Men's basketball
> Washington vs. Washington State
in Pac-12 Tournament
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Tipoff: 8:30 tonight, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Records: Washington 17-14 overall, 9-9 Pac-12 Conference; Washington State 13-18 overall, 4-14 Pac-12 Conference
Players: In his final game in Pullman, senior forward Brock Motum pumped in a season-best 31 points in a win over Southern California on Saturday. Because of his big week, which featured wins over both USC and UCLA, Motum was named the Pac-12's Player of the Week on Monday. It was the third time in his career that Motum has claimed the award. During the regular season, Washington junior guard C.J. Wilcox led the team in minutes played (1,076), 3-pointers made (66), steals (33) and points (520).
Game themes: Coming off easily their most successful week of the season, the Cougs are riding a big wave of momentum into the conference tournament. Last week, the Cougs snapped their nine-game losing streak with wire-to-wire wins over UCLA and USC. They will face a Washington team that had its three-game win streak broken by UCLA on the final day of the regular season. After opening conference play with four straight wins, the Huskies cooled off significantly, dropping their next four and bouncing between wins and losses for the rest of the season. This season, UW swept WSU by a combined nine points.
Women's basketball
> Idaho vs. San Jose State
in WAC tournament
Tipoff: noon today, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Records: San Jose State 11-18 overall, 8-10 Western Athletic Conference; Idaho 14-15 overall, 11-7 Western Athletic Conference.
Players: The game features two first-unit members of the All-WAC team announced Monday: Idaho junior forward Alyssa Charlston (13.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .449 FG) and San Jose State sophomore guard Ta'rea Cunnigan (20.2 ppg, second-highest in WAC). The last time these teams met, UI freshman Christina Salvatore (11.5 ppg) drilled five 3-pointers in an 83-66 victory.
Game themes: It's been another overachieving, late-blooming season for the Vandals under coach Jon Newlee, whose teams have finished an average of two spots higher than their preseason poll projection during his five years at the school. True to form, Idaho was picked fifth this year and take a No. 3 seed into the conference tournament. San Jose State isn't the benighted program it was a few years ago, but the Vandals whipped the Spartans by 17 points in both of their meetings this year. The leadership of Charlston will be key for the Vandals, who start three freshmen and a sophomore and are likely to be a bit awed in the tournament spotlight.
