COUGARS HOST COLORADO; UTAH: Washington State men's basketball (9-15, 1-11) looks for its second-straight home win over the Buffaloes as it hosts Colorado (15-10, 7-6), Thursday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.
• Thursday's game can be seen on the Pac-12 Network as JB Long (play-by-play) and Matt Muehlebach (analyst) have the call.
• Following Thursday's game, Washington State will look to snap its seven-game losing streak to the Utes as it hosts Utah (15-9, 7-6), Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.
• Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN2 as Steve Quis (play-by-play) and Corey Williams (analyst) have the call.
• All season long, Cougar basketball can be heard on the Cougar IMG Sports Radio Network as the voice of the Cougars, Matt Chazanow will have the call.
• Please see page one of today's notes for the list of affiliates.
• Live stats are also available at www.wsucougars.com.
COUGARS VERSUS BUFFALOES:
• Amongst Pac-12 foes, WSU has the fewest meetings with Colorado, as Thursday marks just the 16th all-time meeting and second of the season between Washington State and Colorado.
• The Buffaloes hold a 12-3 advantage in the series and have won the last three meetings, including an 82-73 victory at Boulder, Jan. 18 of this year.
• Each of the last two seasons, WSU and Colorado met three times, each at home and once in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament at Las Vegas.
• The Cougars have won two of the last three games against the Buffaloes at home, both in overtime.
• WSU prevailed last season, 91-89, in overtime, Jan. 21, 2017 and 96-91 in overtime, March 7, 2015, both at Pullman.
• Each of the last four Cougar home games with the Buffaloes have been decided by 5 points or less, three of them in overtime…aside from WSU's two wins, it also lost to Colorado, 75-70. Jan. 23, 2016 at Beasley Coliseum and 71-70 in overtime in a WSU home game at Spokane Arena, Jan. 8, 2014.
• In each of the last four seasons, at least one game between WSU and Colorado has been decided in overtime (record is 2-2).
COUGARS VERSUS UTES:
• Saturday's matchup marks the 27th all-time meeting between Washington State and Utah, as the Utes hold a 22-4 advantage.
• Utah has won the last eight meetings in the series, scoring 81 or more points in six of the eight games, as each of those games were decided by an average of 20.5 points.
• The Utes had matching 88-47 victories each of the last two seasons (Jan. 18, 2017 at Pullman and Feb. 14, 2016 at Salt Lake City).
• Each of those Utah victories tied for the largest winning margin by either team in the series.
• WSU's last win in the series came at Pullman, Jan. 12, 2014, a 49-46 Cougar victory.
RECORD-SETTING 3-POINT SHOOTING:
• The 2017-18 WSU squad set the school record for 3-pointers made in a season, Jan. 31, finishing the game against Arizona with 241 3s in 21 games.
• The previous record, set by the 2010-11 team was 240 done in 34 games.
• Through 24 games, WSU has 271 3-pointers and is on pace to finish a 31-game season with 350 3-pointers made.
• The Pac-12 record for 3-pointers made in a season is 354 set by UCLA in 2016-17 in 36 games.
• WSU currently has made 128 3-pointers in 12 Pac-12 games this season...the school record for 3-pointers made in a season in conference play is 144 set in 2003.
• The Cougars are on pace to finish with 192 3-pointers in league play this year.
COUGS FIRING FROM DOWNTOWN:
• WSU is fourth in the nation and leads the Pac-12 with 11.3 made 3-pointers per game.
• The Cougars have made 12 or more 3's in 14 of their 24 games this season; 15 3's in the season opener, 12 against Seattle U, 15 again against Idaho State, 16 against Saint Joseph's, 13 against San Diego State, 12 against UC Davis, 12 at UTEP, 15 against Bethune-Cookman, 14 at UCLA, 13 at USC, 15 vs California,15 at Colorado, and 12 vs Arizona State...WSU had 11 against Kansas State.
• The WSU record for 3's made in a game by the team is 18 done three times, last, against UTSA, Dec. 6, 2014.
• Last season WSU made 10 or more 3-pointers in a single game just five times, and only once made at least 12 in a game
• In Washington State's previous five seasons, the Cougars made 12 or more 3-pointers in a single game 9 times total, once last season, none in 2015-16, once in 2014-15, five times in 2013-14 and twice in 2012-13.
• If WSU were to continue to shoot at this clip, it would finish with at least 350 3-pointers made, and has already surpassed the school record of 240 set during the Klay Thompson era, the 2010-11 season.
• The Cougars also rank third in the Pac-12 and 57th in the country with a .379 3-point field goal percentage.
• Three Cougars rank individually in the top-10 of the Pac-12 for 3-pointers made per game...Carter Skaggs is third in the league and 106th in the nation (2.58 3fg per game), Malachi Flynn is fourth in the Pac-12 and 140th in the nation (2.46) and Robert Franks is sixth in the league and 174th in the nation (2.35).
• Viont'e Daniels is second in the league with a .454 3-point field goal percentage, while Skaggs is third with a .449 clip and Robert Franks is seventh in the Pac-12 at .425.
• As a team, 51 percent of WSU's shots have come from 3-point range, while 46.2 percent of its points (813) are off 3-pointers...WSU opponents are getting 33.4 percent of their points off of 3-pointers.
• Eighty-six percent of Carter Skaggs' shots are 3-pointers, while 83.8 percent of his points (186) have come off of 3-pointers.
• Fifty-one percent of Malachi Flynn's points (177) are off 3-pointers, while 75.8 percent (159) of Viont'e Daniels' points are off 3-pointers.
MORE ON COUGAR 3-POINTERS:
• Over the last five seasons, just four Cougars have made at least 50 3-pointers in an entire season.
• This season through 24 games, four Cougars have already made at least 50 3-pointers; Malachi Flynn (59) Carter Skaggs (62) Robert Franks (54) and Viont'e Daniels (53).
• Flynn was the only Cougar over 50 last season when he had 58 3s as a freshman.
FRANKS BREAKS SINGLE-GAME 3-POINT RECORD:
• Junior Robert Franks broke the WSU single-game 3-point record and tied the Pac-12 mark with 10 3-pointers against California (10-for-13), Saturday, Jan. 13.
• The previous record of nine was held by four different Cougars; current WSU assistant coach Bennie Seltzer (1992-93), Chris Crosby (1998-99), Marcus Moore (2002-03) and Derrick Low (2006-07).
• Franks is the third Cougar this season to threaten the record, as both Carter Skaggs and Malachi Flynn have each had 7 3-pointers in a game this season.
• Franks had a career-high 34 points in that game, 25 in the second half and made 7 of his 3's in the second half as well.
• Franks' 10 3-pointers made in a game are tied for the third-most made in a game this season in the entire NCAA with eight other people.
KLAY THOMPSON'S SINGLE-SEASON RECORD:
• Cougar great Klay Thompson holds the WSU single-season record with 98 which he accomplished in 33 games in 2010-11.
• Carter Skaggs is currently on pace to finish with 80 3-pointers in 31 games, which would account for the regular season and one game in the Pac-12 tournament.
• Malachi Flynn is on pace to make 76...Robert Franks is on pace to make 70 and Viont'e Daniels on pace to make 68.
• Skaggs' 80 would put him fifth in WSU's single-season record books (behind Thompson, Derrick Low, Jan-Michael Thomas and Eddie Hill), while Flynn would be seventh.
• Through 24 games, Flynn has 59 made 3-pointers, Skaggs has 62 Franks 54 and Viont'e Daniels 53; Thompson had 69 in that time.
• With 58 3-pointers as a freshman to add to his 59 as a sophomore, Flynn already ranks 18th in WSU's career 3-point record books with 117 made.
• Flynn is on pace to end the season ranked 12th on the WSU career list for made 3-pointers with 134.
BENNIE SELTZER'S CONFERENCE 3-POINT RECORD:
• Current WSU assistant coach and former Cougar standout (1990-93), Bennie Seltzer, holds the WSU single-season record for 3-pointers made in conference games only with 53 set in 1993.
• Currently sophomore Carter Skaggs leads the Cougars with 34 3-pointers in 12 league games, as he's on pace to finish with 51, right behind Seltzer.
IRON MAN Viont'e Daniels:
• Junior Viont'e Daniels has played at least 38 minutes in each of the last three games (Feb. 4, Feb. 8 and Feb. 11), and is averaging 33.2 minutes played per game.
• Daniels ranks 12th in the Pac-12 in minutes played and 241st nationally.
• Daniels is the only Cougar to start all 24 games this season.
COMEBACK COUGS:
• WSU has trailed at halftime in 14 of its games this season, as well as its exhibition game, and was tied at the half once, coming back from five of them for the wins.
• The Cougars trailed Saint Martin's, 44-41, at the half in exhibition action, Nov. 5.
• They were behind, 42-24, to Texas Southern at halftime in their season opener, Nov. 12.
• Against Seattle U, Nov. 15, the Redhawks led the Cougars, 31-26.
• WSU trailed Saint Joseph's by 14 (38-24) at halftime, after the Hawks used a 23-0 run, Nov. 23.
• WSU was tied with Bethune-Cookman, 40-40 at the half, Dec. 22.
• Washington State trailed by as many as 13 to Saint Martin's, 22 against Texas Southern, 10 against Seattle U, 20 against Saint Joseph's, 6 to Saint Mary's (Nov. 24) and 9 with 8 minutes left to San Diego State (Nov. 26), overcoming all the deficits for victories.
MORE ON COUGAR COMEBACKS:
• The Cougars have overcome two 20-point deficits in their regular season games this season, marking the two largest comebacks for WSU since at least the 1992-93 season (research ongoing).
• WSU erased a 22-point first-half deficit to defeat Texas Southern, 86-84, Nov. 12, in WSU's season opener at Beasley Coliseum.
• Junior Robert Franks scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and had his first career double-double.
• Franks scored just 3 points in the first half and had 22 in the second before fouling out in the second half.
• At the Wooden Legacy against Saint Joseph's, WSU trailed by 20 points with 3:30 left in the first and was able to come back for the 75-71 victory, Nov. 23 at Fullerton.
• Franks scored 15 of his WSU-high 19 points in the second half, while his classmate Viont'e Daniels had 11 of his 17 in the second period.
• After Saint Joseph turned the ball over just once in the first half, WSU forced 6 second-half turnovers.
• Prior to this season, Washington State's largest deficit overcome for a victory since 1992-93 was also 20 points, Jan. 30, 1993 at California.
• In that game, current WSU assistant coach, Bennie Seltzer scored 20 points and dished out 7 assists, as Cal's Jason Kidd put up a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists.
• The Cougars' next-largest comeback was 16 points, also at California, two seasons later, March 11, 1995...the 16-point lead occurred with 9:45 to go in the game.
• In 2009-10 WSU overcame a 15 point USC lead with 17:26 left for a 67-60 victory at Los Angeles.
• Prior to this season, the largest lead overcome in the Ernie Kent era was 14 done twice in 2014-15, first against Missouri State at the Great Alaska Shootout and then again a 1-point victory over Stanford, Jan. 31, 2015.
• See page four of today's notes for more on the comebacks.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A HALF MAKES:
• Washington State is a different team in the second half compared to the first.
• It is averaging 40.1 points per game this season in the second half, compared to just 32.5 in the first.
• On top of that, WSU is shooting .475 (150-355) from the field and .423 (150-355) from 3-point range in the second half, compared to .410 (284-692) from the field and .332 (118-355) from 3-point in the first half.
• Robert Franks is the team's second-half scoring leader at 9.4, and the first half leading scorer with 8.5 first-half points a game.
GIVING THE HELPING HAND:
• Sophomore Malachi Flynn has been a solid ball handler for the Cougars this season.
• He leads the team and ranks eighth in the Pac-12 and 129th in the nation with 4.3 assists per game.
• He has 104 total assists and 51 turnovers in 24 games this season, ranking 127th in the country and seventh in the Pac-12 in assist/turnover ratio with a 2.04 mark.
LET'S BE FRANK(S):
• Robert Franks is off to a hot start in his junior season, averaging 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while shooting .484 from the field and .425 from 3-point range.
• Last year Franks averaged 6.3 points and had 3.3 rebounds per game...with 352 points, he has surpassed his total points from his first two seasons (245).
• With 54 3-pointers in 23 games this year, Franks has surpassed his number of 3-pointers made from the 54 games his first two seasons, 25.
• Franks currently ranks seventh in the Pac-12 and 109th in the nation in scoring and 14th in rebounds per game while he's second in the league with a .884 free throw percentage.
COUGAR BIG MEN TURNAROUNDS:
• Robert Franks' drastic improvement from his sophomore to junior year mimics similar jumps done by former WSU forwards Brock Motum (2010-13) and Josh Hawkinson (2014-17).
• Motum's jump occurred between his sophomore and junior seasons, going from 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, to 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2011-12.
• Hawkinson's jump occurred between his freshman and sophomore seasons, going from 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 2013-14 to 14.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15.
• Motum was named the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year in 2012 and Hawkinson in 2015.
SKAGGS' LONG BALL:
• Sophomore Carter Skaggs had the half of his career, as he scored all 26 of his points in the second period on 7 3-pointers as WSU defeated Seattle U, 75-59, Nov. 15.
• At one point in the second half, Skaggs accounted for 17-straight WSU points, as he made 7-consecutive 3-pointers in the period.
• Skaggs nearly duplicated that performance Dec. 20 against Kansas State as he finished with 24 points on 6-for-10 from 3-point range and 9-for-14 from the field.
• Over the last 14 games, Skaggs is averaging 11.1 points per game in just 23.8 minutes per game, while going 44-100 (.440) from 3-point range, the most 3s by a Cougar over that span.
CLOSING GAMES:
• In the final five minutes of WSU's nine wins this season, the Cougars have averaged 13.8 points, shooting .545 (36-66) from the field and .655 (19-29) from 3-point range.
• In those wins, WSU allowed 8.9 points while holding its opponent to .315 (28-89) from the field and .222 (8-36) from 3-point range.
SHPREYREGIN GETS SCHOLARSHIP:
• Former walk-on, senior Steven Shpreyregin was awarded a scholarship by head coach Ernie Kent, Dec. 28.
• He is in his second season with the Cougars after starting his career at Skagit Valley College.
WSU GETS FIRST WIN AGAINST RANKED OPPONENT SINCE 2015-16:
• WSU defeated No. 21 Saint Mary's, 84-79, Friday, Nov. 24 in the semifinals of the Wooden Legacy.
• The win marked the first over an Associated Press Top-25 team since defeating then-No. 25 UCLA, Jan. 3, 2016.
• The win over No. 21 Saint Mary's marks its highest-ranked victory since defeating then-No. 18 Washington, Jan. 30, 2011.
• The win over Saint Mary's snapped an eight-game losing streak to opponents ranked in the AP Top-25.
• Since that game, WSU has lost two-straight to ranked opponents after falling to No. 9 Arizona Jan. 31 and No. 25 Arizona State Feb. 4.
COUGARS CROWNED 2017 WOODEN LEGACY CHAMPIONS:
• Malachi Flynn averaged 19.7 points, 4.0 assists per game and shot .500 (12-for-24) from 3-point range as he was named the 2017 Wooden Legacy Most Outstanding Player as WSU captured the tournament championship at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym, Nov. 26.
• Robert Franks joined Flynn on the all-tournament team as he averaged 18.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting .528 (19-for-36) from the field.
• WSU came back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Saint John's in the opening round.
• The Cougs then led at halftime in their next two games to upset both No. 21 Saint Mary's and San Diego State to capture the title.
• Viont'e Daniels chipped in 9.3 ppg on 8-for-13 (.615) from 3-point, while Jeff Pollard averaged 9.0 ppg to go along with .556 (10-for-18) shooting from the field.
• As a team the Cougars shot .497 (87-for-175) from the field and .439 (36-for-82) from 3-point range along with .808 (42-for-52) from the free throw line.
TOP OF THE TOURNAMENT:
• WSU captured the 2017 Wooden Legacy Championship over Thanksgiving weekend, marking its first tournament win since the 2009 Great Alaska Shootout.
• Then-WSU sophomore Klay Thompson was named the Great Alaska Shootout Most Outstanding Player after setting a tournament record with 8 3-pointers made on his way to 43 points in the championship game against San Diego.
• WSU's appearance in Wooden Legacy championship game marked its first appearance in a tournament championship game since falling in the finals of the 2010 Diamond Head Classic.
STRONG START TO SEASON:
• WSU got off to a 6-0 start to the 2017-18 season.
• It marked the Cougars' first 6-0 start since the 2009-10 squad started 6-0.
• That season, Washington State's streak of six-straight wins ended Dec. 2, 2009 of that season at then-No. 17 Gonzaga...this season the streak also ended Dec. 2, this time to UC Davis at Beasley Coliseum.
• The Cougars went 10-2 in nonconference play that season as they fell to Kansas State the game after playing Gonzaga, Dec. 5.
• This season's 6-1 start was the best since the 2010-11 squad went 6-1, as they went on to a 10-1 start before losing their second game of the season, Dec. 25 in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic.
• The Cougars' 6-0 mark in November this season, marks its first undefeated November since going 4-0 in 2015-16.
KENT IN FOURTH YEAR:
• Veteran head coach and former Fox Sports and Pac-12 Networks basketball analyst was named the 18th head coach in WSU men's basketball history, March 31, 2014.
• Kent came to Pullman with a 325-254 (.561) mark as a head coach, having spent six seasons at the helm for Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., and 13 at Oregon.
• In his 13 years at Oregon, Kent compiled a 235-174 (.575) record and a 109-125 (.466) conference mark.
• His 124 conference wins rank him 15th-best in Pac-12 history (including Pacific-8 and Pacific-10 Conferences).
• His win, Feb. 18 against Arizona State moved him out of a tie for 15th with former UCLA coach Ben Howland.
• While at Oregon, Kent led the Ducks to seven postseason appearances, including five NCAA Tournament Appearances (2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008) as well as a Pac-10 regular-season (2002) and two conference tournament (2003, 2007) titles.
• Kent's first season with the Cougars wasn't much different than his first with the Ducks, as he led Oregon to a 13-14 overall record and 8-10 league mark as Oregon finished sixth in the then-Pacific-10 Conference...he led WSU to a 13-18 overall record and 7-11 league mark.
• WSU's 13 wins in his first season tied him for third-best in Washington State history for wins by a men's basketball coach in his first season…he's tied with Kelvin Sampson (1987-88) and Dick Bennett (2003-04), as both of those were also improvements from the previous season.
• Kent has 369 career wins, as he got his 350th win Nov. 19 against Montana at the Paradise Jam.
KENT NAMED TO NCAA COMMITTEE:
• WSU Head Coach Ernie Kent was chosen to serve on the newly created Division I Men's Basketball Competition Committee last season, which reports directly to the Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee in an advisory role.
• One student-athlete, two current head coaches, four Division I staff members and three members of the public with significant men's basketball experience form the committee.
• The committee also has regular communication with the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee and will review student-athlete health and safety, sportsmanship and integrity, game operations and presentation, technology, and statistical trends.
• The group will develop strategic principles in these areas, subject to the approval of the Men's Basketball Oversight Committee.
• This committee was announced Dec. 2, 2016.
WSU SIGNS ELLEBY DURING EARLY PERIOD:
• Charles 'CJ' Elleby (6-6, 195, Forward, Seattle Wash./Cleveland High School) signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at WSU beginning in the fall of 2018.
• As a junior at Cleveland HS in 2016-17, Elleby averaged 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game en route to being named to the All-Metro League team for the third-straight season.
• As a sophomore, Elleby averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while helping lead Cleveland HS to the 3A state tournament...heading into his senior season, Elleby has scored a total of 1,055 career points.
FLYNN AND FRANKS SPEND SUMMERS PLAYING BALL:
• Sophomore Malachi Flynn was chosen as one of 28 of the nation's top 19-and-unders and was invited to attend the 2017 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Cup Team training camp, June 18-25 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Flynn did not qualify for the team, but spent several days training with team coaches, Kentucky head coach John Calipari, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle and Wake Forest head coach, Danny Manning.
• Franks spent part of his summer in China as part of the USA Eagles' summer tour.
• Other former Cougars to compete in the China with the USA Eagles include Valentine Izundu (2015), Josh Hawkinson (2014) and DaVonté Lacy (2012).
NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK STAFF:
• Fourth Year WSU head coach, Ernie Kent, has a new look to his coaching staff for the 2017-18 season.
• With the departure of veteran assistant coaches, Greg Graham and Silvey Dominguez, Kent added former WSU standout and veteran coach, Bennie Seltzer (WSU, 1990-93) and well-known high school coach, Ed Haskins...Haskins' late-brother, Aaron Haskins, played basketball for the Cougars from 1980-83.
• Seltzer still holds the WSU career assists record (473) and ranks ninth in scoring (1,423).
• Thursday's game can be seen on the Pac-12 Network as JB Long (play-by-play) and Matt Muehlebach (analyst) have the call.
• Following Thursday's game, Washington State will look to snap its seven-game losing streak to the Utes as it hosts Utah (15-9, 7-6), Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.
• Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN2 as Steve Quis (play-by-play) and Corey Williams (analyst) have the call.
• All season long, Cougar basketball can be heard on the Cougar IMG Sports Radio Network as the voice of the Cougars, Matt Chazanow will have the call.
• Please see page one of today's notes for the list of affiliates.
• Live stats are also available at www.wsucougars.com.
COUGARS VERSUS BUFFALOES:
• Amongst Pac-12 foes, WSU has the fewest meetings with Colorado, as Thursday marks just the 16th all-time meeting and second of the season between Washington State and Colorado.
• The Buffaloes hold a 12-3 advantage in the series and have won the last three meetings, including an 82-73 victory at Boulder, Jan. 18 of this year.
• Each of the last two seasons, WSU and Colorado met three times, each at home and once in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament at Las Vegas.
• The Cougars have won two of the last three games against the Buffaloes at home, both in overtime.
• WSU prevailed last season, 91-89, in overtime, Jan. 21, 2017 and 96-91 in overtime, March 7, 2015, both at Pullman.
• Each of the last four Cougar home games with the Buffaloes have been decided by 5 points or less, three of them in overtime…aside from WSU's two wins, it also lost to Colorado, 75-70. Jan. 23, 2016 at Beasley Coliseum and 71-70 in overtime in a WSU home game at Spokane Arena, Jan. 8, 2014.
• In each of the last four seasons, at least one game between WSU and Colorado has been decided in overtime (record is 2-2).
COUGARS VERSUS UTES:
• Saturday's matchup marks the 27th all-time meeting between Washington State and Utah, as the Utes hold a 22-4 advantage.
• Utah has won the last eight meetings in the series, scoring 81 or more points in six of the eight games, as each of those games were decided by an average of 20.5 points.
• The Utes had matching 88-47 victories each of the last two seasons (Jan. 18, 2017 at Pullman and Feb. 14, 2016 at Salt Lake City).
• Each of those Utah victories tied for the largest winning margin by either team in the series.
• WSU's last win in the series came at Pullman, Jan. 12, 2014, a 49-46 Cougar victory.
RECORD-SETTING 3-POINT SHOOTING:
• The 2017-18 WSU squad set the school record for 3-pointers made in a season, Jan. 31, finishing the game against Arizona with 241 3s in 21 games.
• The previous record, set by the 2010-11 team was 240 done in 34 games.
• Through 24 games, WSU has 271 3-pointers and is on pace to finish a 31-game season with 350 3-pointers made.
• The Pac-12 record for 3-pointers made in a season is 354 set by UCLA in 2016-17 in 36 games.
• WSU currently has made 128 3-pointers in 12 Pac-12 games this season...the school record for 3-pointers made in a season in conference play is 144 set in 2003.
• The Cougars are on pace to finish with 192 3-pointers in league play this year.
COUGS FIRING FROM DOWNTOWN:
• WSU is fourth in the nation and leads the Pac-12 with 11.3 made 3-pointers per game.
• The Cougars have made 12 or more 3's in 14 of their 24 games this season; 15 3's in the season opener, 12 against Seattle U, 15 again against Idaho State, 16 against Saint Joseph's, 13 against San Diego State, 12 against UC Davis, 12 at UTEP, 15 against Bethune-Cookman, 14 at UCLA, 13 at USC, 15 vs California,15 at Colorado, and 12 vs Arizona State...WSU had 11 against Kansas State.
• The WSU record for 3's made in a game by the team is 18 done three times, last, against UTSA, Dec. 6, 2014.
• Last season WSU made 10 or more 3-pointers in a single game just five times, and only once made at least 12 in a game
• In Washington State's previous five seasons, the Cougars made 12 or more 3-pointers in a single game 9 times total, once last season, none in 2015-16, once in 2014-15, five times in 2013-14 and twice in 2012-13.
• If WSU were to continue to shoot at this clip, it would finish with at least 350 3-pointers made, and has already surpassed the school record of 240 set during the Klay Thompson era, the 2010-11 season.
• The Cougars also rank third in the Pac-12 and 57th in the country with a .379 3-point field goal percentage.
• Three Cougars rank individually in the top-10 of the Pac-12 for 3-pointers made per game...Carter Skaggs is third in the league and 106th in the nation (2.58 3fg per game), Malachi Flynn is fourth in the Pac-12 and 140th in the nation (2.46) and Robert Franks is sixth in the league and 174th in the nation (2.35).
• Viont'e Daniels is second in the league with a .454 3-point field goal percentage, while Skaggs is third with a .449 clip and Robert Franks is seventh in the Pac-12 at .425.
• As a team, 51 percent of WSU's shots have come from 3-point range, while 46.2 percent of its points (813) are off 3-pointers...WSU opponents are getting 33.4 percent of their points off of 3-pointers.
• Eighty-six percent of Carter Skaggs' shots are 3-pointers, while 83.8 percent of his points (186) have come off of 3-pointers.
• Fifty-one percent of Malachi Flynn's points (177) are off 3-pointers, while 75.8 percent (159) of Viont'e Daniels' points are off 3-pointers.
MORE ON COUGAR 3-POINTERS:
• Over the last five seasons, just four Cougars have made at least 50 3-pointers in an entire season.
• This season through 24 games, four Cougars have already made at least 50 3-pointers; Malachi Flynn (59) Carter Skaggs (62) Robert Franks (54) and Viont'e Daniels (53).
• Flynn was the only Cougar over 50 last season when he had 58 3s as a freshman.
FRANKS BREAKS SINGLE-GAME 3-POINT RECORD:
• Junior Robert Franks broke the WSU single-game 3-point record and tied the Pac-12 mark with 10 3-pointers against California (10-for-13), Saturday, Jan. 13.
• The previous record of nine was held by four different Cougars; current WSU assistant coach Bennie Seltzer (1992-93), Chris Crosby (1998-99), Marcus Moore (2002-03) and Derrick Low (2006-07).
• Franks is the third Cougar this season to threaten the record, as both Carter Skaggs and Malachi Flynn have each had 7 3-pointers in a game this season.
• Franks had a career-high 34 points in that game, 25 in the second half and made 7 of his 3's in the second half as well.
• Franks' 10 3-pointers made in a game are tied for the third-most made in a game this season in the entire NCAA with eight other people.
KLAY THOMPSON'S SINGLE-SEASON RECORD:
• Cougar great Klay Thompson holds the WSU single-season record with 98 which he accomplished in 33 games in 2010-11.
• Carter Skaggs is currently on pace to finish with 80 3-pointers in 31 games, which would account for the regular season and one game in the Pac-12 tournament.
• Malachi Flynn is on pace to make 76...Robert Franks is on pace to make 70 and Viont'e Daniels on pace to make 68.
• Skaggs' 80 would put him fifth in WSU's single-season record books (behind Thompson, Derrick Low, Jan-Michael Thomas and Eddie Hill), while Flynn would be seventh.
• Through 24 games, Flynn has 59 made 3-pointers, Skaggs has 62 Franks 54 and Viont'e Daniels 53; Thompson had 69 in that time.
• With 58 3-pointers as a freshman to add to his 59 as a sophomore, Flynn already ranks 18th in WSU's career 3-point record books with 117 made.
• Flynn is on pace to end the season ranked 12th on the WSU career list for made 3-pointers with 134.
BENNIE SELTZER'S CONFERENCE 3-POINT RECORD:
• Current WSU assistant coach and former Cougar standout (1990-93), Bennie Seltzer, holds the WSU single-season record for 3-pointers made in conference games only with 53 set in 1993.
• Currently sophomore Carter Skaggs leads the Cougars with 34 3-pointers in 12 league games, as he's on pace to finish with 51, right behind Seltzer.
IRON MAN Viont'e Daniels:
• Junior Viont'e Daniels has played at least 38 minutes in each of the last three games (Feb. 4, Feb. 8 and Feb. 11), and is averaging 33.2 minutes played per game.
• Daniels ranks 12th in the Pac-12 in minutes played and 241st nationally.
• Daniels is the only Cougar to start all 24 games this season.
COMEBACK COUGS:
• WSU has trailed at halftime in 14 of its games this season, as well as its exhibition game, and was tied at the half once, coming back from five of them for the wins.
• The Cougars trailed Saint Martin's, 44-41, at the half in exhibition action, Nov. 5.
• They were behind, 42-24, to Texas Southern at halftime in their season opener, Nov. 12.
• Against Seattle U, Nov. 15, the Redhawks led the Cougars, 31-26.
• WSU trailed Saint Joseph's by 14 (38-24) at halftime, after the Hawks used a 23-0 run, Nov. 23.
• WSU was tied with Bethune-Cookman, 40-40 at the half, Dec. 22.
• Washington State trailed by as many as 13 to Saint Martin's, 22 against Texas Southern, 10 against Seattle U, 20 against Saint Joseph's, 6 to Saint Mary's (Nov. 24) and 9 with 8 minutes left to San Diego State (Nov. 26), overcoming all the deficits for victories.
MORE ON COUGAR COMEBACKS:
• The Cougars have overcome two 20-point deficits in their regular season games this season, marking the two largest comebacks for WSU since at least the 1992-93 season (research ongoing).
• WSU erased a 22-point first-half deficit to defeat Texas Southern, 86-84, Nov. 12, in WSU's season opener at Beasley Coliseum.
• Junior Robert Franks scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and had his first career double-double.
• Franks scored just 3 points in the first half and had 22 in the second before fouling out in the second half.
• At the Wooden Legacy against Saint Joseph's, WSU trailed by 20 points with 3:30 left in the first and was able to come back for the 75-71 victory, Nov. 23 at Fullerton.
• Franks scored 15 of his WSU-high 19 points in the second half, while his classmate Viont'e Daniels had 11 of his 17 in the second period.
• After Saint Joseph turned the ball over just once in the first half, WSU forced 6 second-half turnovers.
• Prior to this season, Washington State's largest deficit overcome for a victory since 1992-93 was also 20 points, Jan. 30, 1993 at California.
• In that game, current WSU assistant coach, Bennie Seltzer scored 20 points and dished out 7 assists, as Cal's Jason Kidd put up a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists.
• The Cougars' next-largest comeback was 16 points, also at California, two seasons later, March 11, 1995...the 16-point lead occurred with 9:45 to go in the game.
• In 2009-10 WSU overcame a 15 point USC lead with 17:26 left for a 67-60 victory at Los Angeles.
• Prior to this season, the largest lead overcome in the Ernie Kent era was 14 done twice in 2014-15, first against Missouri State at the Great Alaska Shootout and then again a 1-point victory over Stanford, Jan. 31, 2015.
• See page four of today's notes for more on the comebacks.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A HALF MAKES:
• Washington State is a different team in the second half compared to the first.
• It is averaging 40.1 points per game this season in the second half, compared to just 32.5 in the first.
• On top of that, WSU is shooting .475 (150-355) from the field and .423 (150-355) from 3-point range in the second half, compared to .410 (284-692) from the field and .332 (118-355) from 3-point in the first half.
• Robert Franks is the team's second-half scoring leader at 9.4, and the first half leading scorer with 8.5 first-half points a game.
GIVING THE HELPING HAND:
• Sophomore Malachi Flynn has been a solid ball handler for the Cougars this season.
• He leads the team and ranks eighth in the Pac-12 and 129th in the nation with 4.3 assists per game.
• He has 104 total assists and 51 turnovers in 24 games this season, ranking 127th in the country and seventh in the Pac-12 in assist/turnover ratio with a 2.04 mark.
LET'S BE FRANK(S):
• Robert Franks is off to a hot start in his junior season, averaging 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while shooting .484 from the field and .425 from 3-point range.
• Last year Franks averaged 6.3 points and had 3.3 rebounds per game...with 352 points, he has surpassed his total points from his first two seasons (245).
• With 54 3-pointers in 23 games this year, Franks has surpassed his number of 3-pointers made from the 54 games his first two seasons, 25.
• Franks currently ranks seventh in the Pac-12 and 109th in the nation in scoring and 14th in rebounds per game while he's second in the league with a .884 free throw percentage.
COUGAR BIG MEN TURNAROUNDS:
• Robert Franks' drastic improvement from his sophomore to junior year mimics similar jumps done by former WSU forwards Brock Motum (2010-13) and Josh Hawkinson (2014-17).
• Motum's jump occurred between his sophomore and junior seasons, going from 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, to 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2011-12.
• Hawkinson's jump occurred between his freshman and sophomore seasons, going from 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 2013-14 to 14.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 2014-15.
• Motum was named the Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year in 2012 and Hawkinson in 2015.
SKAGGS' LONG BALL:
• Sophomore Carter Skaggs had the half of his career, as he scored all 26 of his points in the second period on 7 3-pointers as WSU defeated Seattle U, 75-59, Nov. 15.
• At one point in the second half, Skaggs accounted for 17-straight WSU points, as he made 7-consecutive 3-pointers in the period.
• Skaggs nearly duplicated that performance Dec. 20 against Kansas State as he finished with 24 points on 6-for-10 from 3-point range and 9-for-14 from the field.
• Over the last 14 games, Skaggs is averaging 11.1 points per game in just 23.8 minutes per game, while going 44-100 (.440) from 3-point range, the most 3s by a Cougar over that span.
CLOSING GAMES:
• In the final five minutes of WSU's nine wins this season, the Cougars have averaged 13.8 points, shooting .545 (36-66) from the field and .655 (19-29) from 3-point range.
• In those wins, WSU allowed 8.9 points while holding its opponent to .315 (28-89) from the field and .222 (8-36) from 3-point range.
SHPREYREGIN GETS SCHOLARSHIP:
• Former walk-on, senior Steven Shpreyregin was awarded a scholarship by head coach Ernie Kent, Dec. 28.
• He is in his second season with the Cougars after starting his career at Skagit Valley College.
WSU GETS FIRST WIN AGAINST RANKED OPPONENT SINCE 2015-16:
• WSU defeated No. 21 Saint Mary's, 84-79, Friday, Nov. 24 in the semifinals of the Wooden Legacy.
• The win marked the first over an Associated Press Top-25 team since defeating then-No. 25 UCLA, Jan. 3, 2016.
• The win over No. 21 Saint Mary's marks its highest-ranked victory since defeating then-No. 18 Washington, Jan. 30, 2011.
• The win over Saint Mary's snapped an eight-game losing streak to opponents ranked in the AP Top-25.
• Since that game, WSU has lost two-straight to ranked opponents after falling to No. 9 Arizona Jan. 31 and No. 25 Arizona State Feb. 4.
COUGARS CROWNED 2017 WOODEN LEGACY CHAMPIONS:
• Malachi Flynn averaged 19.7 points, 4.0 assists per game and shot .500 (12-for-24) from 3-point range as he was named the 2017 Wooden Legacy Most Outstanding Player as WSU captured the tournament championship at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym, Nov. 26.
• Robert Franks joined Flynn on the all-tournament team as he averaged 18.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting .528 (19-for-36) from the field.
• WSU came back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Saint John's in the opening round.
• The Cougs then led at halftime in their next two games to upset both No. 21 Saint Mary's and San Diego State to capture the title.
• Viont'e Daniels chipped in 9.3 ppg on 8-for-13 (.615) from 3-point, while Jeff Pollard averaged 9.0 ppg to go along with .556 (10-for-18) shooting from the field.
• As a team the Cougars shot .497 (87-for-175) from the field and .439 (36-for-82) from 3-point range along with .808 (42-for-52) from the free throw line.
TOP OF THE TOURNAMENT:
• WSU captured the 2017 Wooden Legacy Championship over Thanksgiving weekend, marking its first tournament win since the 2009 Great Alaska Shootout.
• Then-WSU sophomore Klay Thompson was named the Great Alaska Shootout Most Outstanding Player after setting a tournament record with 8 3-pointers made on his way to 43 points in the championship game against San Diego.
• WSU's appearance in Wooden Legacy championship game marked its first appearance in a tournament championship game since falling in the finals of the 2010 Diamond Head Classic.
STRONG START TO SEASON:
• WSU got off to a 6-0 start to the 2017-18 season.
• It marked the Cougars' first 6-0 start since the 2009-10 squad started 6-0.
• That season, Washington State's streak of six-straight wins ended Dec. 2, 2009 of that season at then-No. 17 Gonzaga...this season the streak also ended Dec. 2, this time to UC Davis at Beasley Coliseum.
• The Cougars went 10-2 in nonconference play that season as they fell to Kansas State the game after playing Gonzaga, Dec. 5.
• This season's 6-1 start was the best since the 2010-11 squad went 6-1, as they went on to a 10-1 start before losing their second game of the season, Dec. 25 in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic.
• The Cougars' 6-0 mark in November this season, marks its first undefeated November since going 4-0 in 2015-16.
KENT IN FOURTH YEAR:
• Veteran head coach and former Fox Sports and Pac-12 Networks basketball analyst was named the 18th head coach in WSU men's basketball history, March 31, 2014.
• Kent came to Pullman with a 325-254 (.561) mark as a head coach, having spent six seasons at the helm for Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., and 13 at Oregon.
• In his 13 years at Oregon, Kent compiled a 235-174 (.575) record and a 109-125 (.466) conference mark.
• His 124 conference wins rank him 15th-best in Pac-12 history (including Pacific-8 and Pacific-10 Conferences).
• His win, Feb. 18 against Arizona State moved him out of a tie for 15th with former UCLA coach Ben Howland.
• While at Oregon, Kent led the Ducks to seven postseason appearances, including five NCAA Tournament Appearances (2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008) as well as a Pac-10 regular-season (2002) and two conference tournament (2003, 2007) titles.
• Kent's first season with the Cougars wasn't much different than his first with the Ducks, as he led Oregon to a 13-14 overall record and 8-10 league mark as Oregon finished sixth in the then-Pacific-10 Conference...he led WSU to a 13-18 overall record and 7-11 league mark.
• WSU's 13 wins in his first season tied him for third-best in Washington State history for wins by a men's basketball coach in his first season…he's tied with Kelvin Sampson (1987-88) and Dick Bennett (2003-04), as both of those were also improvements from the previous season.
• Kent has 369 career wins, as he got his 350th win Nov. 19 against Montana at the Paradise Jam.
KENT NAMED TO NCAA COMMITTEE:
• WSU Head Coach Ernie Kent was chosen to serve on the newly created Division I Men's Basketball Competition Committee last season, which reports directly to the Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee in an advisory role.
• One student-athlete, two current head coaches, four Division I staff members and three members of the public with significant men's basketball experience form the committee.
• The committee also has regular communication with the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee and will review student-athlete health and safety, sportsmanship and integrity, game operations and presentation, technology, and statistical trends.
• The group will develop strategic principles in these areas, subject to the approval of the Men's Basketball Oversight Committee.
• This committee was announced Dec. 2, 2016.
WSU SIGNS ELLEBY DURING EARLY PERIOD:
• Charles 'CJ' Elleby (6-6, 195, Forward, Seattle Wash./Cleveland High School) signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at WSU beginning in the fall of 2018.
• As a junior at Cleveland HS in 2016-17, Elleby averaged 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game en route to being named to the All-Metro League team for the third-straight season.
• As a sophomore, Elleby averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while helping lead Cleveland HS to the 3A state tournament...heading into his senior season, Elleby has scored a total of 1,055 career points.
FLYNN AND FRANKS SPEND SUMMERS PLAYING BALL:
• Sophomore Malachi Flynn was chosen as one of 28 of the nation's top 19-and-unders and was invited to attend the 2017 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Cup Team training camp, June 18-25 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Flynn did not qualify for the team, but spent several days training with team coaches, Kentucky head coach John Calipari, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle and Wake Forest head coach, Danny Manning.
• Franks spent part of his summer in China as part of the USA Eagles' summer tour.
• Other former Cougars to compete in the China with the USA Eagles include Valentine Izundu (2015), Josh Hawkinson (2014) and DaVonté Lacy (2012).
NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK STAFF:
• Fourth Year WSU head coach, Ernie Kent, has a new look to his coaching staff for the 2017-18 season.
• With the departure of veteran assistant coaches, Greg Graham and Silvey Dominguez, Kent added former WSU standout and veteran coach, Bennie Seltzer (WSU, 1990-93) and well-known high school coach, Ed Haskins...Haskins' late-brother, Aaron Haskins, played basketball for the Cougars from 1980-83.
• Seltzer still holds the WSU career assists record (473) and ranks ninth in scoring (1,423).