PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - The group that revived Washington State's moribund basketball program will get one last ride in the NCAA tournament and set yet another milestone.

Seniors Kyle Weaver, Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill will lead the No. 21 Cougars against Winthrop of Rock Hill, S.C., on Thursday. This class, which has broken a pack of futility records in its four years, is now the first to lead the Cougars to two consecutive NCAA appearances.

"We're just really excited and thankful to make it to the NCAA tournament again," said Low, who could be speaking for all of Cougar Nation.

How starved are Washington State fans for postseason play? Winthrop, their unheralded mid-major opponent, is making its eighth NCAA appearance in the past 10 years. Washington State will be making just the sixth trip in its history.

Washington State (24-8) received a surprisingly high No. 4 seed and a relatively short trip to Denver to play Winthrop (22-11), winner of the Big South tournament.

"I think it was just pretty special for me and the guys to be there no matter what seed we got," Weaver said.

"I like Denver," he added.

The Cougars were rewarded for finishing third in the Pac-10, which sent six teams to the NCAAs, and for posting road wins against postseason participants Baylor, Gonzaga and Boise State. They also beat Mississippi Valley State and Portland State, which both made the tournament.

Washington State's previous trips to the NCAA tournament were in 1941, 1980, 1983 and 1994. The team suffered a decade of losing records before surprising the basketball world last year by winning 26 games and advancing to the second round of the tournament.

This year they went 12-0 in nonconference play and 11-7 through the rugged Pac-10. They beat Oregon and lost to Stanford in the league tournament.

Coach Tony Bennett has taken the Cougs to the NCAAs in both his seasons at the helm.

The Cougars have lost three of their past six games, and center Aron Baynes is struggling with only 15 points in the past three games.

"Aron is a very important part of this team," Bennett said. "We have to keep finding ways to get him ready."

Winthrop, the 13th seed, is a dangerous opponent. Last year the Eagles upset Notre Dame in the first round in the Spokane Arena.

Winthrop returns two starters from last year's team, including leading scorer Michael Jenkins, who averages 14.3 points.

Winthrop and WSU both played at Baylor, with the Eagles losing 62-54 and the Cougars winning 67-64.

"All I know is they played in the tournament last year, so they'll have experience," Bennett said. "They've been an excellent mid-major program over the last number of years. They are a very high-quality mid-major program."