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Pac-10 Basketball Notebook
By Randy Rosetta
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
The Washington Huskies’ first venture away from home this season won’t be a long trip, but it could be a major step forward.
No. 13 Washington travels across the state to take on 18th-ranked Gonzaga on Saturday in what has developed into one of the best non-conference in-state rivalries in the country.
The Huskies are off to a 7-0 start for the second consecutive year, the program’s best opening since 1975-76 (11-0). But the Bulldogs pose a stiff challenge to Washington’s 15-game regular-season winning streak and 24-game non-conference regular-season streak.
Gonzaga stumbled to Washington State earlier this week, but hasn’t lost at home in 44 games, including all 32 at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Zags’ last home loss to UW was in 1944.
Balance has been the Huskies’ strength this season, as five players have led the team in scoring in seven games. Freshman Quincy Pondexter leads the way with 16.4 points a game, and he has produced 21 points or more three times.
Junior Ryan Appleby and sophomores Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon have also logged 20-point outings this season. Brockman leads the Huskies with 9.9 rebounds a game to go with an 11.7 scoring average. Appleby is Washington’s top 3-point threat with 18 in 41 tries (43.9 percent).
Besides Pondexter, two other UW freshmen are starting and contributing: 7-footer Spencer Hawes is the third-leading scorer with 12.6 points a game and has blocked 19 shots, while Adrian Oliver is adding 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
This game will likely be a tossup, but bet on Washington escaping with a victory.
UCLA: The Bruins get another chance to test their mettle Saturday when sixth-ranked Texas A&M comes west to face UCLA in The John Wooden Classic in Anaheim. The two teams have met just twice and not since 1971 when Wooden’s dynasty was in full bloom and the Bruins crushed A&M 117-53. UCLA sophomore point guard Darren Collison nabbed 9 steals against Long Beach State, the fourth-highest single-game total in Pac-10 history. He leads the league with 3.2 steals per game. Bruin center Lorenzo Mata has also come on strong lately, connecting on 17-of-24 from the floor in the last five games.
ARIZONA: Wildcat junior playmaker Mustafa Shakur has passed out 6 assists or more in every games this season, with 8 or more four times, including a season-high 11 against UNLV. Shakur is the Pac-10’s active career leader with 505 assists and 118 steals and ranks third with 1,031 points. The five Wildcat starters scored all 84 points in UA’s victory against Illinois, paced by freshman Chase Budinger’s 22 points. Budinger is scoring 19.8 points a game – second in the Pac-10 – and recorded his first career double-double against UNLV with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
STANFORD: Freshman forward Brook Lopez is starting to get comfortable after an 18-point outing against Texas Tech. Cardinal Sophomore Lawrence Hill has emerged as a team leader with 17.8 points and 7.5 boards over the last four games, anchored by 60.9 percent shooting (28 of 46) from the floor. Stanford’s defense has also been stingy, limiting the last three foes to 37 percent accuracy from the field (60 of 162).
CALIFORNIA: The Golden Bears absorbed a 77-71 loss to 20th-ranked Nevada on Sunday but come back home to Haas Pavilion, which has been a tough place for opponents this season. Cal has limited Utah Valley State, Santa Clara and Kansas State to 48 points or fewer and 36.8 percent shooting from the floor. Chicago State, Eastern Michigan and San Diego make up the field for the Golden Bear Classic. Cal is a 20-point favorite on WagerWeb.com for tonight’s game against Chicago State. Bears point guard Ayinde Ubaka has recorded 24 assists to only 6 turnovers in the last four games. He is also one of the top free-throw shooters (23-of-25, 92 percent) for a Cal team that has missed only 22 foul shots all year. The Bears lead the Pac-10, hitting 83.9 percent from the stripe.
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