(#13) Utah vs. Washington State
Thu, March 05 2015, 09:00 PM MST
Beasley Coliseum - Pullman, WA
TV: ESPN U
Radio: ESPN 700
Line: -13
Coming off of an ugly home loss against PAC 12 foe Arizona, The Utes now embark on the first of their two game road swing through the northwest when they visit Pullman tonight at 9 pm MST. Wazzu and Washington are surpassed only by USC in the bottom of the conference standings and the road trip has shaped up to be perhaps the easiest in the PAC 12. Washington State is just 3-4 at home in conference while Washington is 2-5 respectively. Still, given the Utes troubles on the road, this game is not one to sleep on. Utah is also recovering from a very emotional loss, one in which they realized they can no longer be conference champions. That may have some lingering effects on the squad as some members of the team have recognized that it was their main motivation heading into the season.
Washington State (12-16 overall, 6-10 conference) has just returned home from their two game road swing through southern California where they split both games. Dexter Kernich-Drew went 4-5 from three and finished with 19 points in a 70-66 win against USC. On the final game of the trip, the Cougars actually came out strong and led UCLA at the half, 34-32 before collapsing down the stretch due to poor shooting. UCLA kept their slim tourney hopes alive in 72-67 victory. Josh Hawkinson finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds on 58% shooting and Davonte Lacy added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the losing effort. The effort earned Lacy the all time scoring record for the Cougars. They are effective at moving the ball, averaging almost 15 assists per game and they love to shoot in transition. The don't love rebounding and defense so much though as they are near the last in the conference in rebounds (33.9, second to last in conf.) steals (3.4 dead last) and blocks (3.2 10th in conf.)
The Utes need this win and the next one against Washington to keep Oregon off their heels for the second seed in the PAC 12 tourney coming up on March 11th. To do this they need to get back to focusing on paint play and fundamentals. A simple failure to box out against an Arizona FT attempt gave away the momentum and led to the eventual victory for the Wildcats. Utah is learning that they can't let those little things happen if they're going to do any meaningful damage come tournament time. A game against one of the PAC 12's worst teams should be a the perfect tuneup for the Utes but they can't come out flat. Washington State can flat out score the basketball and Utah will need to come in focused with he Arizona loss fully in the rear view mirror.
Thu, March 05 2015, 09:00 PM MST
Beasley Coliseum - Pullman, WA
TV: ESPN U
Radio: ESPN 700
Line: -13
Coming off of an ugly home loss against PAC 12 foe Arizona, The Utes now embark on the first of their two game road swing through the northwest when they visit Pullman tonight at 9 pm MST. Wazzu and Washington are surpassed only by USC in the bottom of the conference standings and the road trip has shaped up to be perhaps the easiest in the PAC 12. Washington State is just 3-4 at home in conference while Washington is 2-5 respectively. Still, given the Utes troubles on the road, this game is not one to sleep on. Utah is also recovering from a very emotional loss, one in which they realized they can no longer be conference champions. That may have some lingering effects on the squad as some members of the team have recognized that it was their main motivation heading into the season.
Washington State (12-16 overall, 6-10 conference) has just returned home from their two game road swing through southern California where they split both games. Dexter Kernich-Drew went 4-5 from three and finished with 19 points in a 70-66 win against USC. On the final game of the trip, the Cougars actually came out strong and led UCLA at the half, 34-32 before collapsing down the stretch due to poor shooting. UCLA kept their slim tourney hopes alive in 72-67 victory. Josh Hawkinson finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds on 58% shooting and Davonte Lacy added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the losing effort. The effort earned Lacy the all time scoring record for the Cougars. They are effective at moving the ball, averaging almost 15 assists per game and they love to shoot in transition. The don't love rebounding and defense so much though as they are near the last in the conference in rebounds (33.9, second to last in conf.) steals (3.4 dead last) and blocks (3.2 10th in conf.)
The Utes need this win and the next one against Washington to keep Oregon off their heels for the second seed in the PAC 12 tourney coming up on March 11th. To do this they need to get back to focusing on paint play and fundamentals. A simple failure to box out against an Arizona FT attempt gave away the momentum and led to the eventual victory for the Wildcats. Utah is learning that they can't let those little things happen if they're going to do any meaningful damage come tournament time. A game against one of the PAC 12's worst teams should be a the perfect tuneup for the Utes but they can't come out flat. Washington State can flat out score the basketball and Utah will need to come in focused with he Arizona loss fully in the rear view mirror.
