SEATTLE -- Before sending too much praise in the direction of No. 8 Washington and what the Huskies have done defensively through two games, there needs to be a disclaimer.Facing Rutgers and Idaho to open the season is far from a daunting task.But for those two games, the Huskies are getting what was expected from their defense. While plenty of reserves have been rotated through, Washingtons starting defense has given up just three points through the first two weeks, allowing a field goal to Rutgers and shutting out Idaho into the third quarter last Saturday before the backups got their turn.Its likely those defensive numbers are only going to get better with the Huskies closing out their non-conference slate against lower-division Portland State on Saturday.The guys for two games have played really hard and have played really focused, Washington coach Chris Petersen said Monday. Theres been a couple things, but youre always going to have a couple plays when you have -- I dont know how many plays weve seen so far, 130, 140 plays or something -- so you have a couple things. But I dont think theres been a lot of busts and I think theyve tackled fairly well.Its easy to get overshadowed when starting quarterback Jake Browning has eight touchdown passes in two games and dynamic wide receiver/kick returner John Ross has found the end zone five times. Browning leads the Pac-12 in pass efficiency rating thus far and the Huskies have scored at least 40 points in five straight games dating back to the end of last season. Thats a first in school history.But they only get those opportunities if the Huskies are doing what is expected on the defensive side.I like watching those guys when theyre like that, Petersen said.This was a defensive unit that was supposed to be good. They have experience in the front seven led by linebackers Azeem Victor and Keishawn Bierria, and perhaps one of the best defensive backfields in college football led by Budda Baker, Kevin King and Sidney Jones.The pass rush off the edge has been questionable, however. Washingtons been able to create pressure with the interior of its defensive line and through blitzes, collecting seven sacks in two games. But the Huskies are still waiting for a pass rusher off the edge to emerge to follow in the footsteps of Hauoli Kikaha in 2014 and Travis Feeney last year.While the matchup with Portland State might seem lopsided, Petersen is hopeful the Vikings offense will give Washington an unfamiliar look. Portland State runs a pistol-style offense, one that Petersen cant remember seeing since arriving at Washington.Everybodys got their strengths and weaknesses. Portland State does a great job with their offense, Petersen said. Its a really good scheme, they are playing to their strengths and their quarterback really makes some things happen.---Online:AP college football website:
http://collegefootball.ap.org . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas State slowly, methodically broke down Washington State on Saturday night.It probably shouldnt have been a surprise.The Cougars were already playing without forward Jeff Pollard, who has mono, and Vionte Daniels, who is dealing with the effects of a concussion. But then the news hit earlier in the day that Derrien King intends to transfer at the semester, leaving coach Ernie Kents even more short-handed on the road.Any time a player leaves, it hurts your team, Kent said after the Wildcats rolled to a 70-56 victory at the Sprint Center, and yet youre in an era of transferring and he made the decision to do that.It left Washington State with eight guys to match up with a deep, balanced bunch of Wildcats, though, and the Cougars certainly looked tired by the time the final seconds ticked off the clock.Wesley Iwundu had 15 points and eight rebounds, Barry Brown had 14 points, Dean Wade contributed 11 and Xavier Sneed finished with 10, all those scoring options helping Kansas State (9-1) overcome a lousy first-half shooting performance to win its 16th consecutive non-conference home game.It was also the Wildcats third straight win over the Cougars.We were trying to do stuff all on our own, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said. Our defense was solid again, but we didnt do the things we needed to do offensively in the first half. Much better in the second.Indeed, Washington State (5-5) controlled almost the entire first half, never trailing until the final couple of minutes. But Kents team fell behind 28-26 headed into the locker room, and kept slipping farther behind during the second half, when the Wildcats heated up from the perimeter.They were 2 of 9 from 3-point range in the first half. They were 7 of 13 in the second.I think offensively we just came out slow, everybody was trying to probably put up the ball to see how it was going to go, Brown said. In the second half we just made the right play, made the simple passes and we were able to make some shots.Josh Hawkinson hadd 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars.dddddddddddd Charles Callison also scored 10.In truth, there werent many bright moments in the first half for either team -- at one point, they combined for one field goal over a five-minute stretch. Turnovers were also a problem with the teams giving it up five times during that same abysmal period.But once the Wildcats assumed their first lead with 43 seconds left before halftime, they never trailed again. Their lead approached 20 points midway through the second half before coasting down the stretch.I thought the game was a tale of two halves, Kent said. We played I thought some really good basketball, probably our best basketball of the year in the first half and kept our composure. I thought Kansas State in the second half did a great job to keep their composure.STATS AND STREAKSThe Wildcats Kamau Stokes had just four points on 2-for-10 shooting. He was 0 for 5 from beyond the arc. ... Washington States starting guards, Malachi Flynn and Charles Callison, were a combined 4 for 15 from the field. ... Kansas State had a 30-16 scoring advantage in the paint.BIG PICTUREWashington State probably knew it would be a struggle when it had a tough time beating Carroll College in an exhibition game. But the Cougars only wins since mid-November have come against Utah Valley and Idaho, with losses to Loyola, San Jose State and New Orleans along the way.Kansas State has built a glossy record thanks to an atrocious nonconference schedule. The Wildcats only tough game came in Brooklyn, when they lost 69-68 to Maryland. And things dont get a whole lot tougher with games against Colorado State and Gardner-Webb before Big 12 play.UP NEXTWashington State heads home to play Santa Clara next Saturday.Kanas State plays the Rams next Saturday in Denver.---More AP college basketball:
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