Florida A&M @ Washington St. preview

In the midst of their first three-game winning streak since November of 2018, Washington State continues a seven-game homestand on Thursday night when it hosts Florida A&M. Although the Rattlers enter the contest winless in eight games, Cougars coach Kyle Smith is warning his squad not to take their Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference foe lightly.

That's because Florida A&M has yet to play a home game, opening the season with a 13-game road swing that so far has covered 17,035 miles and included stops in Los Angeles, where they opened the season with a 77-48 loss to USC, Hawaii, where they played three games, followed by losses at Seton Hall (87-51), Kansas State (76-58), No. 21 Tennessee (72-43) and Monday night at Portland (66-60). "Just know they've had a ridiculously tough schedule. It's kind of unfair," Smith told spokesman.com. "They play with purpose on the offensive end and try to get the ball inside. Again, we'll have to be good defensively." To that end, Smith believes the Rattlers, led by 6-8, 300-pound center Evins Desir and three other players 6-8 or taller, have the kind of front line to better prepare them for the start of Pac-12 play. "Just kind of glancing at the Pac-12, there's quite a few teams that have big bodies up front, and especially the first two home games (against USC and UCLA) we're going to see some of that," Smith said. "So there's always opportunity to get better there."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT FLORIDA A&M (0-8): Desir, a transfer from Central Georgia Tech College, is the only Rattler averaging in double figures (10.0 points per game) and also leads the team in rebounding (5.9). Sophomore MJ Randolph is second in scoring (9.6) and rebounding (5.0) while guard Rod Melton ranks third in scoring with 9.1 points per game. The Rattlers have struggled shooting the ball, connecting on just 36.8 percent of their shots from the field, including an NCAA-worst 22.1 percent (21-of-95) from 3-point range, and are also minus-9.4 in rebound margin which ranks 345th out of 350 Division I teams.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (6-4): Sophomore forward CJ Elleby leads the team in both scoring (20.1), rebounding (6.2) and steals (2.0) and has scored in double figures in all 10 games for the Cougars. Junior guard Isaac Bonton, a transfer from Casper (Wyo.) College who began his career at Montana State, is the only other player averaging in double digits (12.9) and has scored in double figures in seven of the nine games he's played. Jeff Pollard, a 6-9 senior forward who scored a career-high 16 points in Sunday night's 70-56 victory over UC Riverside, is third in scoring (9.8) and second in rebounding (5.1).

TIP-INS

1. Washington State leads the nation in fewest turnovers with an average of 9.7 per game.

2. The Cougars lead the Pac-12 in 3-pointers attempted per game (26.3) but but are shooting just 28.5 percent beyond the arc which ranks 319th nationally.

3. Florida A&M's first home game doesn't come until Jan. 11 against MEAC opponent Morgan State.

PREDICTION: Washington State 73, Florida A&M 54