Huskies Struggle in 109-91 Exhibition Loss to Boise State
Though the game didn't count in the standings and there's plenty of time until the regular season starts, the Huskies clearly have a lot to work on after a rough exhibition matchup against Boise State.
The Washington Huskies men’s basketball team opened their season with a 109-91 exhibition loss to the Boise State Broncos on Saturday.
The game does not count toward the regular-season record, but Boise State is a team of similar caliber to Washington. KenPom ranks Boise State No. 59 nationally, including No. 77 offensively and No. 41 defensively. KenPom ranks Washington No. 68 overall, No. 57 offensively and No. 83 defensively.
Torvik ranks Boise State No. 85 overall, No. 111 offensively and No. 69 defensively. Washington comes in at No. 73 overall, No. 70 offensively and No. 80 defensively.
The two projection systems place the teams in a relatively similar range, making Boise State a useful test for Washington going into the season. The Huskies certainly got one, as the final score exposed plenty of areas that need improvement.
Head coach Danny Sprinkle acknowledged the value of the matchup, saying, “That's why you play these exhibition games in front of a good crowd and we wanted to come on the road against a good team. Hopefully those lessons will help us.”
While the preseason game was not televised, there are still plenty of takeaways from simply listening to the radio broadcast and box score watching. Here are some takeaways from Washington’s first time taking the court this season.
Starting Lineup Surprise
The announced starting lineup featured LeJuan Watts, Steele Venters, Tayshawn Comer, Lathan Sommerville, and Nikola Dzepina. It was an interesting mix that suggests presumptive starting point guard Ryan Beasley may have been rested for the evening.
Starting Sommerville at the 4 alongside Dzepina is a curious choice. Sommerville lacks the mobility to defend players outside the center position and has not yet shown a consistent ability to stretch the floor with his shooting. Keeping him on the court alongside another big man could limit Washington’s offensive spacing and defensive flexibility.
