SAN FRANCISCO – Take two of the 2021 season has the Cougars picked to finish fifth in conference play according to the preseason coaches poll released Wednesday by the Pac-12 Conference office. Washington State and the rest of the Pac-12 begin a normal fall campaign after seeing their 2020 season shortened and pushed to the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols.
The Cougs were picked in the top-half of the conference for the third-straight season as they look to vie for the Pac-12 title and push their way back into the NCAA Tournament. The reigning Pac-12 champion Bruins of UCLA were selected to repeat as conference champs while USC and Stanford each received first place votes.