are good, bad, or ugly they aren't going to play us again.

Let's see what happens with the new guy at UW. They lose a lot this year and could be headed for yet another rebuild.

If the CKS and "nerdball" takes flight as many here expect, WSU could present itself as an attractive opponent for Coach Few and the Zags in the not so distant future.

 

[PeteTheChop]

The ONLY possibility I could see is an annual game in either the Spokane Arena or Key Arena in Seattle.

Observer,

From your inside connections in the Lilac City, any chance an annual game at the Veterans Memorial Arena brokered by the Spokane Sports Commission could come to fruition?

Got to think a major sponsor or two in the Inland Empire region would be all over this opportunity as would the WSU/Zag administrations and local alumni associations.

Can only imagine what the atmosphere would be like with a guaranteed 50/50 crowd split in a 12,000-seat arena.

 

[Rich Lewis]

At some point they're going to be down and want a home and home and if it were up to me I'd tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

[PeteTheChop]

At some point the Zags are going to be down and want a home and home and if it were up to me I'd tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

Be careful Mr. Lewis.

The "CougZags" lurking in these parts might come after you

 

[7ICoug]

WSU-GU is arguably the most hotly contested in-state basketball rivalry considering proximity and the divided fan base in Spokane.

Is the resumption of this rivalry (which continues to this day in baseball and women's basketball) something we should want and expect to see in the very new future?

Gonzaga is not a Rival in any sport with WSU, yes they are neighbors but that is all. We have but one Rival.UW.

As to the resumption I suspect that as when WSU cancelled the series, sometime it will resume when Gonzaga decides but hopefully only on a home-and-home basis, else no chance.

 

[Observer11]

Observer,

From your inside connections in the Lilac City, any chance an annual game at the Veterans Memorial Arena brokered by the Spokane Sports Commission could come to fruition?

Got to think a major sponsor or two in the Inland Empire region would be all over this opportunity as would the WSU/Zag administrations and local alumni associations.

Can only imagine what the atmosphere would be like with a guaranteed 50/50 crowd split in a 12,000-seat arena.

I live in a van down by the river. I don't have any inside connections.

 

[Loyal Coug]

I live in a van down by the river. I don't have any inside connections.

I didn't know you and Mikalas were next door neighbors.

 

[Observer11]

I didn't know you and Mikalas were next door neighbors.

The windows are tinted and I keep the doors locked.

 

[COCoug]

This series has to start again. As was noted, even if we are the worst team in the PAC12, Gonzaga plays non-conference cupcakes, and this is a game that makes sense to the fan base. Its ok with me if we play it in Spokane- not like Pullman is such an advantage. Assuming we get back on tack in a season or two, this is actually the kind of game that Gonzaga needs to play. Their schedule is either a handful of top-10 teams or their weak conference games. They need grind out some more games against major conference teams that maybe aren't elite but on any given night could challenge them.

 

[avabob1]

From my selfish perspective I would like to see an annual game in the Spokane Arena. However based on Fews attitude, I wouldnt agree to anything less than a true home and home. His problem is that despite our historical low RPI, we have been competitive with them and offer a much larger chance of upsetting them than the other cupcakes on their schedule.

 

[7ICoug]

Thats a fact and we should play only a home-and-home and it is the best chance for there casual fans to get to a game which is in Pullman. No way should be ever play only in Spokane. Actually I see no real reason to schedule a road game in Spokane without the major payoff that a game like that would entail. Better to play Michigan or something.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Let's see what happens with the new guy at UW. They lose a lot this year and could be headed for yet another rebuild.

Hopkins is a damn good coach. (That really hurt having to write that out.)

 

[Loyal Coug]

Thats a fact and we should play only a home-and-home and it is the best chance for there casual fans to get to a game which is in Pullman. No way should be ever play only in Spokane. Actually I see no real reason to schedule a road game in Spokane without the major payoff that a game like that would entail. Better to play Michigan or something.

Am I right in remembering that their last deal/offer was one game at their place and the next year at the Coliseum with NO Pullman trip at all? Or was it a 3 year rotation of kennel, Coliseum, Pullman that we said no to?

I would not be THAT upset over a one year, Coliseum-only matchup, if the ticket distribution was such that the seating was split 50/50 and Cougs at least had a chance to buy/fill their half. Especially if on a weekend where we could bring a bunch of students and have cheap student tickets. Bus 'em in.

Seems like if nothing else this would make some good money for both teams. Almost no travel cost, hopefully a full house, no big game guarantee. Split the gate?

 

[7ICoug]

They like to get "easy" Pac12 teams to the Kennel and it was 2 at home and 1 for us. Actually I thought AD should have cancelled all Gonzaga games in all Sports. Gonzaga's old anybody, anywhere, went long gone a long time ago. They cancelled all local Washington games but the Huskies home-and-home. No eastern no Seattle U.

 

[SaveFerris]

I was ready to unwind all sports as well but I tend to pay attention when we play. Consistently beat them in Soccer, surprisingly lost in Tennis this year, not so surprisingly on the women's hoops side at this point. It doesn't seem like we waste time with them in volleyball or they know they aren't in our league.