Four games into the season with a 1-3 record, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team is looking to turn around its current momentum with two upcoming games in Washington state.
Coming off a nail-biter against the University of Nebraska Omaha, SUU will head to Spokane, Washington to face the No. 19 ranked Gonzaga University on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. Afterwards, they will go south to Pullman, Washington to face Washington State University on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 9 p.m.
Southern Utah
Even with a 58-point win against Bethesda University, SUU is barely averaging more points on the year than their opponents.
One of the main contributors to this has been shooting disparity. While they shoot 57.3% from inside the three-point line, the T-Birds shoot just 27.4% from three while allowing opponents to go 41.8% from deep.
The team has shown great rebounding, blocking and passing ability, and has kept turnovers to a reasonable amount, but their losses would be much closer or even wins if the three-point shot fell more reliably.
Although these struggles have cost the Thunderbirds a winning record so far, the number of games left in the season leaves time and room for adjustments to be made defensively and offensively.
Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are no strangers to the spotlight and performing at a high level, as they’ve started the season with a 4-0 record following their Round of 32 appearance in March Madness last year.
Gonzaga has looked strong this year, with a 27-point victory against No. 23-ranked Creighton University on Nov. 11. They’ve outdone their competitors in essentially every category, especially in assists, where they average twice as many as opponents.
The Thunderbirds will certainly have their work cut out for them, as Gonzaga is 2-1 against SUU all-time. Their most recent faceoff in 2012 resulted in a 38-point blowout for the Bulldogs.
Washington State
The Cougars share Southern Utah’s start-of-season struggles with a 1-3 record of their own. Forward Eemeli Yalaho led the squad with 15 points in the at-home rivalry loss to the University of Washington on Nov. 14.
Their record isn’t where the similarities stop between the teams. Washington State has excelled at out-rebounding opponents, an area where SUU has also found a groove. However, SUU looks to be the better assisting, blocking and turnover-forcing team.
All-time, the Cougars are 2-1 against the Thunderbirds dating back to the 1988-89 season. However, it was Southern Utah that took the win in their last exhibition in 2003 by a score of 55-36.
SUU is looking to capitalize on the last two games of the road trip before coming back to Cedar City to have the home crowd cheer them on in their game against the Nobel University Knights on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Author: Asher Swiss
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
