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Game Preview: UW at Cal (game #24)

February 10, 2010 in Uncategorized | 10 comments

UW Cal preview copyWho: Washington Huskies (6-5, 16-7 overall) at Cal Bears (7-4, 15-8 overall)

When: Thursday, 6:00 PM

Where: Haas Pavilion

How to Watch: ESPN2

Huskies 101: UW has won four straight, and six of its last eight games. The margin of victory for the Huskies during that stretch is over 25 points.

This is game #4 of the Huskies’ “Ten and Your In” portion of the season. The task is no easy feat, but it’s nearly impossible to argue that the Huskies wouldn’t earn an NCAA bid — conference champs or not — if they can win the final ten games on their Pac-10 schedule. So far, so good.

The Huskies have not won outside of Hec Ed all season. A pair of wins in the Bay Area would likely change the Huskies’ perception in the national media from “out of the tournament” to “on the bubble.”

Since Cal is in first place at 7-4, and the Huskies are one of five teams in second at 6-5, this game gives the Dawgs the opportunity to earn a share of the conference lead.

Quincy Pondexter has played out of his mind during this four-game winning streak, averaging 25.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and shooting 61% from the field.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Justin Holiday, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Tyreese Breshers

Last time out: The Huskies dominated Cal at Hec Ed, 84-69. Quincy Pondexter has 25, and Isaiah scored 20. Matthew Bryan-Amaning had a quietly efficient game with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a not-so-quiet blocked shot that wound up on Sportscenter.

UW held a 19-point halftime lead and cruised the rest of the way on a day when Cal’s “big three” of Jerome Randle, Theo Robertson, and Patrick Christopher, were simply a “big one.” Christopher scored 28, but no other Bear made an impact on the game

Bears 101: Cal has lost two of their last three, all on the road, and try to keep their hold on first place in the conference.

Jerome Randle (19.1 ppg, 4.7 apg) leads the way for the Bears, who also get double-figure scoring from Patrick Christopher (16.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Theo Robertson (14.2 ppg, 45.5% 3-pt. FG), and Jamal Boykin (11 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

Last time the teams played, guard Jorge Gutierrez, one of the Pac-10’s best defenders, was out. This time, the Dawgs will not be so lucky.

Projected lineup: G – Jerome Randle, G – Jorge Gutierrez, G – Patrick Christopher, F – Theo Robertson, F – Jamal Boykin

The Huskies will win if: The Dawgs will win the game if they can somehow, some way, conjur up the level of energy on the defensive end that they have in spades at home, but never on the road. It’s clear that this is a team driven by turnovers and running off of missed shots. Can they make it happen in Berkeley?

The Dawgs will win if they can get some outside shooting (paging Scott Suggs) and open the game up for Quincy Pondexter to work inside and Isaiah Thomas to penetrate.

The Huskies will lose if: They forget to try to get their big men going. Cal is now starting four players 6′6″ and under and a wily-but-not-tough center, Boykin. MBA was effective last time, and he and Tyreese Breshers should not be left out of the offensive gameplanning.

The Huskies will lose if Cal plays its best game. I hate to say it, but I think we’re at a point with this Husky team that we’ve gotta hope for a little bit of luck. I’ve seen nothing to say we can beat a good team on its home floor unless it has an off night. It’s noble to hope for the Huskies to beat Cal at their best, but I’ll settle for just escaping with a win.

A humble suggestion: Abdul Gaddy has had an up-and-down freshman season, and it’s clear now that he’s going to be a sophomore before we see more progress out of the talented point guard. I’m cool with Gaddy starting, but once Venoy checks in, let’s have Overton and Isaiah handle the point guard duties, leaving more minutes for shooting (Scott Suggs, Elston Turner) or defense (Justin Holiday, Darnell Gant). Personally, I don’t need to see Gaddy late in games anymore during this critical stretch of the season.

Prediction: I want so badly to pick the Huskies that I’m afraid my heart (and my fingers) won’t let me type what I really believe is going to happen.

The way we played against Cal at Hec Ed, we could’ve beaten anyone in the country. But, we haven’t seen those Huskies out on the road all year. The Dawgs will come out pumped, but they’ll be playing a good Cal team that’s only lost once at home all year.

Cal wins a heartbreaker, 83-80. The Huskies pull off the upset and win, 79-73. (See, I couldn’t do it!)

Thanks for coming!

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Game Preview: UW vs. Arizona (game #22)

February 2, 2010 in Uncategorized | 4 comments

UW Arizona preview copyWho: Washington Huskies (4-5, 14-7 overall) vs. Arizona Wildcats (6-3, 12-9 overall)

When: Thursday, 7:30 PM

Where: Hec Edmundson Pavilion

Huskies 101: UW won both of its games last week at home, against Seattle U. (123-76) and Washington State (92-64).

This is game #2 of the Huskies’ “Ten and Your In” portion of the season. The task is no easy feat, but it’s nearly impossible to argue that the Huskies wouldn’t earn an NCAA bid — conference champs or not — if they can win the final ten games on their schedule. So far, so good.

Quincy Pondexter has scored 23 or more points in five of his last six games, and averages 20.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and shoots 43.2% on 3-pt. FG.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Justin Holiday, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Tyreese Breshers

Last time out: The Wildcats destroyed the Huskies, 87-70, at the McKale Center.

The Wildcats shot 50% from the field, 8-17 from deep, and had six players in double figures. The Dawgs had no answer for Jamelle Horne (22 points, six rebounds, two steals).

Quincy Pondexter had one of his worst games (7 points, only five FGAs); Elston Turner had one of his best (12 points, 3-6 on 3-pt. FG)

Wildcats 101: Winners of their last four games, Arizona is the hottest team in the Pac-10. The Wildcats are fresh off a character-building home win over Cal (76-72) on Sunday.

Nic Wise (16 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.8 apg) is the team’s senior leader, but freshman Derrick Williams (15.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 57.4 FG%) is making a strong case that he’s the team’s best player.

Projected lineup: G – Nic Wise, G – Kevin Parrom, G – Kyle Fogg, F – Jamelle Horne, F – Derrick Williams

The Huskies will win if: The Huskies will win if they play the way they have at home, where they’ve looked like a team that could beat (nearly) anyone in the country.

The Dawgs will win if Quincy and our bigs can contain the potent Wildcat frontcourt of Horne and Williams. The two combined for 34 points last time the teams played, compared to 15 total for Pondexter, Tyreese Breshers, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, and Darnell Gant, combined.

The Huskies will lose if: The Huskies will lose if they don’t focus on defense. The Dawgs only turned it over nine times, and shot a (semi-) respectable 44.2% last time. We just had no answer for Arizona on the defensive end.

The Dawgs will lose if theydon’t get something going from the outside. UW shot 5-17 from 3-pt. range the last time the teams met, and must do better this time around.

A humble suggestion: It’s not his favorite move — and maybe we’re so good at home we don’t need to — but what about double-teaming the post in a more “official” sense, as opposed to the flawed help defense the Huskies regularly run. I’d like to see our guys in the post get some more help possession-to-possession and try to keep Arizona taking lower-percentage outside shots. It’s unlikely they’ll find the hot streak from outside they did against us in Tucson.

Prediction: If we can win this, we’ll be in a good place going into Saturday’s game vs. ASU, with a chance to sweep our four-game homestand. I believe this is our toughest home game remaining (USC included) and truly could go either way. . .

But, I’m picking the Huskies in a high-scoring affair. The Oregon fluke aside, how can you pick against these guys at Hec Ed? 90-86, Dawgs.

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Game Preview: “Apple Cup of Hoops” (game #21)

January 29, 2010 in Uncategorized | No comments

Cougs preview copyWho: Washington Huskies (3-5, 13-7 overall) vs. Washington State Cougars (4-4, 14-6 overall)

When: Saturday, 12:30 PM

Where: Hec Edmundson Pavilion

Huskies 101: UW is calling it “The Apple Cup of Hoops.”

I’m calling it the first game of the Huskies’ “Ten and Your In” portion of the season. The task is no easy feat, but it’s nearly impossible to argue that the Huskies wouldn’t earn an NCAA bid — conference champs or not — if they can win the final ten games on their schedule.

The Huskies are fresh off dominating Seattle U. (123-76), after tough losses in Souther California to UCLA (62-61) and USC (87-61)

As we’ve said before, there’s very little the Huskies can do to prove to themselves, or anyone watching, that they can win on the road until they do. So, truly, I’m just excited for this homestand to be finished — assuming the team can win the next three.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Justin Holiday, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Tyreese Breshers

Wazzu 101: Washington State, in its first year under Ken Bone has been better than expected. The team comes in after splitting last weekend in Southern Cal — defeating USC, but losing to UCLA.

Guard Klay Thompson is tied for ninth in the country in scoring (22.3 ppg) and is second on the team in rebounds (5.0) and assists (2.5). Point guard Reggie Moore (14.4 ppg, 4.6 apg) is one of the best freshman in the Pac-10.

Forward DeAngelo Casto (10 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg) is one of my favorite non-Huskies. He’s, essentially, what Husky fans want Matthew Bryan-Amaning to be: a decent, but not great, scorer who finds ways to impact the game even when he’s not in an offensive rhythm.

Projected lineup: G – Reggie Moore, G – Klay Thompson, G – Abe Lodwick, G – Marcus Capers, F – DeAngelo Casto

The Huskies will win if: Hec Edmundson Pavilion does not suddenly disappear overnight, forcing the game to be played elsewhere.

The Dawgs will win if Justin Holiday keeps a hand in Klay Thompson’s face all night. It’s silly to think Thompson won’t get his points, but keeping him in the teens, as opposed to the high 20’s, could be a difference maker.

The Dawgs will win if they pressure the rookie point guard and contain him. Moore has had three 5+ turnover games and they’ve all been on the road. And, since Thompson might go off no matter what the Huskies do, and DeAngelo Casto is, at his best, twice as good as any Husky big man, Moore is the one the Dawgs must shut down.

The Huskies will lose if: The Huskies will lose if Tuesday’s game, which felt more like an exhibition, gave them any kind of sense that they were out of the woods. This is a team that needs to play with a chip on its shoulder, and play as the underdog. Let’s hope nobody on the team looks at the (way too large) eight-point spread on the game.

The Dawgs will lose if they only don’t find something new on offense. This is really a note about every game after this one, but they’ve got to get someone going as that third option. The second time around the lineup in baseball, a pitcher needs something new to fool hitters. And the second time around the Pac-10 schedule, the Dawgs need something new too. Paging Mr. Elston Turner.

A humble suggestion: Give the three-guard lineup (IT, Gaddy and Venoy on the floor all at once) a try again at some point tomorrow. Not to start, of course, but as a change of pace. It didn’t look good early in the season when we tried it, but we’re not doing much inside anyway. Put those guys on the court with Holiday and Quincy, allowing Quincy to guard Casto, and see what happens. Just a thought. (Could be a bad thought, admittedly.)

Predictions: I have as much faith as I had in the Huskies coming into the season at home. The second half against Oregon was a fluke — this is a top-25 team at home. I predict another strong performance, devoid of “cool jackets” and all of the other ugliness we’ve seen at times.

Another win. Another game closer to showing they can do it on the road. Huskies, 86-79.

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Game Preview: UW vs. Seattle U. (game #20)

January 25, 2010 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

UW Seattle preview copyWho: Washington Huskies (3-5, 12-7 overall) vs. Seattle Redhawks (9-11 overall) in a non-conference contest

When: Tuesday, 7:00 PM

Where: Hec Edmundson Pavilion

Huskies 101: The Huskies are coming off losses to UCLA (62-61) and USC (87-61) this past weekend in southern California. While the UCLA effort was a mixed bag for the Dawgs that could’ve just as well ended in a Husky victory, the USC game was a complete disaster.

At his press conference Tuesday, and then during The Lorenzo Romar Show on KJR, Coach Romar put an emphasis on mis-cues and a lack of concentration on the defensive end when explaining his thoughts on the two losses.

The Huskies play four home games in the next twelve days before playing five of their last seven away from Hec Ed. Since the Dawgs have not won away from home all season, there’s only so much the team can do for its own (or for fans’) confidence until they get the chance to prove themselves on the road again in mid-February.

Husky leader Quincy Pondexter had his worst game of the season against USC, finishing with only two points, while Venoy Overton had his best scoring game of the year and finished with 18.

As a team, the Huskies managed only five assists against USC.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Justin Holiday, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Tyreese Breshers

Seattle U tale of tape copy

Seattle U. 101: The Redhawks are in the midst of a transition from Division II to Division I, and are currently independent of a conference, and will not be eligible for the NCAA Tournament until 2012-13.

In his first season coaching the team, former Husky assistant Cameron Dollar has led the Redhawks to a 9-11 record so far this season. Dollar was Romar’s top assistant, and coached alongside him from 1999 until leaving for the Seattle U. job.

While the team has lost six of its last nine games, Seattle U. had impressive wins at Utah and at Oregon State (by 51 points) this year.

The Redhawks also bring in a player of unique intrigue to UW. Charles Garcia is a 6′9″ power forward who leads the Redhawks in scoring (20.7 ppg), rebounding (9.1 rpg) and shotblocking (.9 bpg). Garcia originally committed to play for the Huskies but was not admitted to the school. While the official reason is that Garcia did not qualify academically, there’s been great sentiment among fans and media that there’s a layer to the story that hasn’t been made public.

The Redhawks start four players 6′5″ or taller and have four players averaging double figures.

As a team, Seattle U. commits 17.4 turnovers per game.

Projected lineup: G – Cervante Burrell, F – Mike Boxley, F – Aaron Broussard, F – Gavin Gilmore, F – Charles Garcia

The Huskies will win if: They remember that every game from here on out is a must-win. If they lose focus and get caught up in the emotional return of Cameron Dollar to Hec Ed this game could go from feel-good reunion to absolute disaster for the Dawgs.

The Dawgs will win if they excel on the defensive end. While the two straight 61-point efforts by the Huskies are concerning, the Dawgs look at their best when they’re forcing turnovers and scoring with hard-to-miss shots in transition.

The Dawgs will win they can contain Charles Garcia on the inside. Garcia has three 30+ point games this season and has no hesitance to take over inside. Will the Husky bigs be able to stop him from scoring at will?

The Huskies will lose if: The team takes an all-or-nothing defeatist approach to this season and loses its hunger now that a repeat Pac-10 championship seems very unlikely.

The Dawgs will lose if they overlook this non-conference game knowing they can’t do anything to the Pac-10 standings until Saturday against Wazzu.

A humble suggestion: Think Matthew Bryan-Amaning has a chance to outplay Charles Garcia Tuesday? Probably not, which is exactly why Coach Romar needs to give Matthew a lot of minutes and the chance to shut the critics up with regards to Big Chuck. MBA plays better when he’s got confidence and swagger, and Matthew knows many fans wish Charles Garcia, not he, were the Huskies #1 option in the post this year. I sense that MBA will come out fired up Tuesday, and that the game could be a real confidence builder for him if he plays well.

Predictions: I predict that the Huskies on Tuesday will look like they did in games against Montana or Oregon State, when the team won, but didn’t shine. I just can’t see the Dawgs not being a little hungover with only 72 hours between the USC debacle and this game.

I do predict, though, that the Huskies will win this one, 80-73. After all, they’re at home.

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Game Preview (sort of): UW at USC (game #19)

January 23, 2010 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

UW USC preview copyWho: Washington Huskies (3-4, 12-6 overall) at USC Trojans (3-3, 11-7 overall)

When: Saturday, 7:30 PM

Where: Galen Center

There is only one thing you need to know about Saturday night’s game against USC: The Huskies are going to win.

Here’s why:

It was only a jumpshot.

Consider where we’d be right now if we’d won by that single point against UCLA, instead of losing by one. Isn’t it likely that you and I would be on Cloud Nine about the Huskies right now? Sure, we should’ve covered against the Bruins — beaten them by more — but we’d have escaped from Pauley with a win. Would you really be quibbling? I certainly wouldn’t.

All would have been good. We’d have been on a three-game winning streak, and the losing from only two weekends ago would’ve been a distant memory. Coach Romar would’ve led his boys into Pauley — that sixth circle of Dawggy hell — and came out with the victory.

The Huskies would be sitting at 4-3, aiming for their first SoCal sweep since 2006, and the conference championship would seem oh-so-within the team’s grasp.

Now, that didn’t happen, of course. A former walk-on guard found himself open at half court, dribbled to the top of the key, got an open look on some shoddy D, and buried it. Dawgs lose by one. But, it was right there. Just a jumpshot away.

I’m bummed about the finish Thursday. Really bummed. But, what I’m not bummed about is the Husky effort. We didn’t get blown out by 17. We even came back in the second half.

We came in and nearly dealt with our road bugaboo and earned what would’ve been an impressive victory. They came, they fought, they lost.

Sure, they lost to a team with less upside. But the point is, we were a poorly guarded jumpshot away from winning. Which means we were a poorly guarded jumpshot away from feeling completely differently about the team’s prospects.

So, yeah, I think we’re going to come into USC even hungrier, knowing we let one slip away that had nothing to do with unpreparedness to play on the road. Tough game, good effort, so-so production, rough loss.

Each loss makes the road ahead harder. And, there might come a point where talking about the conference championship is just mathematically silly. But, we’re not there — SO not there. The Pac-10, the NCAA Tournament, it’s all still there for the taking.

It’s up to you, but I say, don’t give up on these boys. I’ve got no idea what’s going to happen the rest of the way. This team is too hard to read. But, I know what’s going to happen Saturday at the Galen Center.

And when we flex that mojo and come out with a SoCal split, we’ll be looking ahead at four straight at home. Things won’t look nearly so grim.

So don’t you lose your mojo. It was only a jumpshot.

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Game Preview: UW vs. Cal (Game #17)

January 15, 2010 in Uncategorized | No comments

UW Cal preview copyWith the quicker-than-normal turnaround between games, we’ll do a shorter-than-usual preview for the Cal game.

I’m also trying to streamline and experiment a little bit too with these previews, so I can spend more time on the stuff readers seem to respond to. Please let me know what you think about the new format, and thanks for coming:

Who: Washington Huskies (2-3, 11-5 overall) vs. Cal Bears (3-1, 11-5 overall)

When: Saturday, 11:30 AM

Where: Hec Ed

Huskies 101: Despite the rough start, it’s not inconceivable to imagine a Husky run, eventually resulting in a 10- or 11-win season. But, it all starts here. This is critical game for the Dawgs, as they try to get back to .500 in the Pac-10 and prove they can beat the conference’s best team.

Quincy Pondexter got back on track Thursday vs. Stanford, scoring 27 points in the 94-61 win.

Justin Holiday is expected to start again for the Huskies after propelling the team to a terrific defensive performance on Thursday.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Justin Holiday, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Tyreese Breshers

Cal 101: The Bears have won five of their last six, defeating Washington State, 93-88, on Thursday.

The Bears are not as deep as the Huskies, but have four talented seniors. Jerome Randle, Patrick Christopher, Theo Robertson and Jamal Boykin all have multiple 20 point scoring efforts this season, and average in double figures.

The Bears shoot almost 38% from beyond the arc, while the Huskies shoot just 30.5%.

Player-of-the-Year candidate Randle is coming off his career-high in points – he scored 39 in Cal’s victory at Wazzu.

Projected lineup: G – Jerome Randle, G – Patrick Christopher, F – Omondi Amoke, F – Theo Robertson, F – Jamal Boykin

The Huskies will win if: They play with the same intensity on the defensive end that we saw against Stanford.

We’ll win if they hit the boards and prevent big man Jamal Boykin from allowing Cal to engage in a truly inside-out offense.

We’ll win if they successfully employ Venoy Overton to keep Jerome Randle in check. This could be the game’s critical matchup, and a chance for Venoy to earn his spot on the all-defensive team.

The Huskies will lose if: They play sloppily with the ball. Against a talented team like Cal, there’s not going to be enough leeway to have wasted possessions. The Dawgs must be efficient and exacting in their execution.

We’ll lose if our big men continue to play like dogs. I don’t think this is a contest that can be won without someone on the inside stepping up. Cal is too good a one-dimensional Husky attack to be successful.

A humble suggestion: Tyreese Breshers can’t defend without fouling, nor is he looking super adept offensively; Clarence Trent is not ready; and Darnell Gant doesn’t make enough of an impact. Give Matthew Bryan-Amaning his starting job back, and just accept what he doesn’t do well. No one – fans, media, coaches, even teammates – seems very happy with the production the Huskies have gotten out of MBA so far, but it’s time to start focusing on what we have in MBA, rather than what we don’t. There simply isn’t a better option in the post right now.

Predictions: The way I see it, there’s two questions to answer when scouting this game:

1.  Which Husky team will show up? Thursday’s top-25 level squad, or the Huskies that showed up in Arizona?

I’m willing to bet we get the good Huskies against Cal. Guys play their whole lives for big games like this, and I don’t see effort being the problem Saturday. But the more pressing question is:

2.  Are the Huskies, at their best, capable of beating this experienced Cal team that’s shown they can win on the road?

This is the one I have trouble with. Texas Tech, Georgetown, A&M, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State are the six best teams the Dawgs have played this season, and we’re 1-5 in those games (0-5 in the ones that didn’t involve a freak, horrific accident to an opposing player).

My heart says the Huskies will play with the heart they showed against Stanford. But my head is saying, da’ Bears. Sadly, I’m picking Cal in this one, 84-79.

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Game Preview: UW vs. Oregon State (Game #12)

December 30, 2009 in Uncategorized | 1 comment


UW OSU preview copyHere’s a smaller-than-usual game preview for Thursday night’s game. I’ll be back in full force on January 9th, and you won’t get another skimpy preview for the rest of the year!

The Washington Huskies (9-2) will open up the Pac-10 portion of their schedule against the Oregon State Beavers (6-5) on Thursday at 7:00 PM at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

The game will be broadcast on FSN NW and KJR-950 in Seattle, or your local Husky radio affiliate elsewhere (click here to find yours).

What you need to know about the Huskies:

The Huskies last played on Sunday afternoon at home, when they defeated San Francisco, 86-71.

The Huskies are ranked 17th in the AP poll and 16th in the Coaches’ Poll.

The Huskies have a 149-136 lifetime record against the Beavers, and won both meetings last season.

Projected lineup: G – Darnell Gant, G – Isaiah Thomas, G – Abdul Gaddy, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Matthew Bryan-Amaning 

What you need to know about the Beavers:

Oregon State comes into the game at 6-5, having last defeated to Fresno State last Wednesday night, 73-65.

Oregon State finished 8th in the Pac-10 last season, with a 7-11 record in conference play (13-17 overall). The Beavers were picked by the media to finish fifth in the conference this season.

Coach Craig Robinson entered the season hoping to bring the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament since 1990, however a few early losses tempered the national discussion about a resurgent Beavers’ squad.

Oregon State’s best player thus far has been senior wing, Seth Tarver, who averages 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game.

Projected lineup: G – Josh Tarver, G – Calvin Haynes, F – Seth Tarver, F – Daniel Deane, C – Roeland Schaftenaar

Keys to the game/What to Expect:

I expect Oregon State to try to force a deliberate pace on the Huskies, and exploit Washington’s propensity for impatience with the ball, and vulnerability to backcuts. Oregon State hasn’t scored more than 76 points in a game this season, and only scored more than 80 twice last year with similar personnel.

Key matchup: Husky point guards vs. Josh Tarver. While he isn’t getting as much attention (or respect) as his brother Seth, senior point guard Josh Tarver is savvy and can play with anyone. Tarver’s solid defense will give Venoy Overton a taste of his own medicine, and the ability of Overton and Abdul Gaddy to run the offense around Tarver will be key for the Dawgs.

What I expect: The Oregon State games never look easy, even when we win by a bunch. I’m picking a close and scary first half for UW, before the Huskies pull away in the second. I’m picking the Huskies here, 75-62.

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Game Preview: UW vs. San Francisco (Game #11)

December 25, 2009 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

UW San Fran preview copyHere’s a smaller-than-usual game preview for Sunday’s game. I’ll be back in full force on January 9th, and you won’t get another skimpy preview for the rest of the year!

The Washington Huskies (8-2) will play the San Francisco Dons (4-9) on Sunday at 12:00 PM at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

The game will be broadcast on FSN NW and KJR-950 in Seattle, or your local Husky radio affiliate elsewhere (click here to find yours).

What you need to know about the Huskies:

The Huskies last played on Tuesday evening at home, when they defeated Texas A&M, 73-64.

The Huskies are most recently ranked 22nd in the AP poll and 19th in the Coaches’ Poll.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the Huskies and the Dons.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, G – Quincy Pondexter, F – Darnell Gant, F – Matthew Bryan-Amaning

What you need to know about the Dons:

San Francisco comes into the game at 4-9, having last defeated Cal State Bakersfield 82-73 on Wednesday night.

San Francisco’s best player is Dior Lowhorn, a 6′7″ senior forward who averages 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists per game. Last season, the Texas Tech transfer led the WCC in scoring.

Projected lineup: G – Michael Williams, G – Dontae Bryant, F – Dior Lowhorn, F – Angelo Caloiaro, C – Tomas Bruha

Keys to the game/What to Expect:

The Huskies will obviously have the talent advantage here, but the Dons do have height. San Francisco has five regular players 6′7″ or taller, usually starting three forwards, and two guards over six feet. It will be critical for the Huskies to use their advantage on the perimeter against the Dons.

Key matchup: Quincy Pondexter vs. Dior Lowhorn. Quincy will have his hands full guarding a player like Lowhorn, who can, according to his coach, “shoot the basketball. He can post up. He can face up and do some things off the dribble.”

What I expect: The talent level is too wide here, particularly between our guards and theirs. I expect the Huskies to prevail, 86-64.

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Game Preview: UW vs. Texas A&M (Game #10)

December 21, 2009 in Uncategorized | 6 comments

UW Texas AM preview copyThe Washington Huskies (7-2) will play the Texas A&M Aggies (9-2) on Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The game is part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The Big 12 currently leads this year’s series, nine games to two.

The game will be broadcast on FSN NW and KJR-950 in Seattle, or your local Husky radio affiliate elsewhere (click here to find yours).

Tale of the tape:

Texas AM tale of the tape copy

What you need to know about the Huskies:

The Huskies last played on Saturday evening at home, where they defeated Portland, 89-54 .

The Huskies are ranked 22nd in the AP Poll and 19th in the Coaches’ Poll.

The Huskies will need to continue their winning ways at home to keep their place in the Top 25 as they head toward the Pac-10 portion of their schedule which begins on New Year’s Eve against Oregon State.

Quincy Pondexter has distinguished himself as the Huskies’ best player this season. He’s averaging 21.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.9 assists per game. The other Husky star Isaiah Thomas rebounded from a tough game against Georgetown with an efficient 16 point, eight assist, zero turnover performance against Portland on Saturday. Thomas is averaging 19.9 points per game this year.

The Aggies hold a 3-1 advantage lifetime against the Huskies. The teams last played early in the 2007/2008 season, when Texas A&M defeated Washington, 77-63.

Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Darnell Gant, F – Matthew Bryan-Amaning

Husky to watch:

Freshman guard, Abdul Gaddy: It’s not as if we haven’t been watching Gaddy’s every move anyway, but the young Husky had been showing signs of turning the corner before Saturday’s lackluster effort. Gaddy earned the start against Portland, but got into foul trouble and failed to stand out.

Sure, it hasn’t been as easy a transition to the college game for Abdul as it’s been for athletic freaks like John Wall or Avery Bradley, but the potential is there. Gaddy hasn’t been bad at all, but if he can be good the rest of the way, some of the Huskies’ problems (turnover woes, and their lack of a scoring option behind Thomas and Pondexter) may begin to solve themselves.

What you need to know about Texas A&M:

The Aggies come into the game at 9-2, having most recently defeated The Citadel on Saturday, 71-50.

Texas A&M is ranked 19th in the AP Poll, and is unranked in the Coaches’ Poll, but received the most votes of any unranked team, so they’re essentially ranked #26 by the coaches.

Last season, the Aggies finished tied for fourth in the Big 12 Conference, and finished the season with a 23-9 record overall (9-7 in the Big 12). The Aggies lost in the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, 92-66, to Connecticutt.

Head Coach Mark Turgeon guides a team that’s deep at the guard positions, but thinner in the post. In his first two seasons with the team, Turgeon led the Aggies to the Tournament twice, and picked up 49 victories.

Star guard, Donald Sloan averages 17.4 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and is shooting 47.4% from three-point range. He’s an efficient scorer too, and can pick up points from deep, at the line, and through penetration.

Fellow senior Derrick Roland is Sloan’s backcourt mate, and averages 11.1 points per game to go with his stifling All-Big-12 defense. Sixth man B.J. Holmes is a heady player who might be the Aggies’ best outside shooter. He averages 9.7 points, shooting 37.2% from deep.

6′9″, 240 lb. Bryan Davis is the best post presence Texas A&M has got. He’s scored in double figures five times so far this season, and averages 9.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Projected lineup: G – Donald Sloan, G – Dash Harris, G – Derrick Roland, F – Nathan Walkup, F – Bryan Davis

Aggie to watch:

Senior guard, Donald Sloan: Sloan led the Aggies with 18 points when these teams played two seasons ago. He’ll be even tougher this time around as he’s exhibited an ability to carry his team for stretches this season. Slowing him down with bigger Huskies may be necessary if Venoy Overton and Isaiah Thomas struggle to contain him on defense.

The path to victory:

Rise to the occasion: The Huskies have not exactly shined when the competition has been strongest so far this season. This is the last opportunity for the Huskies to add a signature victory to their non-conference resume. Without a win Tuesday, assuming Cal doesn’t eek its way back into the Top 25, it’s very likely the Huskies record against ranked teams will sit at 0-3 come Tournament time — not a ringing endorsement of their talent. Tonight is an early put-up or shut-up game for the Dawgs.

Ball control: Aspects of this game may resemble the one against Texas Tech. A talented core of guards will make us pay for every mistake, and will challenge the Huskies to execute better than they have in most of this season’s games. Lots of deep breaths, and lots of Abdul Gaddy, may prove the right recipe for the Dawgs tonight. 

What I expect:

Last year, the Huskies got Oklahoma State in their Big 12/Pac-10 home game. That game was an easier draw for the Dawgs, but the decisive 18-point victory was a turning point for the Dawgs, who came into the game 3-3, with only one cupcake win separating them from the big losses to Kansas and Florida.

After putting the Cowboys away, the Huskies won their next seven en route to an eventual Pac-10 title. This game feels like that one to me. I expect that if they can get it right against A&M, the Huskies will be able shake off the Texas Tech heartbreaker and the poor showing against Georgetown once and for all.

I expect a big game from one of the Husky bigs tonight, either Matthew Bryan-Amaning or Tyreese Breshers. One of those two should assert themselves against the thin Aggies frontcourt and score in double figures.

I expect a close, hard-fought game, but I also expect the Huskies to come out fighting on Tuesday night. Big win coming up for the Dawgs. I’m picking a 85-82 Husky victory.

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Game Preview: UW vs. Portland (Game #9)

December 17, 2009 in Uncategorized | 4 comments

UW Portland preview copyThe Washington Huskies (6-2) will play the Portland Pilots (6-3) on Saturday evening at 7:00 PM at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Tickets are still available from the Husky ticket office. The game will be broadcast on FSN NW and KJR-950 in Seattle, or your local Husky radio affiliate elsewhere (click here to find yours).

Tale of the tape:

UW Portland Tale of the Tape copy
What you need to know about the Huskies:

The Huskies last played on Saturday afternoon in Anaheim, where a dreadful start to the second half led to a 74-66 loss to Georgetown.

The Huskies are ranked 24th in the AP poll and 21st in the Coaches’ Poll.

The Huskies have lost two of their last three, and will need to win their final three non-conference games in order to keep their place in the Top 25 and do what they can to improve the Pac-10’s abysmal reputation this year.

Quincy Pondexter continues to impress this season. He’s averaging 22.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2 assists per game.

The Huskies hold an 11-2 advantage lifetime against the Pilots, but lost in Portland in their first game last season, 80-74.

Projected lineup: G – Venoy Overton, G – Isaiah Thomas, G – Elston Turner, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Matthew Bryan-Amaning

Husky to watch:

Sophomore guard, Isaiah Thomas: Just as Thomas’s shooting percentage began to improve over the last couple of games (46.4% combined against Northridge and Georgetown), he’s picked up a serious case of turnover-itis (five each in the same two contests).

Truthfully, Thomas has never exactly been ultra-careful with the basketball, but he’s looked out-of-sync at times lately, like he’s trying to figure out what kind of player he wants to be. A shooter? A straight slasher? A floor leader? Pretty impressive that the guy can put up double figures even when he has sub-par games, but this is the period in his college career when Isaiah needs to be rounding out his game, building new skills into the repertoire, including leadership, which will be critical next season when he’s the team’s best player.

What you need to know about Portland:

The Pilots come into the game at 6-3, having most recently defeated Denver last Saturday, 72-62. Portland has already beaten Oregon, UCLA, and (then-18th-ranked) Minnesota this season.

Last season, the Pilots finished third in the West Coast Conference, and finished the season with a 19-12 record overall (9-5 in the WCC).

Head Coach Eric Reveno returns nearly his entire squad from last season and didn’t lose a single key player from last season’s team that upset the Huskies in their first game of the 2008/2009 season.

Portland connects on more than seven three-pointers per game, and shoots 40.4% from deep (only 3.9% worse than Washington shoots overall).

The Pilots are led by a pair of senior guards, Nik Raivio (14.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.4 apg) and T.J. Campbell (14.6 ppg, 5.6 apg, 45.5% 3-pt.). They have size as well, though, in Robin Smeulders, a Laettner-esque 6′10″ forward, and Kramer Knutson, a 6′9″ center.  Neither are terrific shotblockers, but they’re big enough bodies to give the Huskies trouble.

The Pilots’ sixth man is Bellevue native, Luke Sikma. Sikma, son of former Sonic and seven-time all-star Jack Sikma, averages 7.1 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Projected lineup: G – T.J. Campbell, G – Nik Raivio, F – Ethan Niedermeyer, F – Robin Smeulders, C – Kramer Knutson

Pilots to watch:

Senior guards, T.J. Campbell and Nik Raivio: It was actually the Pilot frontcourt that killed the Huskies last season, when Smeulders, Knutson and Ethan Niedermeyer combined for 44 points during the Pilots victory. But, Campbell and Raivio took care of the ball while the Husky guards didn’t. More than any other factor, the Pilots’ 12 turnovers (the Huskies’ 23) was the key to their victory.

The path to victory:

Post-halftime surge: The Dawgs have been a total of 25 points worse than their opponents during the first five minutes of the second half over their last five games. It’s critical that the Huskies come out with urgency from the locker room, particularly after this stretch of the game was so critical in settling their fate against the Hoyas.

Defense: I can’t imagine that the Huskies haven’t gotten hell from the coaches for their awful turnover rate in the last three games (21.3 per game). But, I hope the coaches are equally as appalled by the Dawgs’ lackluster defense.

Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon were nobody’s idea of defensive whiz kids, but anchored an intelligent and structured team defense last season. The Huskies averaged 69.5 points allowed last year, 72.5 this year. Opponents shot 41.8% in 2008/2009, 44.7% in 2009/2010. The Huskies are giving up too many easy baskets and, other than Venoy Overton’s intense brand of ball pressure, have no defensive identity to speak of.  

What I expect:

This is a dangerous game for the Huskies coming off a tough loss and a one-week layoff. Portland brings in the same personnel that beat the Huskies last season and has already knocked off two Pac-10 schools this year. If the the Dawgs let the Pilots hang around for more than a few minutes, this one could get very tenuous.

I expect Isaiah Thomas to gather up his mojo and have a big game. Yes, the Dawgs need to develop a third scoring option, but I don’t sense that this is the game that starts to clarify that. This is one where I think Quincy and Isaiah combine for 50 or more.

I expect the Pilots’ ability to execute will frustrate the Huskies. With Portland’s three-point shooting acumen, it will take a huge lead to put them away, so the Dawgs will need to put their foot on the gas and not let up. I think the Dawgs will get back to their winning ways, but not without a fight. I’m picking an 81-77 Husky victory.

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