SPOKANE, Wash. - Washington State returns to Pacific-10 play with a game at No. 21 Arizona on Saturday, the third consecutive road game for the Cougars.
Coach Paul Wulff said there were no major injuries in last weekend's loss to Notre Dame. But safety Chima Nwachukwu is questionable after he injured his ankle while running back a blocked extra point against the Irish.
Washington State (1-7, 0-5 Pac-10) has lost five games in a row, and hasn't played at home since losing to Arizona State on Oct. 10. The Cougars' next home game is Nov. 14 versus UCLA.
Arizona (5-2, 3-1) is on a roll, having won three of its last four games and is second in the Pac-10.
Wulff said the emergence of the Wildcats under coach Mike Stoops is a good example of what he is trying to achieve at WSU.
"There are some definite parallels between their program and ours in term of where we began," Wulff said. "If you want to do it right and correctly, like Ar izona, it does take patience. You have to bring in high school guys with lots of character."
The Washington State offense was largely shut down in the 40-14 loss to Notre Dame. But quarterback Jeff Tuel was able to connect with receiver Jared Karstetter for two touchdown passes. Karstetter, a sophomore, has five of the team's nine touchdown receptions this season.
"Our offense can move the ball," Wulff said, especially if the battered offensive line can provide some protection for Tuel.
WSU's rushing attack continues to average only 76 yards per game, 114th among 120 major college teams. But the pass attack is good for 206 yards per game, thanks largely to the decision to name Tuel, a true freshman, as the starter.
Arizona beat WSU 59-28 last year, but Stoops is warning his team they have to play well if they want to remain in the hunt for the Pac-10 title.
"We control our own destiny and want to be able to go out and play well versus Washington State," Stoops said. "Anybody can beat anybody if you give them the opportunity."
Arizona quarterback Nick Foles leads the Pac-10 in completion percentage at 72.3 percent. Arizona leads the league in fewest quarterback sacks allowed, having surrendered just four in seven games this year. Washington State quarterbacks were sacked 12 times in one game.
The attitude among WSU players remains good, despite the accumulating losses, Wulff said. One reason is that 77 of the 114 players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores, who have not endured years of losing.
"We are not happy with what happens on Saturdays, but we are progressing everywhere we can right now," Wulff said.
