Washington v. #16 Baylor

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Huskies (0-0)

#16 Baylor Bears (1-0)

Current odds:

Washington Huskies: (+180)

#16 Baylor Bears: (-220)

• The line for this game is Baylor by 5 points.

• All eyes figure to be on Washington freshman Isaiah Stewart when the Huskies face No. 18 Baylor on Friday in the Armed Forces Classic in Anchorage, Alaska. The Huskies need to replace 80.2 percent of their scoring from last season but have reloaded with a stellar freshman class led by the 6-9, 250-pound Stewart. Last season’s national high school player of the year, Stewart recorded a double-double in last Thursday’s 87-63 exhibition win over Western Washington and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Huskies. “I know I’m going to be the hardest working freshman in the country,” Stewart told reporters. “To me, no other player is going to outwork me. I know if I play hard, everything else will fall into place.”

• Picked to finish third in the Pac-12 preseason media poll, Washington opens with a formidable challenge against a veteran Baylor team that returns eight players from last year. Bears sophomoore guard Jared Butler made a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points in Tuesday’s season-opening 105-61 victory over Central Arkansas.

• The Bears’ impressive backcourt has received a boost from UNC Asheville transfer MaCio Teague, who made four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the opener. Coach Scott Drew was also pleased with the play of senior guard Devonte Bandoo, who scored 15 points and will likely serve as the team’s sixth man. Picked second in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, the Bears have questions in the frontcourt and could use a boost from 6-10 junior Tristan Clark, who missed much of last season due to a knee injury.

• The Huskies should have a decided advantage in the frontcourt against Baylor with seven players listed at 6-9 or taller on its roster, including 6-10 redshirt freshman Nate Roberts. “He brings incredible energy,” coach Mike Hopkins told reporters. “Probably one of the top two or three rebounders on the team, if not the best. Offensive rebounding, he’s all over the place. He’s gotten bigger. He looks like Dwight Howard after he gets out of the weight room.” Kentucky transfer Quade Green became eligible last week and could get the start at point guard in the opener next to junior Nahziah Carter, who averaged 8.1 points last season.

• Baylor is 11-4 against Pac-12 teams during the Drew era, including wins in the last four meetings.

• Washington faces four teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago during non-conference action in Baylor, Tennessee, Montana and Gonzaga.

• Baylor is 46-4 in regular-season non-conference games against unranked teams since December 2014.