Tomorrow the Washington Huskies men's basketball team will play their first game at the 2010 Maui Invitational. The opponent waiting for them is the Virginia Cavilers. The Huskies will face a familiar face in Tony Bennett. Bennett was the coach of Washington's cross state rival Washington State Cougars from 2006-2009.
Tony Bennett had a record of 5-2 as the Washington St. coach versus Washington. In fact when Washington swept the Cougars in 2008 that stopped a five game losing streak versus Bennett and Washington St.
Virginia should be the first real test for Matthew Bryan Amanning and the Washington Huskies. Virginia is 2-1 and in the middle of a six game road trip. The road trip started in Stanford on Friday night when the Cardinal beat up on the Cavilers 81-60.
Virginia and Washington have only played one time. That meeting came in 1983 when the Cavilers squeaked by the Huskies 65-61. Washington will try to return the favor tomorrow.
Washington during their first two games have had no problem scoring and rebounding. That could change versus Virginia as the Cavilers are very big with their best player being Forward Mike Scott. Scott is listed at 6-8 and is averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. However, this will be a challenge I think Amaning can handle.
Washington is by far the more athletic team. Virginia will try their very not to make the game into a track meet. What should Washington do? Try to make the game into a track meet. Virginia does not have the athletes that Washington does. The more Wore down the Cavaliers get the more times Bennett has to use his less than stellar bench. My prediction is a well deserved 84-71 win in a game Washington will play as a team and deal with a little bit of adversity. The game is a appox. 9pm Seattle time tip-off and can be seen on ESPN2.
Other Notes:
Wichita St. versus Uconn 12pm tip
If there is going to be a upset on Day one this will be the game. Wichita St. made some noise in the tournament and play Uconn. Uconn is not as strong as it has been in past years. Wichita St. is a team I believe should have made the NCAA tournament last year. They started 11-1 last year with their only loss to Pitt.
Michigan State versus Chaminade 6:30pm tip
If Chaminade pulls of the upset it will be a bigger upset then when Appalachian State beat Michigan in football a few years ago.
Oklahoma versus Kentucky appox. 2:30pm tip
Kentucky has loaded up on young talented Freshman yet again. The only way Oklahoma pulls off the upset is if Oklahoma uses experience to their advantage. I don't see that happening. Kentucky wins big.
Weather Forecast for Maui:
Cloudy Periods
81 F
66 F
Aloha!
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