PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State men's basketball will host seven nonconference games at Pullman, along with one at the Toyota Center at Kennewick, Wash., head men's basketball coach Ernie Kent announced Wednesday, along with the complete 2016-17 men's basketball nonconference schedule.
The Cougars will have just one repeat opponent from last season's nonconference schedule, Idaho, as the two will meet for the 111th-consecutive season, the longest continuous rivalry west of the Mississippi River. WSU will also return to the Toyota Center at Kennewick, Wash., to host Central Washington. The Cougars last played at the Tri-Cities, Dec. 18, 2013, a game televised on the Pac-12 Networks with Kent as the color analyst.
“Every year we try to put together the best nonconference scheduled to prepare us for a competitive Pac-12 season and help build excitement amongst our fans and supporters,” Kent said. “I think we did a good job of that this season, getting some home games during football weekends and playing Central Washington in the Tri-Cities, where we have a huge Cougar contingency. Trips to the Paradise Jam and to Kansas City to take on Kansas State will give us some good 'road' tests, which will help us come conference play, which is always a tough test.”
The Cougars open up the season hosting Montana State, Friday, Nov. 11, the night before Cougar football hosts California at Martin Stadium. Washington State holds a 22-7 advantage in the all-time series with the two teams last meeting Dec. 13, 2008 at the Cougar Hardwood Classic at Seattle. Following that game, WSU will be away from Pullman for four games as it hosts Central Washington at Kennewick, Wash. (Tuesday, Nov. 15), followed by three games at the Paradise Jam at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nov. 18-21. The Cougars open the tournament with Creighton, Friday, Nov. 18.
Washington State returns home Thanksgiving/Apple Cup weekend as it hosts San Jose State, Sunday, Nov. 27. That's the first of four-straight home games as the Cougars host Utah Valley (Wednesday, Nov. 30), New Orleans (Saturday, Dec. 3) and Idaho (Wednesday, Dec. 7). The only other meeting between WSU and Utah Valley took place Nov. 14, 2012, a WSU win, while the Cougars have never faced New Orleans.
Washington State hits the road to take on Kansas State in the first of a two-game, two-year series, Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Sprint Center at Kansas City, Mo. The Cougars then return home for their final two nonconference games hosting Santa Clara (Saturday, Dec. 17) and Sacramento State (Wednesday, Dec. 21). The Pac-12 schedule will be announced later this summer, as will the exhibition game.
For those interested in attending these games, and more, season ticket renewals will be live online beginning Monday, June 20, with a deadline of Friday, July 29. Reservations are now being taken for new season tickets, and they will go on sale Monday, Aug. 15, followed by mini plans on sale Monday, Sept. 19. Single-game tickets will be available for Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF) members beginning Monday, Oct. 3, while the general public will be able to purchase them beginning Monday, Oct. 17. For more information on tickets, please visit www.wsucougars.com or email the ticket office at athletictickets@wsu.edu. The timeline and pricing can be found HERE.
Important Ticket Dates:
Monday, June 20 - Season Ticket Renewals Live Online
Friday, July 29 - Renewal Deadline
Monday, Aug. 15 - New Season Tickets On Sale
Monday, Sept. 19 - Mini Plans On Sale
Monday, Oct. 3 - CAF Single Games On Sale
Monday, Oct. 17 - Single Games On Sale