New Year, New Challenge as WSU Hosts Arizona Saturday
WASHINGTON STATE (8-0, 1-0)
vs Arizona (8-1, 2-1) | Sat., Jan. 2 | 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Sidearm Stats
Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Dan Dickau)
Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> For the first time since 2007 the Cougs finished non-conference play undefeated (13-straight non-con wins dating back to last season) and enter the week 8-0 on the year, the lone unblemished Pac-12 squad and one of just 15 left in the country.
Additionally, the Cougars have reeled off nine consecutive wins dating back to last season - the longest streak in the Pac-12 and tied for fifth-longest among NCAA Division I programs
> The Cougs take on Arizona Saturday in their first game of the new year after Thursday's contest vs Arizona State was postponed due to Covid-19 protocol within ASU. Last season the Wildcats swept the season series including a 66-49 win at Pullman.
> Efe Abogidi became the first Coug to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors after becoming just the second freshman in program history to record three-straight double-doubles.
> WSU enters the game one of the top defensive units in the country ranking #11 in scoring defense allowing just 57.6 points per game and #3 in effective FG% at just 38.8% allowed.
> For the second-straight season the Cougs posted a perfect December at 6-0 and are now 12-0 in the month under head coach Kyle Smith. Tony Bennett's 2007-08 squad was the last to go undefeated in December while the 2017-18 Cougs posted a perfect November.
GAME INFORMATION - VS ARIZONA
The Cougs finish off their homestand with a Saturday matchup against Arizona as the Wildcats enter the week 8-1 and 2-1 in Pac-12 play having lost to Stanford earlier in December on the road while defeating Colorado Monday night at home and Washington Thursday night at Seattle. The two teams share one common opponent with both the Cougs and the Wildcats having defeated Eastern Washington, each by three points, at home. Last season, the Wildcats swept the season series and have won 15 of the last 16 with the Cougs winning last at Tucson, 69-55, Feb. 9, 2019.
LAST TIME OUT - VS NORTHWESTERN STATE
WSU 62 - NWSt 52 | Dec. 23, 2020 | Pullman, WA
Freshman Efe Abogidi had his third consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Washington State beat Northwestern State 62-52 on Wednesday to improve upon its best start in 13 years. Washington State (8-0) won its first 14 games of the 2007-08 season.
ABOGIDI NAMED PAC-12 FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Washington State Men's Basketball freshman Efe Abogidi was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the week ending on Dec. 27, the conference office announced Monday. Abogidi became the first Cougar to earn the freshman award since the honor was established prior to the 2019-20 season. He is the first Coug to earn a conference weekly honor in 2020-21 and first since CJ Elleby was named Pac-12 Player of the Week Feb. 9, 2020. In addition to becoming the first Coug to earn the freshman award, Abogidi became the first freshman to earn a weekly award since Mark Hendrickson earned player of the week honors on Feb. 8, 1993.
DECEMBER PERFECTION
For the second year in a row the Cougs finished the month of December without a loss in the month going 6-0 to finish the year. Last season, WSU was also a perfect 6-0 in the month and are now a perfect 12-0 in the month under head coach Kyle Smith.
The 2017-18 Cougs were the last team to post a perfect month going 6-0 in November while the 2007-08 Cougs were the last team to post a perfect December going 5-0.
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