Dawgs to square off against Pittsburgh

If there is such a thing as a must-win game this early in the season, Saturday is just that for the Washington men's basketball team.

That's when the Huskies (4-3) play host to No. 9 Pittsburgh (7-0) in a crucial non-conference tilt at noon at Bank of America Arena.

The Panthers are venturing onto the road for the first time this season and have had a fairly easy schedule thus far, winning by 20 or more points six times.

Junior forward Sam Young leads the smaller, quicker Panthers with 18.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Mike Cook and DeJuan Blair also average double figures for Pittsburgh.

"They don't make mistakes," UW coach Lorenzo Romar said of Pittsburgh. "They rarely turn the basketball over. They really do a good job of protecting their basket. They're not a defensive team that swarms you all over the place everywhere you look, but if you try to get inside on them, there's resistance there."

The Huskies have lost three non-conference games for the first time since the 2003-04 season and were dealt an embarrassing road loss at Oklahoma State last week. The Cowboys knocked off Washington 96-71 in Stillwater, Okla., handing the Huskies their third loss away from home in as many tries.

"We're all disappointed at this point," Romar said. "It is a young season at this point, though. If I had my choice of starting out 10-1 or 11-1 like last year and not making the postseason or being 4-3 in the beginning and finishing strong, I'd take that one."

Washington may be regaining one of its senior leaders this weekend, however. Sharp-shooting guard Ryan Appleby had been sidelined for the UW's first seven games with a thumb injury, but he suited up against OSU and has a chance to play tomorrow.

"There's been contact on his thumb, and he's weathered the storm," Romar said. "He's shooting good."

But Romar said that what Appleby brings to the table offensively won't necessarily be the cure for the UW's woes.

"Our biggest issue offensively is taking care of the basketball," Romar said. "Our biggest issue right now is guarding people, getting stops. We've got to get stops."

Regardless of his role, Appleby just wants to get back on the floor.

"I'm feeling better a little bit every day," Appleby said early in the week. "Hopefully [by Saturday] it'll be to the point where they'll let me play."

Washington has won 31 consecutive non-conference home games, a streak that dates back to 2003 when Gonzaga defeated the UW 86-62.

[Reach reporter Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]