Denver Game Preview & How to Watch

SB Nation

How to Watch (and bet)

Date: Thursday, 11/6/25

Tip-Off Time: 7:00 pm PT

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming: Big Ten Network

Radio: Huskies Gameday App, Sports Radio KJR

Location: Seattle, WA

Betting Line: Washington Huskies -29.5

Denver Pioneers 2025-26 Statistics:

Record:

0-1

Points For per Game: 73.0

Points Against per Game: 84.0

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 98.8

Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 113.1

Strength of Schedule:

100th

Denver Pioneers Key Players:

G- Carson Johnson, So. 6’1, 180: 18.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 38.5% FG, 33.3% 3pt, 77.8% FT

Johnson is one of several players on the team to transfer up from D-II Minnesota-Moorhead along with head coach Tim Bergstraser. He originally planned to redshirt last year but apparently showed he was too good in practice and started playing after a few games. Johnson ultimately led the team in scoring by averaging 19.8 points per game on 41.8% 3-point shooting. We’ll see how the defense translates at this level though.

G- Josh Lee, Sr. 6’3, 200: 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 25.0% FG, 33.3% 3pt, 0.0% FT

Lee is the only returner among the starters and had a solid season as a 6th man guard for Denver. Last year he averaged 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game on 40.5% 3-point shooting after starting his career at Itawamba CC. He’s their best perimeter defender and finished top-175 nationally in steal rate last year.

G- Logan Kinsey, Sr. 6’6, 215: 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 71.4% FG, 100.0% 3pt, 80.0% FT

Another MSU-M transfer, Kinsey averaged 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last year and led his team in steals. He was Denver’s most efficient player in their season opener against Seattle U where he was able to get several offensive rebounds and get fouled around the rim.

F- Julius Rollins, Sr. 6’7, 210: 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 28.6% FG, 25.0% 3pt, 100.0% FT

Rollins transferred in from Western Illinois after beginning his college career at Kent State. He started at WIU last year averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 28.0% 3-point shooting in D-1 games. He has shown a pretty good ability to score around the rim in his career so far but is an underwhelming rebounder and doesn’t add a ton on the defensive end. We’ll see how he handles a matchup with Hannes Steinbach…

F- Jeremiah Burke, Sr. 6’7, 220: 21.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 37.5% FG, 42.9% 3pt, 100.0% FT

Burke was a bit player the last two years at North Dakota State but through one game appears to be Denver’s most important player. He played all 40 minutes against Seattle U and led the team in usage rate and scoring. It’s a limited sample size still but he’s shooting 64% on 2’s and 46.7% on 3’s for his career so it definitely appears he has all the tools to be a really dangerous scoring option, it’s just he hasn’t gotten the playing time yet to prove it. He also though had 6 turnovers so ball security is a work in progress. Plus he has just 4 career blocks and 3 career steals so he isn’t exactly an ace defender.

The Outlook

One of the major story lines in the sport last year was long-time D2 coaching savant Ben McCollum taking a bunch of his D2 players including his star point guard, transferring up to Drake, making the NCAA tournament, then immediately heading to Iowa with that point guard in tow. Denver has hoped to take that same formula but it’s a bit of a discount version.

Coach Tim Bergstraser won 25 games each of the last 3 years at D2 Minnesota State- Moorhead and made the NCAA tournament, advancing one round further each time but capping out at the Sweet 16. It’s a far cry from McCollum who won multiple national titles at the D2 level. Denver though brought along 4 players from that MSM roster including star freshman point guard Carson Johnson and starting SF Logan Kinsey.

The program upheaval should mean that Denver is greatly improved this season. Last year they finished 11-21 and 7th in the Summit League standings while being ranked 311th at KenPom. The Pioneers were picked 5th by the 3-Man Weave in their conference preview with Johnson as a preseason 1st team all-conference pick and the winner of preseason Summit League newcomer of the year.

The opening night result doesn’t change the idea that Denver is improved. They played at Seattle U and lost 84-73 which is a respectable result against a solid mid-major team on the road. Last year’s Denver team did have some close road games against teams about as good or better than this year’s Seattle squad. They lost by 9 at Colorado State who almost made the Sweet 16 and took #135 North Dakota State to overtime on the road. But we’d be taking it too far to think they’ve got a realistic shot against Washington.

There might be ways for Denver to scheme around it a bit but when it comes down to it this just looks like a complete size mismatch. Against Seattle U, Denver played only two players a combined 15 minutes who were taller than 6’7 with none taller than 6’9. They start a pair of 6’7 forwards who will be tasked with matching up against the 6’11 duo of Hannes Steinbach and Franck Kepnang. There are opportunities for them to double-team in the post and force Washington to make outside shots but the Huskies should be able to get plenty of second chance opportunities.

This will be the last game before Washington’s first major test with a road trip to Baylor on Sunday. We’ll see if Desmond Claude makes his season debut as it would be nice for him to get some reps in before the team travels to Waco. Without Claude, the Huskies went with a strict 8-man rotation excluding the freshmen Rencher and Muldrew and with the other 4 scholarship players out injured. Coach Sprinkle announced after Monday’s game that Christian Nitu will redshirt which means (unless that changes) the Huskies are without he and Traore (both 6’11) for the season, without Nikola Dzepina until December, and without Jacob Ognacevic until January.

Denver was able to keep it close against Seattle by shooting 26 free throws and making 82% of them. With Washington’s athleticism advantage, I can’t see them taking nearly as many freebies and that will allow Washington to stretch the lead.