QWIK PICK: Wazzu at Washington

Sunday, February 27, 2011 | 10:08 PM, EDT | FSN-TV
Bank-of-America (Hec-Ed) Arena | Seattle, Washington

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS 18-8 | 10-5 Conf (15-10 ATS)
WASHINGTON HUSKIES 17-10 | 7-8 Conf (14-11 ATS)

FIRST MATCH-UP (01/30/11): 
WASHINGTON STATE 87 WASHINGTON 80

GAME WAS EXPLOSIVE, W/FRAYED NERVES, & INVOLVED:
59 FREE THROWS ATTEMPTED, COMBINED
48 THREES ATTEMPTED, COMBINED

Washington is a loose bunch...a little too loose according to some
We should really look back, in one we may ALL remember
The Late Sunday PAC-10 Gm on 1/30 in Pullman

Dawgs, especially Issiah Thomas lost composure late in that gm
Telegraphed some truly awful passes w/gm still in reach...
Followed by numerous late,
Very clear angle Cougar passing lane 'jumps'
Cougs then had a lg handful of late run-out,
1/subsequent breakaway throw downs
& 'borderline excessive' Coug Players' chest-thumping & woofing
Which in turn led to 'I.T' losing it
w/a couple hard fouls on Klay Thompson, ect, ect

SINCE this gm, both tms didn't fare well soon thereafterWAZZU fell completely flat;
w/worst Offensive Performance in a DOZEN YRS
43 Pts in Eugene
Washington was also sent reeling
Huskies lost all 3 Roadies (0-3 S-U & ATS)

Nevertheless, what Washington DID determine,
As #2 Scoring Tm in Country (86.2 PPG)
Was a renewed Defensive Energy
Even in LOSS at AZ (tough 1-Pt HIGH Scoring Loss)
Dawgs held Cats to 46% FG.
4% below AZ Conf-Leading FG%

Wash has made small changes to lineup
That'll likely make BIG differences in this type of Game
DEFENSIVE-MINDED Venoy Overton is Starting again
& is producing offensively (finally)
Avg 10 PT | 8½ REB | 6 ASST in AZ Weekend

ALSO. WASHINGTON is getting Post-Dominance
UW 6-9 254 Sr Bryan-Amaning allowed UW to nearly sneak out that Win
By giving Wash a very significant Advantage down low
vs AZ, AMANING 24 PTS | 8 REB

Wazzu's bubble is now gone
Real issue here w/Wazzu is a adverse match up, w/Wazzu possibly lacking
A KEY, SECOND COUGAR OFFENSIVE THREAT, 
Specifically, Cougars #2 scorer,
WZU 6-4 | 185 Jr F ADEN  
Is significantly bothered by a Left Knee Injury
Thus, PAC-10 TOP CONF SCORER,
WZU 6-6 | 201 Jr KLAY THOMPSON (20.3 PPG | Conf Gms)
Has struggled as only real Cougar option
Hard-pressed to play thru doubles

Thompson broke out last weekend in the two Cougar Games at the AZ Schools
THOMPSON: 30 PTS & 28 PTS
YET, Thompson fired up 28 Shots/Gm (HALF of all Cougar Shot Attempts)

Thompson shot just 38% FG & shooting 10 Pts lower in 2nd Half of PAC-10 Season

Wazzu Tm 3-Pt Shooting: 27% in 2nd Half PAC-10 Season
COUGARS SLIDING BACK TO LOGJAM MIDSECTION OF CONF
WAZZU is 2-4 & 1-5 ATS Since COUG WIN Over Dawgs 
WASHINGTON SMELLS BLOOD IN WATER

Small play w/Dawgs

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    WASHINGTON -12