TUCSON, Ariz. – Ugly losses, a frustrated fan base, a coach under fire; it’s been a rough first two seasons for Paul Wulff at Washington State.

Mike Stoops knows all about it. The Arizona coach experienced everything Wulff is going through and more because the Wildcats failed to post a winning record or go to a bowl game in Stoops’ first five years in Tucson.

Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, a former Washington State AD, refused to satisfy the critics by firing Stoops. The end result was an 8-5 season last year and Arizona’s first bowl game in 10 years, and now the Wildcats are 5-2, ranked 21st in the country and bidding for the Pacific-10 Conference championship.

“It is a blueprint,” said Wulff, 3-18 as coach of the Cougars. “The blueprint is, if you want to get it right and you want to get it done like Arizona has done it, it takes patience.

“You bring in high school, young guys with high character. You build them up and you let them grow. As they grow up, you have a program that can turn over each year and still have success.”

Cougars AD Jim Sterk has repeatedly pledged support to Wulff during the rebuilding process and asked fans to stay patient. Three freshmen are expected to start for WSU on each side of the ball today at Arizona, and the two-deep is jam-packed with others in their first or second year in a Cougars uniform.

WSU is 1-7 overall and tied with UCLA for last in the Pac-10 at 0-5. Their five-game losing streak certainly does not appear likely to end this afternoon at Arizona Stadium.

Arizona, alone in second in the Pac-10 at 3-1, is favored by 32 points. The Wildcats are loaded with the type of experience, talent and speed that WSU simply can’t match.

In addition, it’s homecoming at Arizona, and the Cougars will be playing their third straight road game before 50,000-plus fans. As a bonus, the Wildcats are much better prepared to handle the predicted 85-degree afternoon sunshine.

But add Stoops to the list of coaches who have praised the Cougars for their grit this season.

“I see a team that plays awfully hard,” he said.

Extra points

Redshirt freshman Jay Matthews is penciled in as the 11th freshman to start for WSU this season. He replaces junior strong safety Chima Nwachukwu, who will miss at least one game with the sprained ankle he suffered last week against Notre Dame. ... Senior walk-on Zach Tatman appears set to make his first start for the Cougars at tight end. Tony Thompson suffered a slight concussion Tuesday at practice. ... Nic Grigsby, who ran for more than 185 yards each of the past two years against WSU, likely will sit out with a lingering shoulder strain. ... WSU quarterbacks have been sacked 22 times the past three games. Arizona quarterbacks have been sacked four times all year (tied for first in the nation). ... The Wildcats rank first in the Pac-10 and 14th in the nation with 445.4 total yards a game. The Cougars rank last in the Pac-10 and next to last in the nation with 511.1 yards allowed per game. ... WSU has lost four straight to Arizona, and 10 of the past 15 meetings. ... Arizona has returned just three punts all year for a total of minus-1 yard. That ranks last among the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

COUGARS GAMEDAY

WASHINGTON STATE (1-7, 0-5 Pac-10) VS. ARIZONA (5-2, 3-1 Pac-10)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Arizona Stadium, Tucson

TV: Fox College Sports (replay at 7:30 p.m. on FSN)

Radio: 850-AM, 1240-AM, 1030-AM

The series: Arizona leads, 23-13. The Wildcats won, 59-28, last season in Pullman.

What to watch: The Wildcats will try to take advantage of their decided edge in size and speed by utilizing their large stock of screen plays. Arizona’s massive offensive line, which has given up just four sacks all season, should have little trouble with an inexperienced WSU defensive line. The Cougars have just nine quarterback sacks to their credit, and Arizona quarterback Nick Foles gets rid of the ball in a hurry, often with short drops.

What’s at stake: The Wildcats, coming off a bye week, are chasing Oregon for the Pac-10 title and trying to shake their label as the only Pac-10 team not to play in a Rose Bowl. A respectable showing might boost the Cougars’ confidence prior to next week’s home game – just their second game in Pullman in eight weeks. The average score during WSU’s five-game losing streak has been 39-11.

TNT pick: Arizona, 52-17.

PRIME NUMBERS

Washington State

No.Name (position)Height/WeightYear

10Jeff Tuel (QB)6-3/207Freshman

Spent much of his youth living in Tucson

69Kenny Alfred (C)6-3/289Senior

Anchors shaky offensive line

84Jared Karstetter (WR)6-4/205Sophomore

Blocks well, has five TD catches

43Alex Hoffman-Ellis (MLB)6-1/233Sophomore

Speedy but inexperienced; screens could pose problems

3Brandon Jones (CB)5-9/183Junior

Facing a bevy of speedy receivers

Arizona

8Nick Foles (QB)6-5/235Sophomore

Leads nation with 72 percent completion rate

78Adam Grant (OT)6-6/325Senior

Puyallup High grad playing well

84Terrell Turner (WR)6-2/190Senior

Leads team with 35 receptions

24Trevin Wade (CB)5-11/182Sophomore

Has four interceptions, six pass breakups

44Ricky Elmore (DE)6-5/250Junior

Has 51/2 quarterback sacks

Howie Stalwick, For The News Tribune