Washington 9-5 (1-2) heads into Mackey Arena to take on the #5 Purdue Boilermakers 13-1 (3-0) Wednesday night.
Matt Painter didn’t take long to get to the crux of the problem trying to defend Danny Sprinkle’s
Washington Huskies: Washington will and wants to get to the rim at all times. Washington is one of the nation’s least three point obsessed offense in the country and instead relies on its size and versatility to constantly attack the rim.
Wesley Yates and USC transfer Desmond Claude provide Washington with two big guards who have made bullying a career in the Big Ten. Hannes Steinbach is one of the most versatile bigs at 6-11, capable of putting the ball on the floor and stretching the floor.
Purdue’s task will be to keep its defensive principles in tact as they try and keep a bigger Huskies team out of the paint and off the offensive glass.
But Purdue gets the backing of Mackey Arena and the Huskies come into West Lafayette a hobbled pack of Huskies.
Washington struggles to shoot
Washington is one of the nation’s worst three-point shooting teams. Its making under 32% of its shots and has only one shooter at 40% or better from three and that shooter, Hannes Steinbach, has attempted just 15 three-pointers on the year.
Quimari Peterson and Wesley Yates are Washington’s two most prolific three point shooters and both have shot around the 34% mark on the season.
Part of the reason is Washington’s offense doesn’t generate looks for open shooters, instead focusing on driving to the hoop and physicality. It’s the 320th best team at generating threes off assists.
Wesley Yates out indefinitely
Part of what is terrifying about Washington’s team is the one two punch of Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates.
But one of those two is out indefinitely with a wrist injury. Wesley Yates had wrist surgery a week or so ago and the Huskies leading minute getter and second leading scorer is now out without a return date in sight.
This continues a trend for Washington with having to deal with a roster full of injury issues and concerns.
Washington’s Lathan Sommerville, starting center, has missed the last three games as well and even though he’s avoided a major injury, he also might not be available for head coach Danny Sprinkle.
It’s likely an undermanned Huskies team will have to try to take down the #5 Boilers who are playing its best basketball of the season. That’ll be a tough task. Purdue is one of the nation’s best rebounding teams and its defense has taken a major turn in the positive over the last few weeks.
Washington will be without its best rebounder and best player with the ball in his hands. Instead, Claude will have to assume the role as primary ball handler and scorer with assistance from double-double machine Hannes Steinbach.
