TCU at Washington State (-5.5) - 5:00pm Pacific

Cougars fans are excited about hoops again which is quite a statement.  Former Wisconsin head coach Dick Bennett has to be one of the best hires the Pac-10 has seen in some time.  Fans are calling him the "Wisconsin Wizard."  So far the Cougars are 3-2 after starting the season with a trip to Alaska for the Top of the World Classic.  They lost in the final to a good Rice team and then lost badly on the road at Southern Utah in their first game back to the mainland but I am willing to excuse it.  They bounced back with a blowout win over IPFW in their home opener five days ago. 

 

Bennett has a decent team to work with.  Four starters are back from last season including a healthy senior G/F Marcus Moore who returned to school after testing NBA waters.  Moore was named a Wooden preseason All-American and is on the Naismith watch list after he averaged 18.2ppg last season.  When Moore was injured last season, guards Randy Green and Thomas Kelati were forced to step up and both proved to be steady performers.  Junior forward Shami Gill (7.8 rebounds), junior forward Chris Schlatter, and senior center Ezena Ukeagu (returning starter) lead an experienced frontline.  Through five games, eight players are averaging double figures in minutes.

 

TCU finished a poor 9-19 last season and three of their top four players graduated.  This program is in a rebuilding mode.  The Frogs have not left Fort Worth yet this season but still enter the game at just 1-3 and are losers of three straight games.  Most recently they lost at home to Murray State.  The Frogs have not had much chance to improve with practice time as this will be their fourth game in seven days.  TCU takes to the road for the first time this season after finishing 2-12 on the road last year with a much more experienced group.

 

This will be a good measuring stick game for the Cougars and I believe they will do well.  Last year, the Cougars lost by just 3 points in Fort Worth in a game that featured 21 lead changes.  With a positive coaching change and four returning starters, Washington State clearly appears to be the more improved team from last season.  A change of home court plus revenge motivation should lead to a win and cover.

 

Washington State   1 UNIT