WASHINGTON STATE (0-0)
vs Seattle U (0-0) | Thr., Nov. 8 | 6 p.m.
  Live Stats | WSUCougars.com
  Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Dan Dickau)
  Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)

OPENING FIVE
> WSU enter a new era after finishing 2018-19 11-21 overall and 4-14 in Pac-12 play. The Cougars begin the new year against a Seattle U squad that won last season's meeting 78-69 in Kent, Wash.
> Kyle Smith takes over the program as the 19th head coach in WSU history. Smith brings nine years of head coaching experience to the Palouse along with 18 years as an assistant coach.
> The Cougars return five players from 2018-19 and add 12 newcomers. 
> Headlining the returning players is all-freshman honoree CJ Elleby. Elleby was named  Preseason All-Pac-12 as well as to the Julius Erving and Wooden Watch Lists.
> Of the 12 newcomers the Cougars have five transfers and seven true freshmen. Isaac Bonton and Jaylen Shead look to take over starting backcourt duties after transferring from Casper College and Texas State, respectively.

GAME INFORMATION - SEASON OPENER
The Cougs enter the 2019-20 campaign with a contest against Seattle U, playing the Redhawks for the third-straight season. SU took won last season's meeting between the two sides, 78-69, in Kent, Wash. In the recent series, the two sides have split the matchup with the Cougs winning the 2017 home contest, 75-59. The Redhawks open the season Tuesday night against Pacific Luthern. They were picked third in the WC and are led by junior Terrell Brown and senior Myles Carter who both were named pre-season All-WAC performers.

ABOUT THE COUGARS
Washington State men's basketball returns five players including three starters. In addition to the five returners, the Cougs have 12 newcomers including five transfers and seven true freshmen.
CJ Elleby leads the way after flirting with the NBA Draft after a record-breaking freshman season. The sophomore was named a preseason All-Pac-12 player at media day. His 14.7 ppg is the top returning mark from a season ago.
Senior Jeff Pollard and sophomore Aljaz Kunz return and are projected to be in the starting lineup for the Cougs. Pollard, the only player to have played the previous three seasons at WSU enters his final year having averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg.
The newcomers are led by transfers Isaac Bonton (Casper College) and Jaylen Shead (Texas State). Bonton earned NJCAA Second Team All-America honors as a sophomore after averaging 21.4 ppg and 5.6 apg. Shead led the Bobcats to 24 wins a season ago while averaging 7.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 4.8 apg while leading the Sun Belt in assist/turnover ratio at 2.3. Transfer Deion James will see substantial minutes in the post was the NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year and a first team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore at Pima JC.
Freshmen Noah Williams, Volodymyr Markovetskyy, and DJ Rodman are expected to make an impact in their first seasons. Williams, the son of WSU great Guy Williams, averaged 17.5 ppg, 8.4 rbg and 4.7 apg as a senior at O'Dea HS. Markovestskyy gives the Cougs a 7-1 center on the block who averaged 11.3 ppg, 8.3 rbg and 1.4 bpg in 24.3 minutes at the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championships. Rodman, the son of NBA great Dennis Rodman, averaged 24.2 ppg, 8.9 rbg and 1.2 apg as a senior at JSerra HS.

WASHINGTON STATE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Cougars are 96-22 all-time in season openers and 57-8 when opening the season at home. WSU has won every season opener when opening at Beasley Coliseum and its last 23 season openers at home.
Its last home loss in the first game of the season came Dec. 1, 1972 against Houston, the final year the Cougars played in Bohler Gym. The Cougars have won 29-consecutive Beasley Coliseum openers (not necessarily the first game of the season, but the first at home), with their last loss coming to BYU, Dec. 3, 1987.
Last season, the Cougs defeated Nicholls, 89-72, to open the 2018-19 campaign at home.


~ Complete Release ~ (PDF)

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