THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Not much new news on the Zags, Pac-2 front

We can’t let a week just zoom past us.

No, indeed.

The world always needs some updated yada-yada about college sports realignment.

Specifically, folks in our neighborhood are waiting for news about Gonzaga to the Big 12, along with Washington State (and Oregon State) to the Big Something.

So.

We have news.

OK, it’s not exactly “news,” like everything is locked down, schedules all plugged in for next year, and contracts signed — as though that “contract thing” made a difference in the collapse of the Pac-12.

But we do have something, and at least in the case of Gonzaga, it sounds pretty definite.

Brett Yormark, commissioner of the Big 12 and wannabe emperor of sports for the entire universe, spoke this week at his conference women’s sports media day.

Yormark cannot let a public performance slip past him without a pronouncement about what school he’s moving somewhere, and what other school gets a thumbs-down, and can just go wait at the bus station.

Before we share Yormark’s statement, however, be aware that this man is a wizard at talking out of both sides of his mouth.

It’s rumored that he can simultaneously chow down on down steak tartare* while slurping a strawberry milkshake through a straw.

SO, WITH that disclaimer about Yormark’s talent for changing decisions in mid-sentence available to all, the commish did seem to give us a nugget of information.

Basically, he let it be known that Gonzaga will NOT be invited to join the Big 12 — at least during this realignment cycle.

Next year?

Next week?

Watch this space.

Yormark has said publicly (as recently as mid-summer) that the Big 12, possibly the strongest conference in terms of men’s hoops, approached the Zags and UConn about becoming basketball-only members.

The theory at the time was that the Big 12 wanted to go from strength to strength, and basically have a stranglehold on a power sport when its next media rights deal came around in 2031.

Then, the addition of four schools from the Pac-12 (Utah, Arizona, Arizona State and Coach Prime) filled out what Yormark called a “dream scenario.”

That seemed to silence the possibility of Gonzaga going anywhere in the near future.

Not so fast.

Yormark apparently finished off his stark tartare* and strawberry shake, and decided to use his mouth again.

Or, have someone else close to the Big 12 do it.

Last week, a few sources considered very reliable in the college basketball world all went public with the information that the conference WAS in “high-level” talks with the Zags – and that the school could join the Big 12 as soon as the 2024-25 season.

Wow.

Except.

As we know now (maybe, presumably), Yormark has scratched that off his dance card for now.

That’s your first piece of news — or non-news, if you’re a Zag fan and were ignoring the Big 12 in the first place.

Supporters turn up in the thousands, up and down the West Coast for WCC games — saving up for the Maui Invitational and the conference postseason tournament in Vegas (also known as the Gonzaga Invitational).

Would they be just as excited about trips to Waco, Cincinnati and Morgantown?

Draw your own conclusions.

IN ANY event, was Gonzaga staying put our only piece of realignment news for the week?

Nope.

Representatives of Wazzu and Oregon State (the Pac-2) have been asked recently, and often, about their plans for the next season or two.

More critically, as the clock keeps ticking, questions come up about recruiting — along with the issue of keeping current athletes and staff in place — if the two schools play as independents while the Pac-12 assets are sorted out.

Eventually, the best course for WSU and OSU will develop, based (naturally) on money and competition.

Remember, NCAA regulations allow any conference to compete for two years in limbo while rebuilding a group with a minimum of six schools.

John Canzano, the former Portland columnist who now writes his own product (and shares a podcast with Pac-12 expert Jon Wilner) has developed super sources throughout the region over the years.

Canzano addressed those pressing questions in his weekly mailbag column.

On recruiting if Wazzu and OSU go it alone temporarily:

“I asked some recruiting experts how this might go, and they don’t think the conference uncertainty is hurting OSU and WSU all that much right now.

“The Beavers and Cougars weren’t in regular head-to-head battles with Oregon and Washington for players. “They were beating out some other Pac-12 teams and the Mountain West competition for three-star players and focusing largely on player development.

“The bigger danger right now is with losing current players in the transfer portal.

“It’s why the Pac-2 schools are focused on their plan for 2024.

“A 30-day transfer portal window opens on Dec. 4.”

CANZANO also reached out to people involved with creating a new conference under the Pac-12 banner, either in conjunction with the Mountain West or in some other fashion.

When might we know what’s going on?

With a portal looming, there is a pretty serious time crunch hanging over the Pac-2.

How close are we to getting a decision?

Canzano: “Stay tuned on this front. I don’t think it will be much longer before the programs give their players, coaches and fans some badly needed clarity.

“It will be incumbent upon OSU and WSU to incentivize player and coach retention by laying out a clear plan.

“They’ll need to demonstrate a viable 12-game schedule, prove how they’ll fund the programs, and lean heavily on NIL partners.

“I’m being told that they have a plan and are nailing down the details.”

To repeat John’s intro: “Stay tuned.”

One thing that would help with leverage for the Pac-2 is to play winning football.

Oregon State is doing its part with a 3-1 conference record (6-1 overall), and could have a shot at the Pac-12 title game with games to come against Washington and Oregon.

The Cougs are 1-2 and 4-2, but are coming off a horrible 44-6 thrashing from Arizona.

WSU finishes its last Pac-12 season with games against Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford, Cal, Colorado and Washington.

In the immortal words of the late Al Davis: “Just win, baby!”

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”

GOURMET TIP

*Steak tartare is a dish of raw ground (minced) beef. It is usually served with onions, capers, mushrooms, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings, often presented separately, to be added to taste – frequently topped with raw egg yolk.