PULLMAN – Although Ernie Kent may have long ago mastered the sartorial flair and oratorical tricks of a politician, his skill for diminishing expectations will need a lot of sharpening should the Washington State men’s basketball coach ever seek elected office.
Kent is not a coach who wants his team to glide under the consciousness of the casual observer until sometime in the middle of the season, after it has proven itself, and sports writers and fans realize that hey, this team is pretty good.
Rather he insists, loudly and repeatedly, that his team is a collection of big, fast, skilled winners and tasks his players with backing up his words.