Beasley Coliseum was at full capacity as students and alumni filled the stands to the brim. Butch T. Cougar and the ZZU Cru led the stadium in all the chants and taunts directed at the other team. The building erupted with each layup and free throw the home team made. This was college basketball at its finest.

This was Washington State men’s basketball vs. the University of Washington about five years ago, back when Cougar fans still cared about the sport. Since then, the crowds have decreased and the interest has diminished. Blame it on the lack of talent, competitiveness, wins or whatever else you can think of. The truth is that the basketball program, both men’s and women’s, has lost its favor in the minds and hearts of WSU sports fans.

This year’s Apple Cup game against the Huskies had probably half the attendance as that incredible game five years ago. The atmosphere was nowhere near as electric as it was back then.

Stars have come and gone. Players like Brock Motum, DaVonte Lacy, Tia Presley and Lia Galderia have all gone through their careers without delivering much in terms of wins or increased support from the WSU community, but last year seemed to be a bit of a turning point.

With Ernie Kent stepping in as the new head coach of the men’s team, and the women’s roster filled with the most talent they had in years, the hope was that both teams would take a step toward becoming relevant again.

Results were mixed. The men’s team made progress under Kent, but they were young and lacked the talent and experience to compete with the elite teams in the Pac-12. The women’s team started off hot and was gaining national attention, but then collapsed after a season ending injury to senior center Shalie Dheensaw who was the heart and soul of the team.

Both teams have gone through a ton of turnover coming into this season. Lacy graduated and moved on to the NBA, opening the door for players like junior forward Josh Hawkinson and junior guard Ike Iroegbu to step in and lead the team.

The women’s squad suffered a surprising loss when Lia Galdeira opted to forgo her senior season to play professionally overseas, while simultaneously watching standout guard Tia Presley graduate. Now forwards Mariah Cooks, senior, and Louise Brown, sophomore, have their chances to lead the team.

Both squads are in a position to start a new era of WSU basketball. Their rosters are full of fresh faces ready to make their marks on the program. There is a renewed sense of hope in the WSU community, which speaks to the work that Kent and women’s Head Coach June Daugherty have done in the offseason recruiting and preparing their teams.

Can these squads compete in the current Pac-12 landscape? It’s hard to say. The men’s team still has to deal with powerhouses like Arizona, Cal and UCLA who all have National Championship aspirations. The women have to overcome teams like Oregon State, Stanford and Arizona State, who all feature some of the most talented players in the country. The difference between those top teams and WSU is still pretty noticeable.

Honestly, WSU basketball is probably still a year or two away from competing for a conference title. Women’s coaches from around the Pac-12 picked Washington State to finish 10th , and the men will likely be predicted to finish in a similar position. The national media does not see enough highly ranked recruits or pro prospects to think any differently.

But don’t count these teams out yet, as they may pull a few upsets in true Cougar fashion. Like most athletes that come to the Palouse, these players have a chip on their shoulder and are looking to prove people wrong. They have bought into the systems that their coaches have put in place and are putting in the work necessary to take that step toward being successful.

But the one thing that they can’t control, one thing that has been lacking in recent years, is the fan support. It’s hard to be considered a top team when the seats are half empty. You could be there to see the rise of WSU basketball. Now is your chance to get on board, because Washington State basketball is on the brink of something special.