Find out how to Watch (and guess)
Date: Thursday, 2/23/23
Tip-Off Time: 6:00 pm PT
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Streaming: Pac-12.com/reside
Location: Berkeley, California
DraftKings Betting Line: Washington Huskies -6
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File: 3-24 (2-14)
Factors For per Sport: 58.7 (361st)
Factors In opposition to per Sport: 70.1 (86th)
Adjusted Offensive Effectivity: 98.8 (295th)
Adjusted Defensive Effectivity: 106.7 (215th)
Energy of Schedule: twenty sixth
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California’s Key Gamers:
G- Joel Brown, Sr. 6’3, 192: 6.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 40.0% FG, 24.3% 3pt, 50.0% FT
Brown is type of the Jamal Bey of Cal besides there are not any different choices for Cal given all of the accidents they’ve had on the guard spot. He has profession 42/30/48 capturing splits as some extent guard with a 2.7/1.7 help to turnover ratio. Thankfully for Cal he has realized he’s not a fantastic shooter and drives the ball rather more often and might nonetheless be a pest on protection. General although he prefers to be the fifth scoring choice on offense.
1st Sport In opposition to UW: 12 pts (4/8 FG), 5 ast
G- Sam Alajiki, S0. 6’7, 230: 5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.7 apg, 37.1% FG, 34.6% 3pt, 55.6% FT
Accidents to Devin Askew and DeJuan Clayton have opened up time for Alajiki to hitch the beginning lineup. I assumed he was due for a breakout season nevertheless it’s arduous to say anybody has been good when the workforce is 3-24. At this level he’s a “3 and D” wing capturing an excellent 38.6% on 3’s throughout convention play.
1st Sport In opposition to UW: 4 pts (1/4 FG, 1/4 FT), 2 reb
F- Grant Newell, Fr. 6’8, 220: 7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.8 apg, 40.4% FG, 29.8% 3pt, 67.4% FT
For the 301st ranked participant within the 2022 class it has been a strong true freshman marketing campaign thus far particularly contemplating the expertise surrounding Newell. The 21 level double-double he had in opposition to UW continues to be by far his greatest recreation of the season. Count on the Huskies to combine up their technique in opposition to Newell to disclaim him that midrange jumper alternative.
1st Sport In opposition to UW: 21 pt (9/14 2pt), 10 reb, 3 stl
F- Kuany Kuany, Sr. 6’9, 200: 9.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 38.6% FG, 32.5% 3pt, 83.7% FT
It has been a breakout season for Kuany as far as he has hit profession highs in effectivity. Throughout convention play he’s tenth in free throw price whereas making over 80% of his FTs and likewise making 35% of his 3-pointers. He scored in double digits in every of Cal’s final 2 video games regardless of the Bears getting slaughtered in L.A.
1st Sport In opposition to UW: 9 pts (2/3 3pt), 3 reb, 2 stl
C- Lars Thiemann, Sr. 7’1, 260: 9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.7 bpg, 49.5% FG, 73.6% FT
Thiemann has needed to be the glue holding this workforce collectively and he’s not fairly geared up for that position. He’s an excellent offensive rebounder and has satisfactory strikes within the publish however he’s not precisely an all-conference choice. His rim safety particularly is underwhelming for somebody over 7-feet as it’s consistent with Nate Roberts totals.
1st Sport In opposition to UW: 13 pts (6/12 2pt), 7 reb
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The Outlook
Again in January the Huskies have been a sliver away from struggling an extremely embarrassing loss at residence to a Cal workforce that was 3-14. Washington got here again to pressure time beyond regulation and escape with the win. There was at the least a little bit of hope that Cal may be somewhat higher than beforehand thought. That they had gained 3 of 5 coming into that recreation after which after all misplaced in time beyond regulation. That notion has been totally dismissed as Cal is on an 11-game dropping streak together with dropping on the L.A faculties by a mixed 72 factors final week.
This was a foul roster from the get go however accidents definitely haven’t helped issues. The anticipated beginning guard duo was Kentucky switch Devin Askew and Jalen Celestine with DeJuan Clayton transferring to assist bolster depth. As an alternative, Celestine nonetheless hasn’t performed, Askew is out for the season, and Clayton has performed simply 9 whole video games. He missed each of Cal’s most up-to-date contests for undisclosed causes.
Given their report it needs to be no shock that Cal is final within the convention in each offensive and defensive effectivity throughout Pac-12 play. They narrowly beat out Oregon State on the offensive finish and are one of many worst scoring groups in all of D1 basketball. There’s probably not a redeeming high quality to the offense. They rank 353rd in 2-pt capturing and 327th in 3-point capturing. Throughout Pac-12 play the lengthy vary capturing has been higher than that however besides in that recreation in opposition to UW they’re mainly incapable of scoring contained in the arc.
If you happen to’re actually attempting to seek for vivid spots round Cal’s offense you may discuss their efficiency from the free throw line. They’re merely common nationally in drawing fouls and capitalizing as soon as they get to the stripe. A Cal win most likely includes 20+ free throw makes an attempt, 33%+ 3-point capturing, and successful the turnover battle by 5 or extra.
The protection is best than the offense nevertheless it’s nonetheless dangerous. None of Cal’s top-9 gamers in minutes per recreation has a block price higher than 3.1% (the identical as Nate Roberts final 12 months for context). Lars Thiemann is 7’1 however doesn’t play prefer it so there isn’t a lot if any rim safety to fret about. The Bears are sixth within the nation in common peak with mainly just one participant shorter than 6’7 within the rotation. That size might result in loads of UW turnovers however for essentially the most half it hasn’t thus far this season.
Even when Washington is the tenth greatest workforce within the Pac-12 there’s nonetheless a large chasm between them and groups 11 and 12. That didn’t cease UW from dropping by 1 at Oregon State and getting taken to time beyond regulation by Cal at residence. On an off evening the Dawgs are able to dropping to simply about anybody. The propensity for off nights enhance for UW on the highway. Washington is 1-8 in true highway video games with the lone one coming over Colorado. There’s a purpose that the Huskies are favored regardless of all of that nevertheless it wouldn’t be a shock to see UW fall flat on this spot given their historical past.
Washington’s convention schedule was principally front-loaded. Their last 5 video games are all in opposition to groups ranked sixth or worse within the league standings with 3 at residence. UW has began out 2-0 in opposition to this straightforward stretch and if Mike Hopkins needs any probability at holding his job this must turn into a 3-game successful streak tonight. The trail is there for Washington to scrape their approach again to .500 within the Pac-12 standings nevertheless it completely requires them to not collapse with fixed careless turnovers and defend the center higher than their final recreation in opposition to Cal.
Prediction
Max’s File this 12 months: 20-8 Straight Up, 15-12-1 In opposition to The Unfold
Washington Huskies- 68, California Golden Bears- 58
