THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Future bright for Zags, Cougs — and the present isn't bad, either

It’s absolutely critical to start a “Notes and Quotes” column with some good news.

No downers for the opening act, right?

Well, here’s something fantastic …

My beloved Arsenal shut out Aston Villa 1-0 (that’s one-nil in British slang) last weekend to slightly consolidate a hold on fourth place in the English Premier League.

Naturally, you say: “What’s so hot about a silly fourth-place spot?”

Aha, I have the answers.

As the best domestic league in the world, the EPL is allocated four places in the European Champions League — without question the toughest battle among soccer’s elite (it’s called “football” in the rest of the world, but never mind), and it’s super important for plenty of reasons.

First, money.

Second, money.

Third, um …

IN CASE you’re wondering, by the way, I’ve picked soccer for today’s opener to give you all a chance to calm your nerves about Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, Washington State in the NIT, the Seahawks playing with Joe the Plumber at QB, and the Mariners deciding to halt their search for a better offense.

Oh, and most jittery of all, the boss …

Can he even bear to watch his Arizona Wildcats?

Yes, we’ll get back to all those topics shortly.

Except, maybe, for the Seahawks quarterback thing, because just the notion of Drew Lock inheriting the QB1 job is depressing to the point of something close to nausea.

If you’re a pal of Drew’s, sorry … I’m sure he’d be a great insurance agent, but running an NFL offense?

Nah.

We’ve seen the evidence.

BUT NOW, back to real footy for a minute.

We mentioned that teams dream of playing in the world’s most prestigious club competition.

And yes, the issue of coin came up.

See, being in the Champions League is almost a license to print pound and euro notes, which means …

Naturally, a combination of cash and prestige means you can lure some of the best players on the planet, which ALSO means …

It gets easier to stay in the Champions League (with the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich) than it is to crack the vault in the first place.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s new and thrilling kids are attempting to scale this mountain with the youngest team in the EPL — the game-winner last Saturday was scored by 20-year-old Bukayo Saka — and excitement is building among us Gooners.

Yes, Gooners …

The club is officially known as the Gunners, so why not?

By the way, does anyone know of an “Arsenal pub” in Kootenai County, or even in Spokane?

Someplace where Gooners gather to watch the Arse together?

If so, I’d love to hear from you.

Meanwhile, moving back to those so-called “minor sports” …

ITEM: The idea, obviously, is for Gonzaga to grab the only goal that has eluded Mark Few and his relentlessly successful program.

In the next couple of weeks, preferably.

Win it all.

There’s an unusual twist to this season’s gang of Zags, however.

Just in case they can’t get it done …

Every member of the roster is eligible to return next year.

Really.

OK, Chet Holmgren is heading off to make millions in the NBA, but it’s not absurd to think that everyone else could be back.

Yep, including Drew Timme.

Remember, collegiate athletes can pocket money via NIL (name, image and likeness) these days, so if a player isn’t a cinch high draft choice in the NBA, there’s more reason to have fun, get an education and hone your game at the university level.

No one but Holmgren was mentioned in the first two rounds of latest NBA mock draft published by The Athletic — one of the most reliable sources of information concerning which players will get selected, and when.

It would be fun to see these guys back again, along with Dominick Harris, Kaden Perry and whatever prospects and transfers the Zags staff can unearth.

Food for thought.

ITEM: Good luck to Wazzu tonight in Provo.

Kyle Smith’s rapidly improving Cougs face BYU for a trip to New York City and the business end of the NIT.

Speaking of hoops in the future …

Washington State is exceptionally young (and also exceptionally big), so Smith has every reason to think he’ll have a group that can challenge the Pac-12’s big hitters next year.

And hey …

We mentioned this trend a while back, but it’s now gotten seriously newsworthy.

The Cougs kicked away several halftime leads this season — particularly early in the schedule.

How many?

As crazy as these numbers are going to sound, if Wazzu had won every game in which it held a halftime lead, the Cougs right now would be 30-5 — rather than 21-14.

Thirty.

And.

Five.

Needless to say, they wouldn’t be in the NIT.

Here’s the breakdown …

WSU would have been 10-1 instead of 7-4 in non-conference (they trailed South Dakota State by two at the half, then lost anyway on a last-second shot).

In Pac-12 play, they’d have finished tied for second behind Arizona with a 17-3 mark (instead of 11-9), then their record in the conference tournament and NIT would have remained as it played out (3-1).

Add it up and you’ve got 30-5.

There are reasons, too, to feel that Smith has corrected these second-half woes.

The Cougs dominated SMU on the road last Sunday, then got hit as the Mustangs rallied furiously after the break.

But, wait a minute.

Some big possessions, including a clutch 3-ball by Michael Flowers, stopped any chance of a meltdown as the game got late, and the Cougs cruised home.

No matter what happens at BYU tonight, Wazzu has developed into a pretty salty team.

Good job, all.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published weekly during the season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”