Ken Davis

It’s not much fun being the team picked to finish last in a conference by all the preseason polls. Perhaps the best way to laugh in the face of those predictions is to follow the path taken this season by the Washington State Cougars.

Maybe you forgot. Or maybe you never knew. But the Cougars, 22-5 and ranked No. 9 in this week’s Associated Press poll, were the preseason punch line in the Pac-10.

“Frankly, this team will be mediocre at best and the odds-on choice to finish last in the conference again,” one publication wrote. Another magazine offered slightly more optimism. “The Cougars have the ingredients to challenge for seventh or eighth place.” But yet another settled on last place because, “The Cougars’ experience must overcome deficits in athleticism and talent.”

Well, look at the Cougars now, holding on to second place in the Pac-10 with an 11-4 record and trailing UCLA for first place by just two games. That No. 9 ranking is something to celebrate throughout the Palouse. It’s the first time Washington State has been in the top 10. The Cougars have been in the rankings five consecutive weeks now.

Somebody owes coach Tony Bennett an apology. Better yet, skip the apology and give Bennett the Pac-10 Coach of the Year trophy.

And while you’re at it, move Bennett’s name to the top of the ballot for national coaching honors too. At this stage of the season, who deserves it more?

“If we keep playing well, maybe those rankings can stay where they are or even get better, who knows?” Bennett told Bud Withers of the Seattle Times Monday night. “But if we don’t, those things will disappear as quickly as they came. Now is not the time to take too much stock in it.”

Here’s an educated guess for you: Washington State will play well enough down the stretch to find a spot in the NCAA Tournament. If the Cougars don’t grab the conference’s automatic spot by winning the Pac-10 tournament, they will get an at-large bid.

And that’s big news because Washington State hasn’t danced in the NCAA Tournament since 1994.

This is one of those Cinderella stories that college basketball produces every once in a while. Bennett, 37, is in his first season as head coach but his fourth season with the Cougars. He took over for his father, Dick, who brought his winning style to Pullman from Wisconsin in 2003-04.

His father groomed him for the bench but Coach Tony had already built his reputation as a recruiter at Wisconsin. The Badgers reached the Final Four in 2000 with both Bennetts coaching there. Tony was instrumental in convincing stars such as Devin Harris, Kirk Penney, Alando Tucker and Brian Butch to play at Wisconsin. Now he is molding top players such as Derrick Low, Daven Harmeling and Kyle Weaver at WSU.

You think Bennett is having a good year? In addition to the magic he is working with Washington State, Tucker is putting up numbers worthy of a national Player of the Year candidate for the Badgers.