INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 6-22; 1-17 in Pac-10 (10th) Postseason: None. Last NCAA Tournament appearance in 1994. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Moore 16.6 Rebs: Riley 4.2 Assists: Moore 4.9 FG: Riley 46.8% 3pt: McNair 34.7% FT: Moore 74.6% 01-02 Stats: Washington State | Pac-10 KEY LOSSES Mike Bush | 10.9 ppg Jay Jocklier | 13.6 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Marcus Moore | Junior G | Jerry McNair | Senior F | Milton Riley | Senior F | Shami Gill | Soph C | J. Kordsmeier | Junior Player to Watch Marcus Moore Junior Guard Did it all for Cougars, but couldn't do it all by himself ... if you know what we mean. DATE TO REMEMBER Jan. 2 The Cougars open Pac-10 play by hosting USC and UCLA (Jan. 4) There is no better time for WSU to prove it is not the also-ran of past seasons.

 

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

Paul Graham's plan to turn around the Cougars has not worked, and the head coach enters his fourth season with a 24-59 record and loud whispers that another forgettable year will result in a change at the top. It's hard to imagine Washington State not remaining in the Pac-10 cellar. The Cougars return three starters and one of the league's top guards in junior Marcus Moore (16.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.9 apg), but he has yet to receive any consistent relief from those inside. Graham is attempting a quick-fix result in the post, where he signed three JUCO big men. The most intriguing is Justin Kordsmeier (6-11, 260), a double-double player at North Arkansas Community College. The team's rebounding should also improve with the arrival of center Ezenwa Ukeagu (6-8, 255) from Palm Beach Community College. But no matter how many new faces Graham adds, his team will continue to struggle if it can't defend. Last season, Washington State allowed opponents to shoot 49.8 percent, including 38.3 from 3-point range.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Moore flirted with the notion of leaving early for the NBA (or at least another Division I program) after last season, and who can blame him? But he stuck around and has a competent backcourt mate in senior Jerry McNair (11.6 ppg). Moore and McNair can be as streaky as they are skilled, but neither is helped by a motion offense that rarely sees many screens being set. The Cougars should shoot better than 41.5 percent this season because those inside will be improved.

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Sophomore forward Shami Gill (6-7, 222) returns, but he averaged just 3.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes last season. Milton Riley is a 6-7 senior forward who can't stay out of foul trouble. Chris Schlatter (6-6 sophomore transfer) sat out last season. The Cougars have been porous inside and there is no guarantee the likes of Kordsmeier and Ukeagu and fellow JUCO Justin Bellegarde (6-8, 230) will succeed in the Pac-10. If those in and around the post can't finish, the effectiveness of Moore and McNair becomes nil.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
Athletic director Jim Sterk didn't fire Graham after last season, citing "the team has been competitive in most games." It's probably the most WSU can hope for again this year. The streak of six straight losing Pac-10 seasons won't end, and it's doubtful the Cougars will secure a top-eight finish needed to compete in the conference tournament. Graham might be gone after this season, but think about it: Who could make this work, anyway?