TV: FSN Northwest
Radio: 950 KJR
This game will be the third game I pegged as a must-win at the start of the season. The Huskies have not beat the Cougars since 2005.
Here is a quick run-down of the last seven games between the two teams:
1/7/06 WSU 78 UW 71 at Hec ed
2/4/06 WSU 77 UW 64 in Pullman
1/20/07 WSU 75 UW 47 in Pullman
2/14/07 WSU 65 UW 61 at Hec Ed
3/8/07 WSU 74 UW 64 in the 2nd round of the Pac-10 Tournament
1/5/08 WSU 56 UW 52 at Hec Ed
3/8/08 WSU 76 UW 73 in double overtime in Pullman
The Huskies were close to beating the Cougars last year losing one at UW by only four points and losing another at Pullman in double overtime. Remember, last year the Cougars were a sweet 16 team and were led by two all-conference players in Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver.
If the Huskies are going to break their losing streak against the Cougars, it is going to be this game. The Cougars are in a rebuilding phase while the Huskies are on the rise looking to compete in the top half of the Pac-10.
When the Huskies step on the court today, not one player on the team will have beaten the Cougars. Unless you count Lorenzo Romar. If the Huskies can pull this game out, then it will do wonders to boost the morale of this team.
A win against the Cougars will provide for the confidence that the Huskies can move past their old demons, and take a positive step forward going into conference play.
This will be the first tough the Huskies will have played since the games against Florida and Kansas in November. For the Cougars, this will also be a test to see how they can bounce back from a tough game. The Cougars lost a tough non-conference game against LSU, in a game that the Cougars held the league for a good majority of the game.
Unlike the Huskies the Cougars have yet to beat any quality teams, while losing against Pittsburgh, Baylor, Gonzaga, and LSU. Why can the Cougars not beat elite teams this season? They simply do not contain the necessary offensive power to compete against high level opponents.
With no Derrick Low or Kyle Weaver, the Cougars' first options are Klay Thompson, Tyler Rochiestie, and Aron Baynes. All three of those players are below average offensively.
The outcome of this game hinges on Romar's ability to get his team to impose their own style of play on the Cougars. The Huskies cannot get caught up in WSU's tactical defensive style or the Huskies will have a hard time scoring and making things happen on the defensive end.
The Huskies need to push the ball continusly, work the WSU defense tired and take good quality shots.
If I remember anything from the last match up between the two, it's that Artem Wallace blew up and scored over 20 points. I'm pretty sure Jon Brockman was injured at that point of the season, which made the loss even more frustrating. The Huskies front court just looks a lot scarier with Bryan-Amaning suddenly emerging as a scoring threat in the post.
Keys for the Huskies:
- Containing Aron Baynes
- Win in the rebound column
- Limit Turnovers. Force Turnovers
This game promises to be a close one, expect it to be decided in the final minutes. I'll take UW who is riding a wave of momentum into this game.
Washington State's Projected Starters:
G-Taylor Rochestie (Can't make a layup)
G-Klay Thompson (Enjoys man hugs like this one)
F-Daven Harmeling (Enjoys hunting mule deer)
F-Caleb Forrest (averaging .3 assists per game)
F-Aron Baynes (Lookalike)
Husky Projected Starters: (Pomeroy Rating: 24)))
PG-Isaiah Thomas (14.8ppg, 3.1apg)
SG-Justin Dentmon (12.4ppg, 2.6apg)
F-Quincy Pondexter (8.8ppg, 5.7rpg)
F-Darnell Gant (3.8ppg, 4.2rpg)
F-Jon Brockman (16.5ppg, 10.2rpg)
Injuries: Elston Turner (Ankle)
Go Dawgs!
