Pac-12: Five Conference Games to Watch
By Daniel Tran
Mar 12, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington Huskies forward Desmond Simmons (30) shoots against Utah Utes guard/forward Princeton Onwas (3) and guard Delon Wright (55) during the first half in the first round of the Pac-12 Conference Tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Utah Utes at Washington Huskies, January 25, 2015
With depth and experience, the Utah Utes were supposed to be a part of the national conversation. They have fulfilled that expectation by emerging from non-conference play with an AP Poll ranking at No. 10 and a 10-2 record, with both losses coming against ranked teams by combined seven points. However, no one saw what was coming out of Seattle.
The University of Washington surprised most college basketball fans by finishing non-conference play ranked 21st in the nation on the AP Poll. The Huskies have made their mark on defense where they have been holding teams to 58.7 points per game and leading the Pac-12 Conference in blocks per game at 88 total blocks. Leading the charge on that front has been sophomore center Robert Upshaw.
Upshaw leads the nation with 4.2 blocks per game and is the defensive anchor for the Huskies. Washington will need all that production going against Utah who fields Wright and a surprise freshman center who has been impressing NBA scouts since the season began.
Jakob Poeltl went from unrated Austrian recruit to one of the fastest moving NBA prospects in the country in an instant. The unknown center that played on the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions in Europe last season has averaged 10.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He has been a big reason why the Utes are second in the Pac-12 Conference in points allowed, only giving up 57.6 points per game.
Washington may have a hard time scoring against the Utah defense, but with Nigel William-Goss (Pac-12 leading 6.7 assists per game) going toe to toe against Wright and Upshaw matching up with Poeltl to provide a matchup of the giants, this should be a fun game to watch.
Next: Oregon vs. UCLA