Seahawks, Cougars men's basketball and Huskies men's basketball end year with loss

The Seahawks had the opportunity to

win Sunday against the Pittsburgh

Steelers although the defense didn't

play well once again.

Final Steelers 30 Seahawks 23

The Seahawks offense played good 

for the most part especially in the 

first half. They had two touchdowns 

in the first half though were behind 17-14.

The Seahawks were able to make three 

field goals in the second half. The offense 

made a critical mistake in the fourth 

quarter fumbling the ball deep in their 

side of the field. Fortunately the Steelers

kicked a field goal still giving the Seahawks a 

chance.  The Seahawks scored final 

field goal with 2:30 left in the game.

An onside kick they were not able to cover.

A critical first down by the Steelers sealed

the Seahawks fate.

Though the fumble had a lot to do with 

the loss the Steelers two running backs

combined for 197 yards rushing and

scored their three touchdowns. Most

teams won't win allowing 197 yards

on the ground. The Seahawks will

need to bring in some players next

season to improve the defense.

The Colorado Buffaloes were able

to beat the Cougars Sunday afternoon

74-67.  The Cougars were able to make

adjustments in the second half but not

enough to overcome a ten point deficit 

at halftime. The Cougars had three 

players in double figures led by Andrej

Jakimovski with 19 points. He usually

rebounds well however only one in

the game. Isaac Jones and Oscar Cluff  

coming off the bench each had 16 points.

The Cougars actually made more shots

from the field the difference in the game 

the Buffaloes made 22 while the Cougars

made six from the foul line.

The Huskies played well in the first

half leading by 11points at halftime.

The Huskies bench did well in the

first half but not so much after that.

Utah made adjustments at halftime 

to go on and win. The Huskies did

well in the first seven minutes of

the second. Each time Utah was able

to get closer the Huskies were able

to respond however eventually they

took the lead and that was it.

Final Utah 95 Washington 90 

Keion Brooks Jr led the Huskies with

25 points. Korean Johnson had 17 and

Wilhelm Breidenbach had 15 off the

bench. Most of their points were in

the bench. Breidenbach played a lot

since Braxton Meah got in foul trouble

early. Right now Breidenbach will play

a lotbif Meah keeps getting into foul

trouble.  Maybe Coach Hopkins needs

to start Breidenbach instead and have

Meah coming off the bench. My 

opinion this will likely be Coach Hopkins

as Huskies head coach. Huskies have

talent and experience however his

teams always have trouble getting 

going scoring early or if they do so

it doesn't last. 

The Huskies will have to do better this

next week against Oregon and Oregon

State. The Ducks have gotten off to a

good start . I see the Huskies  being 

1-3 after next week. Most likely the

same for the Cougars. Both beating

the Beavers. 

The Sugar Bowl is Monday evening.

I expect the Huskies football team

will have better fate than the basketball

team. Whatever happens they have had

a historic season. Go Dawgs!

End of 2023 Begin 2024

The Seattle Seahawks  end 2023 with a 
game Sunday against the Pittsburgh 
Steelers. This is another must-win game.
They lose likely out of the playoffs.  I 
call this is a draw since the Steelers 
are in the same situation.  Whoever 
wins aren't guaranteed to be in the
playoffs however the loser is out. 
The Huskies men's  basketball team 
play Utah while the Cougars take on
Colorado on Sunday. Both teams lost
their opening games of the Pac-12 
schedule  so would be hard to swallow 
another loss. If they lose then coming
home to face Oregon  and  Oregon 
State will be more important. The Ducks
opened the season beating both USC 
and UCLA while the Beavers  beat USC 
and losing to UCLA at home.

On New Year's Day, the Huskies football
team will play the most important game
ever in the Sugar Bowl.  A win means
they will play against either Michigan or
Alabama for the National Championship. 
I am sure most Huskies fans would
prefer to play Michigan.

The Seattle Kraken will play Las Vegas
before the Sugar Bowl outdoors at
T-Mobile Park. It should be exciting to
watch as well.

I was hoping the Seattle Mariners would 
acquire another player before January. 
It looks like we will have to wait.  At the
very least at least acquire one outfielder.

Have a wonderful  New Year's. 

Washington Huskies Men's Basketball Lose Pac-12 Opener

The Huskies had the opportunity  to  

win the season  opener on the road

at Colorado.  

It isn't  ever easy  to  win  on  the

road however  the Huskies had the

opportunities.  

They had a small lead at the beginning 

of the first  half,  however  the Buffaloes 

were able  to  lead at half time by six 

points. In the second  the Huskies were

able to take a seven point lead Colorado 

were able to turn  around.

Final  Colorado 73 Washington 69

The Huskies were not able to  handle 

Colorado's physically play. Also have

trouble not turning the ball over and 

going several  minutes  without scoring.

Two things the Huskies  have  trouble 

when losing. 

The Huskies  had three players in double 

figures led by Keion Brooks Jr  who had

20 points. Sahvir Wheeler continues

his fine play with 17 points and Moses

had 14. The Huskies  only had 5 points

off the bench all by Koren Johnson.

The Washington  State  Cougars  lost

as well. They were in the game in the

first half down 31-29 however Utah

dominated the second half. The Cougars

again scored 29 points in the second half

however the Utes had 49.

Isaac Jones  led the Cougars with 12

points and had ten rebounds as well.

Jaylen Wells had 10 points off the 

bench as the only other in double 

figures.

The Cougars downfall was shooting

poorly  in the field as well as at the

foul line. Outside the 3 point line 

made only 4 of 20 while making

12 of 21 free throws. The Cougars

to were unable to take the edge

of 24 offensive  rebounds to the

Utes 8.

The Cougars will play at Colorado on

Sunday while the Huskies play the 

Utes. Both teams will have to do

better to come home with a win.

Gonzaga didn't  fare well  either

losing to San Diego State at home

Friday  night 84-74. 

The Zags shot poorly behind the

3 point line making 5 of 19. San

Diego State didn't  do much better

but had more shots and made three

more. The Zags made seven more

points from the foul line but wasn't 

good enough.

Graham  Ike led the Zags with 20

points and 10 points. The Zags 

will have six days off to recoup 

from the loss facing Pepperdine 

at home on Thursday January 4th. 

Go Zags!

Seahawks Thursday

The Seahawks  take on the Pittsburgh 
Steelers on Sunday at home. Another
must-win game to make the playoffs.  
I  am sure the fans will be loud as
well. A team the fans at least don't 
like because of the loss to them
in the Super Bowl. 

The Steelers beat the Bengals last 
Saturday  34-11. The Steelers have 
the same record as the Seahawks 
at 8-7.  It is a must-win game for
them as well.
Mason Rudolph is the current starting 
quarterback for the Steelers. He threw
for 300 yards against the Bengals.
George Pickens was the Steeler's top
receiver in the game with four catches 
for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. It
will be important  for  the Seahawks 
to stop him.

Nagee Harris  was the Steeler's  primary
running back who carried 19 times for
78 yards. As we know the Seahawks are
not good against the run. It will help
if the defensive line and edge rushers 
can get to Rudolph as they did
late in the game against the Titans.

The Seahawks  need to give Geno Smith 
time in the pocket too. Last week the 
Steelers  had three pass interceptions 
so can't let that happen again. Also,
the Seahawks need to have a good
running game. Somewhere around
30 carries would be nice.

Seahawks at home should win. Hope 
it doesn't come down to the end. 
Three close wins in a row is hard to 
come by. Go Hawks!

 

The Year of Washington Sports

As we are in the last week  of 2023
we look at the local college and
professional sports teams.
The highlight  has to be the Washington 
Huskies being undefeated  13-0
heading into the National Championship 
series. Has to be the best season ever
for them for whatever the final results
happen. Can debate with the 1990 team.
The Seahawks made the playoffs in
2022-23 season and see whether it
will happen again.

The saddest  news was the end of the
Pac-12 conference with everyone leaving
besides Washington State Cougars and
the Oregon  State Beavers. The primary 
reason was over TV money. Can blame
other schools  for leaving  however
we would have to subscribe to Apple TV
to watch our favorite team.

The Seattle Mariners had a good season 
just missing the playoffs by two games.
After the season, they traded Eugenio Suarez 
to Arizona  while Jarred Kelenic, Marco 
Gonzales and Evan White for basically 
nothing.It was a salary dump by the Mariners.

In other good news, the Seattle Kraken made
the NHL playoffs  in only their second season 
and won their first round and almost the 
second round going seven games.

We hope the future  will be bright for all
the sports teams in Washington.  

Mariners Sign Veteran Catcher

Though not official until after the

holiday it was announced  the

Mariners have signed veteran 

catcher  Mitch Garver to a two-year

contract for $24million.  In the minds 

of the Mariners an upgrade from

Tom Murphy who signed a few days

earlier with the SF Giants for two years

at $8million.

Garver will have to pass his physical

to make it official first. He likely will

get most of his at bats being the M's

primary dh. Could see him at first

base as well on occasion.

Not known for having a good glove

at catcher is why he will dh for the

most part.  The Mariner's acquired 

two catchers already during the

off-season. Seby Zalva in the trade

with the Diamondback's for Eugenio Suarez and Blake Hunt from the Tampa Bay Rays.

One of the two could start the season

with the Mariners as the third catcher.

They are both known for their defense 

than offense. 

Last season with the Texas Rangers 

Garver in a part-time role hit ..270

with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs.

Garver should be an upgrade at dh

where the Mariners struggled all

last season. He caught in 28 games 

last season. Whether he plays that

many games this next season at 

catcher will depend a lot on how

the Mariners are doing.  Garver is

a right handed hitter so could see 

him catch against lefties when Cal

Raleigh needs a day off behind the

plate. 

Now we see who else the Mariners

will acquire. They could use at least

one outfielder if not two with good

major league experience. Picking up

a third baseman would be nice to

otherwise have to depend on someone

is more of a utility player. We will get

to that later. Spring trading is now

less than two months away. Go M's.

Seahawks Win Again

The Tennessee  Titans lead at halftime 

10-3 however  Seahawks  turned around 

to win 20-17.

The Seahawks  had two touchdowns in

the 4th to win. The Titans were able to 

come back to take the lead after the 

first down however key catches by

Tyler Lockett  who was open a lot of

the game and catch by DK Metcalf 

setup the final score by tight end Colby

Parkinson  with 57 seconds in the

game made it hard for the Titans to 

tie  or win the game. 

The defensive line got to quarterback 

Ryan Tannihill including a sack to

clinch it. The Seahawks need to win

the final two games against the 

Pittsburgh  Steelers at home next

and then Arizona Cardinals in the

final game of the season. 

The Steelers beat Cincinnati  Bengals 

on Saturday so they look like a handful 

so it won't  be easy. Go Hawks!