Colorado @ Washington preview

Colorado at Washington

Last Meeting ( Jan 12, 2019 ) Washington 77, Colorado 70

Washington continues to dominate on defense, and in the process added another half-game to its Pac-12 lead Wednesday night. The Huskies will look to add to their roll and maintain their unblemished home record when they host Colorado late Saturday.

In a largely bland and mediocre season throughout the Pac-12, Washington’s 2-3 zone defense has stood out. Visiting Utah can vouch for that after being limited to 18 second-half points and a season-low 45 overall in a 17-point loss Wednesday as the Huskies improved to 13-0 on their home floor and expanded their conference lead to 3.5 games. “The second half was one of the best periods, 16 or 17 minutes, that we’ve played all season,” Washington coach Mike Hopkins said after watching his team hold the Utes to five second-half field goals. “We were active, (and) we were talking. We were aware, and, most importantly, we finished with rebounding.” Colorado gets the next shot at the front-running Huskies on Saturday, and the Buffaloes will be looking to bounce back after seeing their five-game win streak end Wednesday in a see-saw, 76-74 loss at Washington State.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT COLORADO (16-10, 7-7 Pac-12): The Buffs had their worst shooting night (37.9 percent) in six weeks Wednesday and were particularly poor from 3-point range, hitting 9-of-29 attempts. “It’s a heartbreaking loss on the road,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said in his post-game news conference. “… Offensively, I thought we settled for a lot of 3’s.” Point guard McKinley Wright had 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and leads the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game while fellow sophomore Tyler Bey (12.3 points, 9.4 rebounds) had 12 points and 12 boards to notch his fourth double-double in the last six contests.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (21-5, 12-1): The Huskies lead the Pac-12 in points allowed (63.9 per game), opponent field-goal percentage (40.6) and are forcing a conference-most 16.2 turnovers per game. Washington also checks in at 14th nationally in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings – 18 places above the next-highest Pac-12 team (Oregon at 32nd). Offensively, five Huskies scored in double figures against Utah, led by forward Nahziah Carter’s 12 off the bench, while guard Jaylen Nowell (16.3) and forward Noah Dickerson (13.0, team-leading 6.7 rebounds) are the leading scorers on the season.

TIP-INS

1. Washington has won eight of 13 meetings, including four of the last five, since Colorado entered the Pac-12 in 2011.

2. In their first meeting this season, Jan. 12 in Boulder, Nowell and fellow G David Crisp combined for 35 points in the Huskies’ 77-70 road win. Guard D’Shawn Schwartz scored a game-high 22 to pace Colorado.

3. Wright was limited to 12 minutes and two points after dislocating his left shoulder in the first meeting with Washington. Wright also briefly left Wednesday’s game to have the same shoulder examined but returned to finish the contest, and he is expected to be good to go for Saturday’s matchup.

PREDICTION: Washington 70, Colorado 62