Oregon State Beavers-UW Huskies: What to watch for
OREGON STATE (12-4, 2-2 Pac-12) VS. WASHINGTON (11-6, 1-3 Pac-12)
When: Thursday, 8 p.m. PT
Where: Alaska Airlines Arena
TV: FS1
Radio: KOMO 1000 AM/97.7 FM
Projected starters
Oregon State
G Ethan Thompson, Jr. (6-5, 195): 16.8 ppg, 4.6 apg
G Zach Reichle, Jr. (6-5, 205): 9.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
F Tres Tinkle, Sr. (6-7, 225): 19.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg
F Kylor Kelley, Sr. (7-0, 215): 11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg
F Alfred Hollins, Jr. (6-6, 205): 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Washington
G Jamal Bey, So. (6-6, 210): 5.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg
G Nahziah Carter, Jr. (6-6, 205): 13.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg
F Jaden McDaniels, Fr. (6-9, 200): 13.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg
F Isaiah Stewart, Fr. (6-9, 250): 18.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg
F Hameir Wright, Jr. (6-9, 220): 5.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Outlook: Washington is looking to find its way without point guard Quade Green after a disastrous road swing that ended with losses to Stanford and Cal. The Huskies announced that Green was academically ineligible for the winter quarter hours before the game against Stanford.
Head coach Mike Hopkins has said UW will have a point guard by committee moving forward. Sophomore Elijah Hardy (9.8 mpg, 0.8 ppg) started against Stanford while Jamal Bey started against Cal.
Bey finished with 12 points, two assists, two turnovers and five rebounds against the Golden Bears. It seems likely he’ll get the nod again against Oregon State, especially with the Huskies in desperate need of outside shooting. Green was leading the team with a 44.7 three-point shooting percentage.
The loss of Green also trickled down to star freshman Isaiah Stewart, who averaged just 8.5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game in the two losses last week. Without Green, opponents were able to collapse on Stewart inside. UW will need to hit some outside shots to give Stewart more room to work in the paint.
While UW has lost four out of its last five games, Oregon State enters Alaska Airlines Arena having won three out of its last five. Two of those victories came against No. 20 Colorado and Arizona.
Tres Tinkle and Ethan Thompson lead the Beavers. An All-Pac-12 first-team selection last season, Tinkle is second in the conference in points per game (19.9) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (46.8%). Thompson shoots 37.5% from beyond the arc, which is tied for 18th in the Pac-12. He’s ninth in scoring (16.8 ppg). Tinkle and Thompson totaled 38 points in the Beavers’ victory over Arizona. They combined to shoot 11-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-10 from the three-point line.
Oregon State ranks third in the Pac-12 in points per game (77.8) and second in field goal percentage (48.4%). The Beavers aren’t a strong rebounding team, which is an area where the Huskies have also struggled this season. UW is ninth in the conference in rebounding (36.2 rpg) while Oregon State is 11th (34.5)
The Beavers finished 18-13 overall and 10-8 in Pac-12 play last season. They fell to UW twice, 79-69 at home and 81-76 in overtime in Seattle.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 5:43 AM.
