Pepperdine at Washington (-17.5) - 7:30pm Pacific - Game #565-566

The Huskies must replace four key players but have seven returnees with meaningful experience and have brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the country. 6-11 freshman Spencer Hawes is considered a top five recruit nationally. Hawes did not play in the lone exhibition game due to injury but has declared himself ready to go Sunday. He'll team with super sophomore PF Jon Brockman on an imposing frontline. For the first time in five seasons Lorenzo Romar has size to work with and he says they have not had to sacrifice the speed they are known for. Washington is set in the backcourt with returning starter PG Justin Dentmon and last year's Pac-10 newcomer of the year SG Ryan Appleby. Depth is not an issue as the Huskies will go 10-11 deep.

New head coach Vance Walberg is installing a new "LMU" type all out run and gun offense at Pepperdine, but he does not yet have the right personnel in place to run the system and they are very likely to struggle executing early on. Pepperdine's two most experienced big men transferred in the offseason and starting point guard and best all around player Michael Gerrity is currently out indefinitely with a lingering foot problem. Gerrity was expected to be a catalyst for the new offense. He is a huge loss as the remaining guards have suspect decision making and playmaking ability. Coaches son guard Jason Walberg was a rare bright spot in opening exhibition game scoring 19 points and playing a team high 34 minutes, but he missed the next exhibition with what is being called a knee contusion. He is expected to give it a go Sunday but is less than 100%. Washington is probably the last team Pepperdine wants to face in their opener. The Huskies will thrive in a full court uptempo game and have plenty of athletic bodies to run in and out. Washington also has a history of showing no mercy on non-conference opponents. Their average margin of victory in six November home wins last season was 33 points including a 47 point win over a better WCC foe in LMU. Playing at this stage in the season, without Gerrity, and on the road against a superior team, Pepperdine has very little chance of competing here. This game is sure to be high scoring which makes the spread easier to manage. Expect a blowout.

RAS Official Play: Washington -17.5   1 UNIT


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