California @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2020 ) Washington 58, California 61

One of the biggest Pac-12 mysteries has been the fall of the Washington Huskies, who were expected to contend for the league title but enter Saturday’s matchup against visiting California riding a nine-game losing streak. The Huskies began the season with a 10-2 mark but have dropped 13 of their last 15 games and are 1-11 since point guard Quade Green was ruled academically ineligible in early January.

Washington matched its second longest losing streak in school history with Thursday’s 72-64 loss to Stanford, which dominated the second half and held freshman star Isaiah Stewart to 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting with five turnovers. “From the outside looking in it would be easy to see how a team that’s going through adversity like this would kind of start to splinter and spread apart,” Huskies senior forward Sam Timmins told reporters. “But we've stayed really close as a unit. We all believe in each other. We go into every game believing we have what we need to win.” The 6-9, 250-pound Stewart leads the Huskies in points, rebounding, blocks, field goal attempts and minutes but is averaging only 12.7 points over the past six games. The power forward will likely face another series of double teams against Cal, which recorded its first road win of the season with Wednesday’s 66-57 victory at Washington State.

TIME: 6 p.m. ET. TV: Pac-12 Network

ABOUT CAL (11-15, 5-8 Pac-12): The Bears matched their Pac-12 win total from the previous two seasons combined with an impressive showing against Washington State behind senior point guard Paris Austin, who finished with 19 points and has scored in double figures in six of his past eight games. Coach Mark Fox has also been encouraged by the play of forward Andre Kelly, who recorded 16 points and six rebounds against the Cougars and is averaging 10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds over the past six games. Guard Matt Bradley averages a team-high 17.6 points to lead the Bears.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (12-15, 2-12): Timmins made his first start of the season against Stanford in place of Hameir Wright (illness) and finished with four points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Coach Mike Hopkins is looking for more consistency from freshman forward Jaden McDaniels, who is averaging 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds over the last five games but was held to six points on 2-of-7 shooting against the Cardinal. Green’s absence has resulted in more playing time for the freshmen guard combo of Marcus Tsohonis and RaeQuan Battle, who are averaging a combined 15 points in league play.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Washington owns an 86-81 lead in the series, but Cal won 61-58 in overtime at Haas Pavilion on Jan. 11.

2. Cal has outrebounded three of its last four opponents.

3. McDaniels recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds in last month’s loss to the Bears.

PREDICTION: Washington 71, Cal 68