Rematch with California

by John Berkowitz on Feb 5, 2009 11:22 AM PST

Wasn't letter of intent day fun? Talk about a sensory overload of everything college football! We all get a bit of a rest between now and the end of March when spring football begins.

It's time to focus your attention on a team that is on top of the Pac 10 conference standings. The Huskies are on a tough road trip to the Bay Area this week and it all starts tonight in Berkeley against the California Golden Bears.

The last time these two teams played California won in triple overtime up in Seattle. Washington controlled the game for the most part but folded in the clutch against the Bears. This time they play in Berkeley and I expect another down to the wire contest between two evenly matched teams.

Cal is led by the trio of PG Jerome Randle and swing men Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson. All three of those guys are explosive. Christopher is always dangerous. He was responsible for the 3-OT victory over the UW, lighting up Washington for 27 points and 11 rebounds in the 88-85 win.

One thing UW has going for themselves right now is that they have played better than the Bears since they last met. Cal has lost four of five games since beating the Huskies in Seattle. I think that will carry over into Thursday's matchup and the Huskies should be able to pull out a hard fought win on the road.

Sweep at home and split on the road is the mantra right now for this Husky team but they may just be good enough to come out of the Bay Area unscathed this weekend.

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Do you see the dawgs going into tonight with the same tenacity that they played with at AZ state, or will they be lax from the current play of CA?

by Sir_Fiendish on Feb 5, 2009 12:47 PM PST reply actions

I think they approach the game with the same tenacity they did against ASU.

I wouldn’t say there were lax at Arizona…they just got beat that night.

This is going to be a good one.

by John Berkowitz on Feb 5, 2009 12:55 PM PST reply actions

Go Dawgs!!!

by Snostrebla on Feb 5, 2009 1:02 PM PST reply actions

We need Thomas and Brockman to be on top of their game to win any of these close matchups.

And after that it’s getting solid contributions from at least 2 of Dentmon/Pondexter/MBA/(Overton)
I put Overton in parenthesis because he’s the least likely to have an impact game, but when he does it’s just as good as any of those other 3.

Get points in the paint, get offensive boards, get to the line, and keep their opponents off the boards. That’s basically their game and if they do that, they can win. Neither team is favorites in this game (mostly, a 1 point Husky advantage on a couple books) and money is coming in evenly on both sides, so it’s pretty hard to argue that this game is anything other than a completely even matchup.

Lets hope Washington can take these next two so they’re set up for another 5-game winstreak.

by lailaihei on Feb 5, 2009 1:03 PM PST reply actions

Holiday

He is the key off the bench. His defense and hustle is key for us to keep guys rested. When he comes in he needs to contribute and keep other teams honest. No drop-off!

With that said, we need this game. They shouldn’t go winless againist any team. Good game is expected and I look forward to watching this game…by way of SI.com box score (how pathetic).

by bigdave967 on Feb 5, 2009 1:28 PM PST reply actions

Need to hold Christopher somehow, we don't match up well with him as he is a tall guard at 6'5".

Might see Justin Hol;iday on him a little more than IT or Dentmon. BTW, I believe it was also Christopher who eliminated us in last years PAC10 tourney with a 3 pointer. I like the way this team shows up ready to play, no let up and lets get a bay sweep. Go Dawgs

by prrbrr on Feb 5, 2009 3:14 PM PST reply actions

Yeah That Christopher Dude...

… he lit us up last time. This guy poses as a real mismatch and I think the best way to defend a guy like this is to go at him with different personnel. I like the idea of Pondexter and Holiday on him. Both Q and Holiday have the range necessary to defend a 6-5 three point shooter.

I think it may be a good thing to go w/ a taller lineup vs. Cal this go around. If Christopher is killing us, then we might not have a choice in the matter. But if his shots aren’t falling then we can relax and play our game. But a taller lineup might be just the trick to slow down that Christopher dude.

I’d like to see us sweep the Bay area road trip. I thought we might’ve been able to turn that trick in the desert, but had a few problems in Tuscon. A win at Berkley and at Palo Alto would be huge for our program. We haven’t had much success their for a few years.

Go Dawgs! WOOF!!!

All I saw was purple

by crazidawg on Feb 5, 2009 4:28 PM PST reply actions