Washington State Cougars basketball — program history
Washington State's basketball program dates to 1902, and the Pullman-based school has been a competitive presence in the Pac-12 (now WCC). Coach Tony Bennett built the Cougars into a national contender in the mid-2000s before leaving for Virginia.
The name
The Cougars name was adopted in 1919, chosen after the cougars (mountain lions) that roamed the Palouse region of eastern Washington.
Signature moment
Tony Bennett's 2006-08 run, including a 26-8 season in 2007 and Sweet Sixteen appearance, the program's best stretch in modern history.
Dick Bennett brought his famous "pack line" defense to Washington State, where his son Tony ran the system before perfecting it at Virginia and winning a national championship — making WSU a key stop in the rise of one of basketball's most influential modern defenses.
The Washington State Cougars compete in the WCC and hold an all-time record of 1718–1633 (.513 winning percentage) across 125 recorded seasons dating back to 1901-02. The program has reached 1 Final Four.
Season-by-season results
* Season vacated by the NCAA — absent from the official season table; record computed from the game log and not counted in official totals or rankings.
More WCC programs
Gonzaga Bulldogs · Loyola Marymount Lions · Oregon State Beavers · Pacific Tigers · Pepperdine Waves · Portland Pilots · Saint Mary's Gaels · San Diego Toreros · San Francisco Dons · Santa Clara Broncos · Seattle U Redhawks
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home