Women’s basketball
> Washington State vs. Oregon
Pac-12 Conference tournament
Tipoff: 6 p.m. today, KeyArena, Seattle
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Records: Washington State 15-15 overall, 9-9 Pac-12 Conference; Oregon 15-14 overall, 6-12 Pac-12 Conference
Players: Oregon’s Chrishae Rowe and Jillian Alleyne are the second and third top scorers in the Pac-12. They are averaging 21.7 and 21.6 points per game, respectively. On the other end, WSU is led by Tia Presley’s 18.9 and Lia Galdeira’s 17.7 points per game.
Game themes: The Cougs split the season series with the Ducks and are 0-3 against them on a neutral floor — with the last time coming in the 2008 Pac-10 tournament. Overall, the Cougs own a 3-12 record in the conference tournament, with all three wins coming in the last two seasons. Two years ago, the Cougars beat Oregon State and USC in the tourney and last year, they beat Arizona State. Oregon boasts one of the most potent offenses in the country with an average of 93 points per game. However, that apparently wasn’t enough to save the job of coach Paul Westhead. Reports circulated on Tuesday that Westhead’s contract, which was a five-year deal, will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the month.
> Chicago State at Idaho
Tipoff: 6 tonight, Cowan Spectrum, Kibbie Dome, Moscow
Records: Chicago State 3-24 overall, 0-14 Western Athletic Conference; Idaho 20-8 overall, 13-1 Western Athletic Conference
Players: The Chicago State Cougars are paced by guard Tierra Williams (13.1 ppg). Idaho boasts three players who have started all 28 games: Stacey Barr (17.9 ppg), Alyssa Charlston (14.0 ppg) and Christina Salvatore (10.5 ppg).
Game themes: The Vandals have been so dominant, and Chicago State so woeful, that both teams’ seeding is already set in stone for the WAC tournament, with two regular-season games remaining. In other words, tonight’s game is a prelude to these teams’ first-round No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup Wednesday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. How woeful are the Cougars? They rank 337th of 343 Division I teams in field-goal percentage defense at 46.1. And in conference play they’re actually allowing opponents 50 percent shooting. If the Vandals’ self-confidence has flagged in recent games since dropping a close verdict to Cal State Bakersfield, here’s just the opponent to rejuvenate it. Venue note: With the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival wrapped up, the Vandals are back in the Dome this week after edging Seattle last Saturday at Memorial Gym.
Men’s basketball
> USC at Washington State
Tipoff: 8 tonight, Beasley Coliseum, Pullman
TV: ESPNU
Records: USC 10-19 overall, 1-15 Pac-12 Conference; Washington State 9-19 overall, 2-14 Pac-12 Conference
Players: The Trojans are getting 17 points and 6.6 rebounds per game from junior guard Byron Wesley. The Cougs are paced by DaVonte Lacy, who is averaging 19.6 points per game. He is the only WSU player averaging more than 10 points per game.
Game themes: Riding a seven-game losing streak that features several lopsided defeats, the Cougs are playing the only team worse than them in conference play this season. The Trojans have struggled under first-year coach Andy Enfield, who was hired away from Florida Gulf Coast after taking the Eagles on an electrifying and improbable run to the Sweet Sixteen last year.
> Idaho at Chicago State
Tipoff: 5 PST tonight, Jones Convocation Center, Chicago
Records: Idaho 12-17 overall, 5-9 Western Athletic Conference; Chicago State 12-17 overall, 7-7 Western Athletic Conference
Players: Idaho senior Stephen Madison (19.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg) has appeared in 124 consecutive UI games, two shy of the school record, never failing to see action in a contest since his true freshman season. The Chicago State Cougars’ top threat, Quinton Pippen, nephew of Scottie, is a 6-4 forward with 84 goals from 3-point range.
Game themes: In terms of seeding for the WAC tournament next week in Las Vegas, the Vandals’ best hope now is to avoid the Nos. 7 or 8 seeds and a probable first-round pairing against one of the league leaders (and top pugilists), Utah Valley or New Mexico State. But the Vandals are only half a game ahead of basement dwellers Cal State Bakersfield and Texas-Pan American (both 5-10 in conference), so it behooves them to win one of their final two regular-season games this week. No small task on the road, considering Idaho lost at home to both Chicago State and its opponent on Saturday, Missouri-Kansas City. The Vandals’ upset of NMSU could come in handy in regard to tie-breaking criteria. Strangely, a win for the Cougars, despite their .500 record in league, will clinch the No. 3 seed. One reason is that third-place Grand Canyon is ineligible for the tournament, the men’s portion of which begins a week from today.