Washington State Eyes Historic Pac-12 Championship Win in Season Closure – Sky Bulletin

UCLA and Arizona often dominate the Pac-12 basketball championships, but an exciting plot twist this season could see Washington State breaking its 83-year title hiatus.

The Cougars are currently positioned at No. 18 in the AP Top 25 and head into their regular-season finale against Washington with prospects for the coveted Pac-12 title still intact, though they’ll need a bit of assistance to clinch it.

“The stars have aligned for Washington State to contend for the Pac-12 title as they prepare for their home game against rival Washington,” said Coach Kyle Smith. “It’s an incredible position to be in, a true testament to our team’s efforts this season.”

The Cougars’ regular-season finale is layered with significance. It marks their final showdown with the Huskies as conference mates and plays a vital role in their NCAA Tournament seeding, potentially enhancing their chances of playing in Spokane.

Washington State’s last conference title dates back to 1941, the same year they almost seized the national title. Since then, a second-place finish has been the closest they’ve come, with the most recent in 2007.

To end their long-standing title drought, Washington State must overcome Washington and hope for an Arizona stumble against either UCLA or USC. Such an outcome, thanks to their regular-season victories over Arizona, would hand Washington State a dramatic tiebreaker and the championship.

“This game has a high-stakes feel, and it’s times like these that you live for as a coach,” expressed Smith. “This atmosphere is what college basketball is all about.”

As most former and longstanding conferences have seen various teams clinch the regular-season title, the Cougars’ dry spell stands out.

UCLA has claimed the title 32 times, with other schools like USC, California, Stanford, and Oregon having their share of championship glory. Since joining in 1978, Arizona has earned 17 titles. On the other hand, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado are still chasing their first since their respective inclusions.

Despite investing decades in the conference, Washington State waits to add to its two championship wins from 1917 and 1941, matching Idaho’s record while it was a conference member.

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