The Essentials
Date: Monday, 11/12/18
Tip-Off Time: 8:00 pm PT
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Streaming: Pac-12.com/live
Radio: KOMO 1000 AM/97.7 FM and TuneIn
Location: Seattle, Washington
Betting Line: Washington -9.5
San Diego 2018-19 Statistics:
Record: 2-0
Points For per Game: 79.5 ppg (106th)
Points Against per Game: 61.5 ppg (51st)
Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 104.2 (107th)
Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 98.4 (101st)
San Diego Key Players:
F- Yauhen Massalski, So. 6’10, 227: 8.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 77.8% FG, 40.0% FT
The big man from Belarus is a physical dunker who takes all his shots at the rim, is a good rebounder, and is great at drawing contact. He is prone to getting in foul trouble though so it’ll be a big plus for UW if they can draw a couple of early ones against him.
F- Isaiah Pineiro, Sr. 6’7, 215: 26.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 51.3% FG, 45.5% 3pt, 88.9% FT
Pineiro averaged 15 and 6 last season but has seemingly taken another leap early in his senior season. He can score from everywhere on the court and has the potential to take over the game.
G- Tyler Williams, Sr. 6’5, 190: 6.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 33.3% FG, 25.0% 3pt, 50.0% FT
Williams was more of a 3-pt specialist last season hitting 38.7% from deep and taking about 2/3rds of his shots from beyond the arc. He’s struggled from there this year but it’s obviously a very small sample size with 8 attempts.
G- Olin Carter, Sr. 6’3, 19: 14.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 56.5% FG, 30.0% 3pt, 0.0% FT
Carter was also a 3-pt specialist last season shooting 35.8% and taking 2/3rds of his shots from there but he’s been more effective inside the arc so far this year. His usage is down from last season but his efficiency is up.
G- Isaiah Wright, Sr. 6’2, 180: 11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, 31.8% FG, 22.2% 3pt, 87.5% FT
Wright is a true point guard for San Diego and was one of the national leaders in assist percentage last season. However, he also averaged 3.0 turnovers per game last season so he’ll take chances and Matisse will have opportunities for steals.
2018-19 San Diego Shot Chart
The Outlook
The Huskies will look to rebound after a shellacking in Auburn on Friday night. San Diego isn’t nearly the team that the Tigers are but Washington absolutely can’t afford to look past them. The Dawgs are 1st in the country in minutes continuity per kenpom.com but San Diego is 10th. They start 4 seniors and are a veteran team that will finish in the top half of the West Coast Conference.
While San Diego is an experienced team they aren’t a very deep one. The Toreros have only played 8 guys this season and have only given serious minutes to 7 of them. If the Huskies can get any of the major contributors for San Diego in foul trouble then there will be a pretty substantial dropoff to the next guy.
The two key players in this game will be the two Isaiahs (Pineiro and Wright) for San Diego. Pineiro is averaging better than 26 points per game this season and is a dominant player in every aspect of the game. I expect them to put him at the free throw line as he has the ability to nail a jumper, take the ball inside, or pass out to a shooter. Wright loves to take chances and this screams of a game where he’ll have 8 assists but 5 turnovers.
The Huskies have to get their heads on straight in a hurry because this is not a gimme by any stretch. After the loss to Auburn they then had to deal with their bus catching on fire and clearly didn’t get much sleep. This contest has all of the signs of a potential let down game and Washington can’t let that happen. The Toreros are good but they’re worse than Western Kentucky and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Huskies win this game by 15+. But they have to cut down on the turnovers that plagued them against Auburn and the 1st half of that WKU game or their defense can only carry them so far.
Prediction
Washington Huskies- 73, San Diego- 66
***
Keep up with the game in the comments below. You can also follow me for all your UW Men’s Basketball News and Game Updates @UWDP_maxvroom