SAT 3 UNIT PLAY: Washington vs New Mexico

Really carved this one up....
& JUST CAN'T WAIT to watch it unfold:

(11) Washington vs (3) New Mexico

WASHINGTON HUSKIES
(9 Wins in a Row)
PROJECTED STARTERS
   F (6-9) Jr B-Amaning
   F (6-6) Sr Pondexter  
   F (6-6) Jr Holiday  
   G (5-8) Jr Thomas  
   G (5-11) Jr Overton

Key UW Reserves:
   G (6-8) So Gant
   G (6-3) Fr Gaddy
   F (6-7) Fr Breshers

___________________ 

NEW MEXICO LOBOS
(16-1 Last 17)
PROJECTED STARTERS
   F (6-8) So Hardeman
   F (6-6) Sr Martinez (19-pt / ZERO T-Overs)
   G (6-7) Jr Hobson (0-3 Threes)
   G (6-1) Jr Gary 
   G (6-5) So McDonald

Key N Mex Reserves:
   G/F (6-5) Fr Dennis
   G (6-2) So Fenton
   F (6-6) Fr Adams

Obviously Tms can't get to this pt w/out being awfully good.

As highlighted in Rd 1 detail,
Washington - is highest Paced Tm Tourney Coming-In
WASH is clicking
Won 9th in a Row Thu
Racing past Marquette by skin of their teeth

4 MAIN ON-COURT REASONS WASH is TM to BACK HERE

ALL UNDER-RATED
OVERLOOKED Factors re. UW,
(Probably contribute to Dawgs being nearly EVEN ODD vs NMx)

#1 WASH KEY:
CONSISTENT SCORING

Wash Consistent 'O'?
WASH SCORING AVG: 79.8 PPG
Last 3 Gms, WASH HAS SCORED:
79
79
80
This defines consistency

Why/How is Washington so CONSISTENT?

#2 (& MOST OVERLOOKED) Reason UW playing SO WELL:
EFFICIENT PG PLAY

I'm still not hearing enough about this
AND has really made UW a STEAL in this one

UW PG Isaiah Thomas has broken thru into next level under PG-Players-Coach, Lorenzo Romar.

Issah Thomas, early-on in 09/10, was heavily criticized For:
* Poor Asst/T-Over Ratio (Below 1-1 early)
* Poor Shooting / Offensive Decision Making (low 40%'s early)

DEFINITELY CAN'T MAKE THAT CLAIM ABOUT I. THOMAS THESE DAYS

Thomas Ast/T-Ov Ratio,
Final Third of Season, Thomas was Sensational:
3.8 to 1
to Over 4 to 1 from PAC-10 Tourney onward

NCAA Round 1 Played ALL 40 MIN:
Isaiah Thomas
7-13 Field Goals
3-5 Three-Point Shooting
2-2 Free Throws
3 Rebounds 
8 ASSISTS
1 Steal
1 Turnover
19 POINTS

If there is ONE VERY consistent Storyline in NCAA Tourney Lore over the past several decades, it's emerging, Fresh-Faced, youthful PG leading Tm from NOWHERE on an improbable Run.

#3 Reason WASH is playing SO WELL:
(Wash High PACE masks the hidden strength (& return) of Dawg Tm):
SUPERB UW DEF EFFICIENCY:

Washington D-PPP: 0.921  

This number may seem "Avg' amongst Final 24 Tms, yet D-PPP is somewhat weighed twd deliberate Big East & Big 10 Tms simply out of 7 to 12 more possessions/gm.

This is perhaps THE most commonly misunderstood items on U-Dub's Resume'
HUGE Factor vs N Mexico

Secondary Factors: 

* Matchup Season History favors UW

TMS WASH HAS STRUGGLED W/TOP 15% DEF TMS:
SC / AZ ST / AZ
Wash was 1-5 ATS (2-4 S/U)

* UW has Edge in Depth

WASH GOOD Depth vs N Mex Thin Bench
UW DEEP in 2/3/4 Def Athletes
Really dominated SMALLER Tms w/OUT Dom Post Men
This FITS Lobo Tm to a TEE

N Mexico played many players during year,
YET IN BIG GMS, Alford whittled Roster down
N MEX BENCH in RD 1 vs MONT: 
29 Min
1-7 FG
0-3 FT
2 PT

Miscellaneous Points:

N Mex is terrific in FEW T/Overs
Main Saving Grace vs Griz
(F (6-6) Sr Martinez | 19-pt, 0 T-Ov)
Since Lobos survived another POOR FG% Gm (41.5%)
w/just SIX T-Overs

Wash finally playing to & PAST Potential
NMx beginning to get exposed as GOOD not GREAT Tm

Lobos Are awfully consistent Offensively
Perhaps a BIT Overrated Defensively
Rd One Projects these trends very simply:
Wash: 54.5% FG
Wash: 64.3% Three-Pt
NMex: 41.5% FG
NMex: 25% Three-Pt

Rebounding: 
Washington vs N Mexico +5 Avg/Gm

Vast number of Advantages make UW a nice play here

3 UNIT
WASHINGTON -1 vs NEW MEXICO

0.5 UNIT
NORTH CAROLINA +275 at MISSISSIPPI STATE  

Beav - on you with this pick.  Great write up.  Was in California last weekend and actually sat and watched the whole Cal/Wash game and being from the midwest we had not seen Washington play hardly at all the last 60 days.  Thomas runs the show and Pondexter is a beast.  Love the way they get the defensive board and take off.  New Mexico's players better be in shape and 100% focused as I don't know if they have faced a team like this all year.  Go Huskies.

GREAT takes Steve.  I was impressed with them when I watched them against Cal this year and Marquette.  Good guard play, deep team and well coached.  They do not hit the panic button either.  Sneaky good 11 seed.

Loss Lobos, Goooooooo Huskies!!

Let's get it!

 Loving the Huskies today as well Steve, I had them in the opener against Marquette and looking hard at them today.

Have a Great weekend brother!

 I love this Washington team and this play. I had them in the final four in one bracket and in the sweet 16 in a couple others

Circled them last night and like the line move already, appreciate your work & effort Steve!

 Good work again my friend and I hope you are right!