Cougs open By Howie Stalwick Staff writer Washington State, minus the greatest player in school history but still loaded with talented seniors, gets the jump on the areas other college baseball teams when the Cougars open the season tonight at Fresno State. The Cougars have only practiced outdoors a few times, while the Bulldogs have played seven games (winning four) and are ranked as high as 14th in the national polls. WSU is not ranked, but the Cougars are favored by league coaches to win the Pacific-10 Conference Northern Division for the fourth straight year. The Cougars lost 1988 national player of the year John Olerud and four others to the pros after a 37-20 baseball season tonight season, but return their top five hitters among full-time players. Also back is senior left-hander Tom McGraw, a consistent winner when not bothered by the arm problems which have cropped up again. The leagues most valuable player last year, Tim Kuykendall (.362, 16 stolen bases), returns in center field. Jim Connor (.324, 10 homers) is back in left, Greg Hunter (.320) moves back to second base from shortstop, Rob Nichols (.311) is healthy again and playing first, and Scott Smith (.286) got his grades healthy again so he can remain at third. McGraw (7-3. 4.14) and Aaron Sele (6-5, 4.66) return to the starting pitching rotation, and Jeff Cochrane (4-1, 2.20) looks like the closer. Former infielder Eric Wulf was impres sive on the mound last summer and fall and is scheduled to start tonight. Bobo Brayton, back for his 29th year as coach of the Cougars, says the defense and speed is better than a year ago. Shortstop Jason King, a California junior college transfer, is being counted on to anchor the infield. I dont know if weve got a lot of power hitters, but weve got a lot of strong hiters alley hitters, Brayton said. I dont think well be hurt- . ing. The Cougars play their first 24 games on the road, though they play in the Banana Belt Tournament in Lewiston March 1-5. The home opener is March 31 vs. Lewis-Clark State, and WSU opens the league season April 3 at Eastern Washington.