NC State at Washington (-4, play to -5.5) - Game #723-724 - 5:00pm Pacific

I have been running into Lakers GM Mitch Kupjack at several of the local college basketball games and I found it interesting to see him at last Sunday's LMU/Washington game.  He definitely was not scouting any of the LMU players.  Washington is an immensely talented team.  Last year they finished the regular season winning 12 of 14 games with only losses coming by 5 at UCLA and by 5 at NC State.  They advanced to the finals of the Pac-10 tournament and then lost an absolute heartbreaker vs UAB in first round of the NCAA tournament 102-100.  UAB went on to beat Kentucky and advance to the sweet 16.  Washington returns all major components from last years team and have already picked up where they left off last year winning the Alaska Shootout with wins over Utah, Oklahoma, and Alabama.  They did lose at Gonzaga, but since have won three straight games impressively.

 

It was a pleasure to watch junior guard Nate"The Great" Robinson in person.  He is by far the most dominating player I have seen all year.  He may be the best combo guard in the country.  He is only 5'9 but has football player strength/toughness (played DB for Huskies), can jump out of the gym, is amazingly quick, and has a dynamite high rising jumpshot.  It is a blur when he drives to the basket and when you think he is doing one thing he is already doing something else.  For a guard he gets to the free throw line very often, more than 6 attempts per game.   All the while he is unselfish averaging 5.6apg and has a 3.5 to 1 assist/turnover ratio while not even playing the point guard position.  Versus LMU he had 28 points, 6 assists, and 0 turnovers.  He is an absolute standout player.

 

Robinson is not the only talent on Washington.  Senior point guard Will Conroy could be an all-conference type point guard himself if not playing in Robinson's shadow.  He averages 11.0ppg and 6.3apg.  Senior guard Tre Simmons (17.2ppg) has good size at 6'5 and can knock down an assortment of shots.  Forwards Bobby Jones and Mike Jensen both fit the Washington system well.  They rebound well enough, run the floor, and are able to knock down perimeter shots.  They get fed a lot of easy baskets from the talented guards.  New Mexico transfer Jamaal Williams provides size and solid scoring off the bench.  The Huskies are currently playing without one of their top players, guard Brandon Roy, but they have played their last five games without him, including a win over Alabama in Alaska Tournament final.  They will be a super scary team when he returns.

 

The ACC showed some weakness on Saturday.  Wake Forest was pressed to the wire on their home court and Duke trailed by 10 at half-time on a neutral court.  NC State has the toughest assignment of them all playing a true road game across the country vs a ranked opponent.  The Wolfpack have played their customary weak schedule to start the season.  Recently they had two games finish much closer than they should have vs a struggling Purdue team (60-53) and a Lafayette (78-72) team playing without star guard Greene.  Both games being played in Raleigh.  In fact NC State has not played a road game all season.  The Wolfpack do not have a strong inside presence to give Washington's undersized frontline any big worries and starting center Jordan Collins suffered a hip-flexor injury in last game vs Lafayette causing him to sit out the 2nd half.  He has practiced since then but could be limited somewhat in this game.  No one is going to outplay Washington on the perimeter, not even a team with Julius Hodge. 

 

Washington's official athletic website is calling this arguably their biggest intersectional home game ever.   They have a 10 game win streak here which includes wins last year over then #1 Stanford and Arizona.  Washington nearly upset the Wolfpack in Raleigh last year.  The Huskies led by as many as 8 in the second half and had a chance to tie with 19 seconds left before finally losing by 5.  Washington has an abundance of scorers and pass the ball very well.  The energy they get from the home crowd will strengthen their defensive play.  Big showcase game for the Huskies on national television.  Expect an impressive victory.  Give the points.

 

Official Play:  Washington -4  2 UNITS