The University of Washington men’s basketball team, looking to win its fifth consecutive game to open a conference season for the first time since 1984, came out flat and sluggish, never recovered and lost to the University of Utah 74-65 Saturday night at Alaska Airlines Arena. It marked Utah’s first-ever road win since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011-12.
The Utes, holding C.J. Wilcox to no points, led 33-25 at the end of the first half, built a 56-41 lead with 8:08 to play, and maintained a mostly double-digit lead throughout the second half. Washington never could get anything going in losing for the first time in five games.
Washington is now 12-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play and has lost four times at home in 2012-13.
Utah shot 60.4 percent from the floor and held Washington to 37.3 percent. Wilcox, averaging 19.4 points per game, finished with 14, all in the second half, but made just 4 of 11 from 2-point range. Andrew Andrews led the Huskies with 17 points. Scott Suggs was the only other Husky to score in double figures, but his 12 points came on 4-for-16 shooting.
Utah, which entered the game 0-5 in conference play this season, was led by Brendan Taylor’s 19 points off the bench and 18 from Jason Washburn. Jordan Loveridge added 17.
The Huskies are entering a tough stretch. After taking on Oregon State Wednesday in Corvallis, they will play the Oregon Ducks Saturday in Eugene. The Ducks knocked off nationally ranked UCLA 76-68 Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion. Washington then returns to Alaska Airlines Arena to face nationally ranked Arizona Jan. 31.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2145316 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2145316">2 Comments
Romar is a second tier coach. He’ll post a winning record, often get to March Madness and recruit decent players, but his teams won’t be exceptional.
He’s a good representative for the UW but unfortunately for Dawg fans, will consistently rank much lower than Gonzaga.
Maybe going after the “name” players, the one and done players, isn’t a very good idea after all.
Got a good laugh 1coolguy. No disrespect, just there are a few score programs thinking the same thing about their coaches. I would like to see the Dawgs play the Bulldogs every season. The WCC isn’t close to the PAC 12. Being the top dog of mediocrity is where the Zag’s play conference ball. However, the WCC has served the Bulldogs well giving them higher seeds they didn’t deserve.