Cougars Look to Build Momentum vs. WCC Cellar Dwellers
Coming off tough losses to the Gonzaga Bulldogs and San Francisco Dons, the Washington State Cougars will look to get back in the win column with two winnable games on the schedule this week.
On Wednesday, the Cougars head south to face the San Diego Toreros before returning home on Saturday to host the Pepperdine Waves. Both matchups provide opportunities for Washington State to regain some momentum as the second half of the conference schedule approaches and solidify its position in the West Coast Conference standings.
Here’s a more in-depth look at the Toreros and the Waves:
San Diego Toreros
Record: 8–12
WCC Record: 2–5
KenPom Ranking: 205
San Diego has already exceeded last season’s win total, earning eight victories after finishing with just six a year ago. While their record is still below .500, the Toreros have shown noticeable improvement, particularly on the defensive end. Along with jumping up from 256th nationally in defensive rankings to 196th, they also rank 30th nationally in defensive turnover rate.
However, San Diego’s defense does still struggle in areas. The Toreros have bee putrid on the defensive glass and protecting the rim. They rank 357th in defensive rebounding percentage, allowing opponents to rebound 37% of their missed shots. Those extra possessions have been costly, especially when combined with poor interior defense. Opponents are shooting 57.5% on two-point attempts, ranking San Diego 330th nationally in opponent two-point percentage. If teams can handle the pressure, there are clear opportunities to score inside and dominate second-chance points.
Offensively, San Diego is led by a balanced trio of scorers in Tonerai Lane, Juanse Gorosito, and Ty-laur Johnson, all of whom average double figures and get hot at any given time. Johnson serves as the primary scoring option and is averaging 15.1 points per game.
Key matchup note: Washington State’s size and rebounding could be a major advantage against an undersized San Diego squad.
Pepperdine Waves
Record: 6–14
WCC Record: 1–6
KenPom Ranking: 271
The 2025-26 season has been a difficult one for Pepperdine, though the Waves are coming off a confidence-boosting win against Portland. Still, they sit at the bottom of the WCC standings and have struggled to find consistency, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
Pepperdine ranks 318th nationally in offensive efficiency, and scoring has been hard to come by throughout the season. The Waves struggle across nearly every shooting category, ranking 341st in effective field goal percentage and shooting just 28.4 percent from three-point range, which ranks 248th nationally.
Despite the inefficiency and lacking a true go-to star offensively, Pepperdine does have several players capable of putting points on the board. Danilo Dozic, Aaron Clark, Javon Cooley, and Styles Phipps all average double figures, with Phillips leading the team at 12.5 points per game.
Key matchup note: If Washington State defends without fouling, and forces Pepperdine to score over a set defense, the Waves’ offensive struggles could be magnified.
These two games against inferior foes with losing records present clear opportunities for Washington State to reset and build momentum in conference play, though neither game will be a gimme for David Riley’s team, which has lost a few games against similarly ranked opponents this year. Against San Diego, rebounding, interior offense, and ball security will be critical. Versus Pepperdine, disciplined defense should put the Cougars in a strong position to come away with a much-needed week of success and climb up the WCC standings.
