Cougars Notebook: Cougs (13-0) head for L.A. showdown

PULLMAN -- One game into the Pac-10 season, the Washington State Cougars are already faced with a Los Angeles road swing that could play a pivotal role in determining whether the Cougars can win a conference championship in men's basketball for the first time since 1941.

The fourth-ranked Cougars (13-0, 1-0 Pac-10) face the promising young USC Trojans (9-5, 0-2) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., then take on fifth-ranked UCLA (14-1, 2-0) on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. Both games will be televised on FSN.

UCLA and Washington State were consensus favorites to finish 1-2 in the Pac-10 -- as they did last season -- in preseason forecasts. The Bruins have won seven in a row overall and six in a row against WSU. The Cougars' only victory in 50 tries at UCLA took place in 2004.

"That's pathetic," WSU forward Daven Harmeling said after a spirited practice Monday.

The Cougars and Bruins are two of the premier defensive teams in the country.

USC's lack of experience has factored into inconsistent play at both ends of the floor.

USC guard O.J. Mayo and UCLA center Kevin Love are living up to the hype of being freshmen likely headed to the NBA next season. Mayo leads the Trojans and ranks second in the Pac-10 with 20.1 points per game, and he leads the league in minutes played at 35.9 per game. Love leads the Bruins, averaging 16.5 points (ninth in Pac-10) and 10.2 rebounds (third).

SCARY STUFF: The Cougars received a scare at practice when guard Stephen Sauls collapsed shortly after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Aron Baynes.

Trainer Bill Drake said Sauls lost consciousness. A student trainer briefly started CPR and had 911 called before Drake determined that Sauls was "going to be OK."

More medical tests are planned.

TONY TERRIFIC: It might be a tad early to canonize Tony Bennett, but give the man his props: His record after the first 1 1/2 seasons and 47 games of his college head coaching career at WSU is a flat-out sensational 39-8 (.830).

Don't look now, but after his first 47 games, the legendary Adolph Rupp was -- you guessed it -- 39-8 at Kentucky. Furthermore, John Wooden was 35-12 at Indiana State, Dean Smith was 30-17 at North Carolina and Mike Krzyzewski was 28-19 at Army.

HISTORIC START: How impressive is WSU's 13-0 start? Well, the Cougars have been playing hoops since 1901-02, and only the 1914-15 and 1916-17 teams had better starts or longer winning streaks.

The 1916-17 Cougars started 15-0, dropped a 28-20 "thriller" at California, then won their other 10 games to finish 25-1 and claim the unofficial Helms Foundation national championship in the pre-NCAA days. The 1914-15 Cougars won their first 17 games, then lost their other six games.

How'd that happen? Well, early games that year included a 55-2 win over the mighty Almira Athletic Club and a 39-4 romp over Davenport High School. And you thought Bennett was cruel for scheduling Mississippi Valley State and North Carolina A&T.

RECORD SELLOUTS: Tickets remain on sale for only three home games, Thursday contests against Oregon State on Jan. 17, California on Jan. 31 and Arizona State on Feb. 21.

The Cougars have set a school record with seven sellouts (counting six upcoming games). Season tickets were cut off at 4,245 this season (excluding all-sports student passes), but that number will rise next season.

Tickets may be ordered at www.wsucougars.com or 800-462-6847.

TOP NOTCH: The NCAA compiles 16 team statistics and, through Sunday, WSU ranked in the top 10 in seven categories and in the top 20 in two others.

WSU was first in points allowed per game (49.8), tied for fourth in won-loss record (13-0), fifth in turnovers (10.9), sixth in personal fouls (14.3), eighth in field-goal shooting percentage defense (36.9), eighth in free-throw shooting percentage (77.3), 10th in field-goal shooting percentage (50.1), 14th in scoring margin (18.7) and 19th in assist/turnover ratio (1.27).

TIP-INS: By winning its first 13 games, WSU matched the two highest win totals posted during 10 consecutive losing seasons that preceded last year's 26-8 campaign. ... USA Today is planning a feature article on Washington State's rise from mediocrity. ... The Cougars continue to take heat for their soft nonconference schedule. They did beat Baylor (currently 11-2), Boise State (11-3) and Gonzaga (11-4), but none of those teams earned a vote in this week's top 25 polls.