Zags sophomore Timme named

to Karl Malone Award Watch List

Award goes to nation’s best collegiate power forward

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Gonzaga’s Drew Timme was named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List Thursday.

Timme was recently named Preseason All-West Coast Conference. Last season, the Dallas, Texas, native appeared in all 33 games, averaging 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. He was third in the conference with 31 blocked shots. During his freshman season, he led the team shooting 62.1 percent from the field and was third in WCC making 62.3 percent of shots inside-the-arc. Timme recorded three double-doubles in 2019-20, and reached double-digit scoring in 16 games.

Obi Toppin of Dayton won it in 2020.

Earlier this week, incoming Gonzaga freshman Jalen Suggs was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List for the nation's top point guard; junior Joel Ayayi was named to the Jerry West Award Watch List for the nation's top shooting guard; and senior Corey Kispert was named to the Julius Erving Award Watch list for the nation's top small forward.

Information: hoophallawards.com

Seven Cougars named to

Preseason All-Pac-12 honors

SAN FRANCISCO — Seven Washington State Cougars received Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference honors, the conference office announced Thursday.

WSU was led by first-team selections right tackle Abraham Lucas and kicker Blake Mazza, while Max Borghi was named to the first team as a running back and as an all-purpose player as voted by the media. Linebacker Jahad Woods was named to the second team while right guard Josh Watson, punter Oscar Draguicevich III and kick returner Travell Harris each received honorable mention.

Big Sky announces 16-match

spring volleyball schedule

FARMINGTON, Utah — The Big Sky Conference announced the 2021 volleyball conference schedule Thursday morning, featuring a 16-match slate from Jan. 24-March 22.

In addition to two fewer matches, each Big Sky team will play eight different opponents in back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday. The Vandals will play four opponents at home and four on the road over an eight-week span beginning Jan. 31. The matches each week will take place back-to-back on Sundays and Mondays.

The Vandals will face Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Montana State, and Northern Colorado at home while traveling to Idaho State, Sacramento State, Montana, and Eastern Washington.

Idaho will open conference play against Southern Utah in Memorial Gym on Sunday, Jan. 31 and Monday, Feb. 1. The regular season concludes in Moscow on Sunday, March 21 and Monday, March 22 against the defending champion Northern Colorado Bears.

The top eight teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the Big Sky Conference Tournament hosted by Northern Colorado from March 31-April 2. The Tournament champion will earn the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s a sense of relief for our athletes,” Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan said. “They have all been waiting so it is exciting to be able to share this information with them. It gives us something to look forward to. Going through COVID and all the different regulations takes a toll on the athletes mentally, but they are super excited and can’t wait to play.”

The Vandals were picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky preseason poll back in July.

IDAHO VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 — vs. SOUTHERN UTAH

Feb. 7 and 8 — at Idaho State

Feb. 14 and 15 — at Sacramento State

Feb. 21 and 22 — vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA

Feb. 28 and March 1 — at Montana

March 7 and 8 — vs. MONTANA STATE

March 14 and 15 — at Eastern Washington

March 21 and 22 — vs. NORTHERN COLORADO