THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: WSU hoops, and its youthful box of chocolates

You’ve almost certainly seen the movie “Forrest Gump.”

Just in case you missed that 1994 classic, however, one of the most meaningful pieces of wisdom ever shared came from Forrest’s mom (Sally Field).

“Life is like a box of chocolates,” Field told Tom Hanks, who gave a memorable performance as Forrest. “You never know what you’re going to get.”

We all know how true that comment can be, but Washington State coach Kyle Smith qualifies somewhere near the top of mountain in that department.

Smith probably opens as many fresh boxes of chocolate than any hoops coach in Division I.

Some of Wazzu’s recurring puzzles are down to the coach himself, since Smith regularly hands playing time to a crowded cast of characters — each of whom is developing in his own way and at his own pace.

It goes without saying, of course, that a gang like these Kiddie Kougs will naturally be inconsistent.

THE GOOD news is that Smith has experience in the art of patching together new programs, so he’s able to keep things in perspective.

Smith also can display a wry sense of humor, as he did on Monday after the Cougs lost 65-63 at home to a pretty dreadful Washington bunch.

The Huskies got out of Pullman with just their fourth win in 20 games, as Marcus Tsohomis hit a running floater in the lane with three seconds remaining — and Washington State out of timeouts.

It was fitting that Tsohomis bagged the winner, since he’d been doing a great Steph Curry imitation all evening.

Tsohomis scored 29 points on 13-of-20 shooting, more than making up for the loss of U-Dub’s leading scorer, Quade Green (illness).

Meanwhile, the Cougs (12-10, 5-10 Pac-12) were also without their point guard and top scorer, Isaac Bonton, and seemed to feel it even more, as they were guilty of 19 turnovers — to only six for the Huskies.

Tsohomis' game-winner wrapped up a bizarre contest that saw each team go on 13-0 runs, Washington lead by 10 at halftime — following 13 turnovers in the half by Wazzu — and basically ugly shooting from everyone but Tsohomis and UW’s Erik Stevenson.

The Cougs, meanwhile, came alive in the second half and even had a brief lead.

But things rarely stay on course for a team whose last five games have gone this way: win at Oregon, lose at Oregon State, win over UCLA, lose to USC, lose to Washington — with every game close enough for the result to be reversed.

IT’S NOT exactly a shock that Smith, who used 10 players and juggled the deck in another effort to find the right combination, can chuckle a bit when discussing these peaks and valleys.

If he couldn’t, he’d begin talking to tables and chairs.

A good example concerned the turnovers, which Wazzu cut to six in the second half.

“Five of them were off whistles (offensive fouls around the basket called against Dishon Jackson and Efe Abogidi),” Smith said.

The other turnover came when Andrej Jakimovski grabbed a rebound, then went to the floor after being poked in the eye.

He was called for traveling.

“I’ve got to tell Andrej that when he gets his eye gouged, not to fall down,” Smith said.

He also noted that the Cougs are among the national leaders in turning over the ball on whistles (as opposed to throwing the ball away, stepping out of bounds, etc.).

“That’s actually a stat they keep, (and) we’re up there,” Smith said.

TO BE fair to WSU, Jackson and Abogidi are both freshmen bigs who are still learning how to get useful positions.

For example, both had fouls called on them for illegally bumping defenders while setting up in the paint.

Being fairer yet, each was whistled for at least one truly dubious foul.

Ah, that’s life with a whole gang of underclassmen who are still learning how to play in the Pac-12.

The upside…

At least these kids have talent.

Plus…

They WILL get older and better.

Plus, again…

Smith is a coach who can wait.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Moments, Memories and Madness,” his reminiscences from several decades as a sports journalist, runs each Sunday.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published each Tuesday.