Washington State learns Pac-12 basketball pairings

Washington State head basketball coach Ernie Kent, center left, talks to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. (Chris Pietsch / AP)PULLMAN - Washington State will play three consecutive road games in Pac-12 Conference play before returning to Beasley Coliseum, the Cougars learned Monday when the league released its 2019 pairings and site designations.

Dates and times haven’t been released yet, but the Cougars know they’ll open conference play against rival Washington in Seattle during opening week, which is slated for Jan. 2-6. WSU follows with the always-harrowing “mountains” trip against Colorado and Utah,…