The Washington State University men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off their 2013-14 campaign in the annual ZZUMania event at Pullman’s Bohler Gym Friday night.

The event, in its fifth straight year at WSU, was an opportunity for the Pullman faithful to get a first look at both the men’s and women’s teams this season. It featured raffles, team introductions and multiple contests from the two squads.

Head Women’s Basketball Coach June Daugherty and the WSU women’s basketball team began the event with introductions of the 12-player squad and a fiery speech from Daugherty, who is in her seventh year as head coach at WSU.

“We’re excited for this season,” Daugherty said. “We went over to Europe and played Vienna. We kicked some ass over there.”

The women’s team followed the speech with a few warm-up drills before getting into an intricate full-court pass-and-shoot drill. The squad scored a new team-high 143 points in the drill.

“I thought it was a great event for the women’s basketball team and for the men’s basketball team to come out here, introduce us as new players and veterans and show everyone that we’re winning programs,” freshman men’s basketball guard Ikenna Iroegbu said after the event.

Iroegbu, a highly-touted recruit out of Elk Grove, Calif., impressed the crowd throughout the night.

Redshirt junior point guard Royce Woolridge had introduction duties for his team and announced the new squad to the crowd.

The men began their night with a three-point contest following warm-ups.

Redshirt junior guard Dexter Kernich-Drew, sophomore forward Brett Boese, redshirt freshman guard Que Johnson, and junior guard DaVonte Lacy competed in the contest. Kernich-Drew won the first round, draining eight three-pointers in 30 seconds. Lacy ultimately took home the contest title after drilling eight three-pointers in 30 seconds in the final round, topping Kernich-Drew’s final round score of seven.

The men’s dunk contest finished off the 2013 ZZUMania event.

Iroegbu highlighted the first-round of the contest, getting the crowd on their feet after leaping over teammate Lacy, who was sitting in a chair under the hoop, while Lacy lobbed the ball up into Iroegbu’s hands as he slammed it down.

Kernich-Drew also excited the crowd after dunking over Butch who was standing straight underneath the hoop. Iroegbu eventually won the contest in the finals after Kernich-Drew missed his dunk by the slimmest of margins. Iroegbu threw down a reverse double-clutch slam, once again bringing the crowd to their feet.

“I just tried to stick with throwing it up and getting as high as I can and just making sure I made the dunk,” Iroegbu said. “My double-pump didn’t go in smoothly, so I knew if Dexter would’ve hooked up the between-the-legs he would’ve won, it would’ve been over.”  

Iroegbu said it felt good to be a part of the event since most fans are unfamiliar with him as a player.  

One lucky fan had an opportunity to hit a half-court shot for a $500 gift card to the Bookie, which he nailed on the first try, sending the crowd and both basketball teams into a frenzy.

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ken Bone was especially impressed with the student’s half-court heave.

“And to the guy who hit the half-court shot, we’ve got a scholarship for you,” Bone said while addressing the crowd.  

The Cougar women’s team will open its regular season with a home-opener against Syracuse University at Beasley Coliseum on Nov. 10.

The WSU men’s team will open up against CSU-Bakersfield on Nov. 8 at Beasley Coliseum to start its season.