Game Preview: UW at Arizona (Game #15)
Here’s a smaller-than-usual game preview for Sunday’s game. I’ll be back in full force with post-game coverage of the contest at Arizona, and you won’t get another skimpy preview for the rest of the year!
The Washington Huskies (1-2, 10-4 overall) visit the Arizona Wildcats (1-2, 7-8 overall) on Sunday at 2:30 PM (Pacific) at McKale Center.
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 come into the game with a conference record of 1-2, 10-4 overall. They last played on Friday at Arizona State, where they were defeated 68-51.
Most recently, The Huskies were ranked 24th in the AP poll and 22th in the Coaches’ Poll.
The Huskies have a 23-42 lifetime record against the Wildcats. The teams split last season, with each team winning on its home court.
Projected lineup: G – Abdul Gaddy, G – Isaiah Thomas, F – Tyreese Breshers, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Darnell Gant.
What you need to know about the Wildcats:
Arizona comes into the game at 1-2, having last lost to Washington State on Friday, 78-76.
Arizona finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10 last season, with a 9-9 record in conference play (19-13 overall). The Wildcats were picked by the media to finish fourth in the conference this season despite having a new coach, and losing two of their top players, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger, to the NBA.
Coach Sean Miller rebuilt his recruiting class in only a few months after losing several verbal commitments (including Abdul Gaddy) when Lute Olson announced his retirement in August. Their up-and-down play thus far is indicative of the fact that four of the Wildcats’ top eight players this season are freshmen.
Senior guard Nic Wise is the team’s leader, averaging 15.1 points and 4.0 assists. Freshman forward Derrick Williams (14.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) might be the team’s biggest surprise thus far, even outplaying the more highly-rated, Solomon Hill, who’s also been productive averaging 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Junior forward Jamelle Horne is an early candidate for the Pac-10’s most-improved player award. In addition to putting up 11.5 points per game, he leads the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg), and has improved drastically with his shotblocking (1.4 bpg) and three-point shooting (429% from deep).
Projected lineup: G – Nic Wise, G – Kyle Fogg, F – Jamelle Horne, F – Solomon Hill, F – Derrick Williams
Keys to the game/What to Expect:
Wise killed the Huskies last season during the last matchup between the teams in Tucson. Wise was the Wildcat the Huskies simply had no answer for on his way to a then-career-high 29 points. Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Abdul Gaddy will have their work cut out for them against the guard when they’re on defense, but need to play an ultra-attacking style on the offensive end as Wise is a below-average defender.
Key matchup: Quincy Pondexter vs. Jamelle Horne. Both 6’6″ players will benefit from the Pac-10’s lack of size and will play a large portion of their teams’ minutes as undersized power forwards. Pondexter’s game is more polished, but Horne is a sneaky-good rebounder. Both like to play on the perimeter as well, where Horne is the better outside shooter. This battle should go a long way toward deciding the game.
What I expect: I fear Arizona’s size and athleticism as its players continue to get more seasoning under their belts. At times, they’ll run Wise out there with four fast, talented players ranging from 6’5″ to 6’8″. While it’s going to be tough for the Wildcats to finish with a Tournament-worthy resume this year, it’s very likely the ‘Cats will play spoiler against a handful of their Pac-10 opponents this year. I’m picking Arizona to squeak by the Huskies in this one, 83-77.
Here’s a smaller-than-usual game preview for Sunday’s game. I’ll be back in full force with post-game coverage of the contest at Arizona, and you won’t get another skimpy preview for the rest of the year!The Washington Huskies (2-0, 6-1 overall) visit the Arizona Wildcats (1-1, 7-0 overall) on Sunday at 2:30 PM (Pacific) at McKale Center.
GO HERE FOR BOTH TEAM’S RECORDS: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/conferences/standings?confId=21
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 come into the game with a conference record of XX-XX, XX-XX overall. They last played on Friday at Arizona State, where the Dawgs won, XX-XX.
GO HERE: http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/wash-m-baskbl-sched.html
The Huskies are ranked 17th in the AP poll and 16th in the Coaches’ Poll. (If not in the top 25, just say “The Huskies are unranked in both the AP and Coaches’ Polls.”)
GO HERE (ESPN/USA TODAY is the “coaches’ poll): http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings
The Huskies have a 23-42 lifetime record against the Wildcats. The teams split last season, with each team winning on its home court.
Projected lineup: G – Venoy Overton, G – Isaiah Thomas, G – Elston Turner, F – Quincy Pondexter, F – Matthew Bryan-Amaning (THIS SHOULD JUST MATCH WHATEVER THE LINEUP WAS FOR THE LAST GAME)
GO HERE (click on the the last game, then click on BOX SCORE. The first five guys listed will be the starters): http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/wash-m-baskbl-sched.html
What you need to know about the Wildcats:
Arizona comes into the game at XX-XX, having last defeated/lost to Washington State on Friday.
http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/ariz-m-baskbl-sched.html
Arizona finished tied for fifth in the Pac-10 last season, with a 9-9 record in conference play (19-13 overall). The Wildcats were picked by the media to finish fourth in the conference this season despite having a new coach, and losing two of their top players, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger, to the NBA.
Coach Sean Miller rebuilt his recruiting class in only a few months after losing several verbal commitments (including Abdul Gaddy) when Lute Olson announced his retirement in August. Their up-and-down play thus far is indicative of the fact that four of the Wildcats’ top eight players this season are freshmen.
Senior guard Nic Wise is the team’s leader, averaging XX points and XX assists. Freshman forward Derrick Williams (XX ppg, XX rpg) might be the team’s biggest surprise thus far, even outplaying the more highly-rated, Solomon Hill, who’s also been productive averaging XX points and XX rebounds.
Junior forward Jamelle Horne is an early candidate for the Pac-10’s most-improved player award. In addition to putting up XX points per game, he leads the team in rebounding (XX rpg), and has improved drastically with his shotblocking (XX bpg) and three-point shooting (XX % from deep).
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/stats?teamId=12&sort=avgPoints
Projected lineup: G – Nic Wise, G – Kyle Fogg, F – Jamelle Horne, F – Solomon Hill, F – Derrick Williams (THIS SHOULD JUST MATCH WHATEVER THE LINEUP WAS FOR THE LAST GAME)
GO HERE: http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/ariz-m-baskbl-sched.html (click on the the last game, then click on BOX SCORE or STATS. The first five guys listed will be the starters):
Keys to the game/What to Expect:
Wise killed the Huskies last season during the last matchup between the teams in Tucson. Wise was the Wildcat the Huskies simply had no answer for on his way to a then-career-high 29 points. Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Abdul Gaddy will have their work cut out for them against the guard when they’re on defense, but need to play an ultra-attacking style on the offensive end as Wise is a below-average defender.
Key matchup: Quincy Pondexter vs. Jamelle Horne. Both 6’6″ players will benefit from the Pac-10’s lack of size and will play a large portion of their teams’ minutes as undersized power forwards. Pondexter’s game is more polished, but Horne is a sneaky-good rebounder. Both like to play on the perimeter as well, where Horne is the better outside shooter. This battle should go a long way toward deciding the game.
What I expect: I fear Arizona’s size and athleticism as its players continue to get more seasoning under their belts. At times, they’ll run Wise out there with four fast, talented players ranging from 6’5″ to 6’8″. While it’s going to be tough for the Wildcats to finish with a Tournament-worthy resume this year, it’s very likely the ‘Cats will play spoiler against a handful of their Pac-10 opponents this year. I’m picking Arizona to squeak by the Huskies in this one, 85-77.