Washington and Nevada head into their game at Reno, Nev., on Saturday following season-opening wins behind influential players who arrived via the transfer portal.
Great Osobor, formerly of Utah State, had 15 points, 17 rebounds and six steals in Washington’s 79-73 win over UC Davis at Seattle on Tuesday.
Cal Poly transfer Kobe Sanders scored 27 points, 24 in the second half, in Nevada’s 91-75 win over visiting Sam Houston State on Monday.
Osobor, who followed Washington coach Danny Sprinkle from Utah State, became the first major conference player with at least 15 points, 17 boards and six steals in a game since Blake Griffin at Oklahoma in 2008-09. Griffin had 20 points, 19 rebounds and six steals in a win over Mississippi Valley State that season.
Osobor, a preseason All-Big Ten selection, added three assists and two blocked shots in his 38 minutes.
Sprinkle was critical of Osobor going 7-for-16 at the free-throw line, committing four fouls and having six turnovers.
“He knows me, and I know him better than anybody, I’d say a C-minus,” Sprinkle said when asked to assess Osobor’s performance. “As good as his stat line was, he missed nine free throws. I’m really proud of his 17 rebounds because … he was down there battling, and they were being physical with him, too.
“He has to make more free throws, and he can’t have six turnovers. He’s too good of a player to do that.”
Sanders missed his first four shots in Nevada’s win, but he made 9 of 10 during a stretch in the second half when the Wolf Pack pulled away. He made 9 of 14 shots from the field for the game, 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Sanders, whom coach Steve Alford labeled a “6-foot-9 point guard,” also had six rebounds and four assists.
“He was just more aggressive,” Alford said of Sanders’ performance in the second half. “The first half was totally understandable. Joining a new team, a team that’s been winning. It’s more about fitting in.”
The Wolf Pack’s Nick Davidson added 26 points and 10 rebounds in the opener.
–Field Level Media
