There aren't many coaches doing a better job in year one than David Riley.
The former Eastern Washington head coach took the Washington State job in a really difficult spot. As the Cougars moved down from the Pac 12 to the West Coast Conference, it would've been easy for them to fade back into the obscurity that had mired the program for decades, but it hasn't been that way.
It would've been easy for the Cougars to fade back into obscurity when they lost star Cedric Coward for the season with an injury, but it hasn't been that way.
It would've been easy for the Cougars to fade back into obscurity when they lost Isaiah Watts, the only notable returning piece from Kyle Smith's tournament team, for an extended period right before WCC play, but it hasn't been that way.
Washington State is now 3-0 in the WCC, and 13-3 overall, building up a legitimite at-large case after a home win over San Francisco, 91-84 on Saturday.
"Our guys did a great job for 40 minutes of being mentally tough," Riley said. "We survived a heck of a run from Malik Thomas. That first half is one of the best first halves I've seen, but our guys didn't get frustrated, they didn't overreact, and we adjusted the gameplan at halftime, and I thought we did a really good job."
And that's exactly what Wazzu has done all year. No matter what gets thrown in WSU's face, the Cougars aren't phased. They've been mentally tough throughout the season, through losing their top player, and another top player, and succeeding in tough games against good opponents.
Thomas scored 34 points for San Francisco, but fouled out late in the second half, and it gave Washington State just enough to finish the game.
Three of Wazzu's starters (and Coward, who is out for the year, as mentioned) came with Riley from Eastern, and they combined for 62 points on Saturday. LeJuan Watts had a career high 24 points and 12 rebounds.
The Cougars have yet to lose a game outside of the first two quadrants, and are 5-3 in their 8 Q1/Q2 games, but only one win (Nevada) is Q1. Although their win against Boise State was in Boise, it was played off-campus, and thus isn't considered a true road game.
Washington State has a chance to make a serious national statement against Gonzaga next Saturday in Spokane.