Washington State and seven of its peers in the Pac-12 didn’t get the closure they desperately wanted when the conference decided last Thursday to cancel the remainder of its tournament in Las Vegas, following the lead of others in the college basketball world amid coronavirus worries.
The Cougars were cut short, their run in Vegas was abbreviated and their postseason aspirations were nixed before they could even learn who they’d play in a potential first-round CBI, NIT or even a long-shot NCAA tournament matchup. They’d done enough to lock down some type of postseason bid and anticipated spending their spring break in the gym, making tweaks, studying film and preparing for the opportunity to extend their season.