The UW Men’s hoops team (5-3) takes on the 7th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1) at 8 PM PT on ESPN2. This is an opportunity for a marquee victory for Coach Mike Hopkins, who desperately needs one.
It seems the close-game luck was allocated to the Huskies football team this year.
Frustrating losses such as an OT loss to last year’s Final Four participant SDSU and a 5-point loss to 13th-ranked Colorado State have given fans only a taste of what this team can become.
Still, they have been competitive against high-level competition.
The next step? Close out a big game. Nothing could change the fan perspective of head coach Mike Hopkins more than a win over Gonzaga, especially when the narrative for the season still hangs in the balance.
It won’t be easy.
The Bulldogs have offered a benchmark of quality that UW has not been able to eclipse in recent years. Gonzaga has won 13 of the last 14 against the Huskies, but the Huskies, historically, hold an advantage when the games are played in Seattle (18-7 all-time).
Keys to a UW victory:
Tighten up on defense: The Huskies have gone away from the 2-3 zone that Hopkins has favored since the start of his tenure.
While this has resulted in offensive improvement (getting out in transition quickly, more possessions offensively), the defense has regressed.
The Huskies have allowed an average of 84.7 points in their three losses this season, not including overtime. If they allow 85 or more to Gonzaga on Saturday, they will not win.
Win in the Paint: The Huskies’ Frontcourt features size and strength in spades, most demonstrably in 7-footers Braxton Meah and Franck Kepnang.
UW added a few floor-spacing bigs in the transfer portal, namely Moses Wood and Wilhelm Breidenbach. But Wood has not gotten going from deep outside of the game against CSU, and Breidenbach has not seen enough minutes to make an impact.
Especially with the Bulldogs lacking size on the interior (although they don’t lack physicality), the Huskies should rely on mismatches in the paint and crashing the boards if they want to win this game.
Start Hot: Getting help from the crowd would go a long way toward a UW upset, and cooling the hot seat on which Mike Hopkins currently resides.
Get behind early, and the Huskies lack the shooting AND the defense to get back into the game.
Players to watch: Washington
Keion Brooks, Jr: The Huskies have been heavily reliant on the former Kentucky transfer for scoring in the past few seasons. Brooks is 3rd in the conference in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game. Considering his volume, he has been very efficient, shooting 51.8/34.6/83.3.
If the Huskies are to win, Brooks will have a big game.
Sahvir Wheeler: Another Kentucky transfer, Wheeler is averaging nearly 7 assists per game, and the offense flows through him. He has an attacking style of play, which can result in turnovers and fouls, but often results in creating offense and steals for his team.
The Huskies could use one of those big nights.
Players to watch: Gonzaga
Anton Watson: A player with a lot of playing experience. As a fifth-year senior, Watson has the big-game experience to make him Gonzaga’s closer.
He is ultra-efficient, shooting 62% from the field and 46% from deep (on low volume). Watson is a fan favorite, as he is from Spokane originally.
Graham Ike: Gonzaga lacks size. Washington lacks Graham Ike. Ike is only 6’9” but plays with outstanding strength and optimism. He wins most physical battles, as well as mental ones.
If Ike is allowed to dominate the glass and the paint, Washington will need to shoot the ball at a higher level to have a chance at a win.
Washington will have to find its identity for the season. They have the pieces to be a dominant interior team, as well as a plus-shooting, strong defensive team. Which will it be?
