Washington Huskies vs. Cougars: 3 Factors That Will Decide the Game
By Paul Taylor
As the Washington Huskies get ready to face the Cougars, we take a look at some of the key aspects which could determine what is sure to be a heated encounter.
As the Washington Huskies prepare to take on their hated rivals, they couldn’t be in better spirits. Buoyed by dramatic wins over UCLA and USC, they enter the game against the Washington State Cougars feeling extremely confident.
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This mood is in stark contrast to Washington’s last visit to Beasley Coliseum, when they were coming off seven consecutive losses. Mind you, the Huskies still managed to pull out an unlikely 87-84 victory, despite their injury-riddled roster resembling the basketball equivalent of the Walking Dead.
In that respect, the Huskies have historically done well on their travels to play the Cougars. Overall, they have 74-63 record in Pullman.
Saturday’s game represents the beginning of a three-game road trip for Washington. Here are three factors, which should go some way towards deciding if they start off with a win.
1) A new experience for some
The Huskies will have eight players making their Pac-12 road debut. This includes David Crisp, who is currently fourth on the team in scoring.
Crisp spoke to Percy Allen of The Seattle Times and the rest of the media about the challenge of playing on the road against their interstate rivals: “I’m excited for it. It’s our first real away game.
“In the past, I feel like I react well to away crowds. I just feel like it motivates me more.”
Certainly, the freshman sounds ready for the task at hand. Regardless, how he and the other seven newcomers handle the occasion could go a long way towards deciding the outcome.
2) Dejounte Murray
It would be too easy to discuss Andrew Andrews, who has been in sensational so far this season. His performances against UCLA and USC helped him pick up his second Pac-12 Player of the Week award.
However, the Huskies will need more than their senior guard to turn up, if they are to emerge victorious against the Cougars. This is where Dejounte Murray comes in.
Murray has been in fine form this season, leading the team in assists and ranking second in points. He took his game to another level against USC, providing the nucleus for Washington’s sensational comeback from a 22-point deficit.
By the end of the game, the Seattle, Washington native had scored a career-high 29 points. If he can replicate this form on Saturday, Washington State is in a lot of trouble.
3) Consistency……..or lack thereof
This is not an attempt to downplay the enthralling games against UCLA and USC. However, as exciting as the wins were, they also illustrated the Huskies need for more consistency.
Of course, some people will point out – quite rightly – that basketball is often a game of runs. Unfortunately for Washington, this argument can be countered by the recent defeats to Oakland and UC Santa Barbara – two games they had no business losing.
If the Huskies can display more stability on the court, there’s no telling how far this team can go. Certainly, coach Lorenzo Romar is well aware of what they are capable of producing.
Speaking to Allen and the rest of the media on Thursday, Romar said: “We understand what can be accomplished when we play with that type of intensity and that type of togetherness.
“During that comeback (against USC), no one really cared who was getting the credit for anything…It was somewhat magical in the way it happened – when you experience something like that I think you grow up a notch.”
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Who do you think is going to earn bragging rights? Let us know in the comments section below.