The Huskies play their 10th football game of the disappointing season Saturday, and the first basketball game of a season still full of hopes.

Here's my game preview story, and a quick look at each:

UCLA (3-6 OVERALL, 2-4 PAC-10)
AT WASHINGTON (0-9, 0-6)
Kickoff: 7:15 p.m., Husky Stadium
Television: FSN. Radio: 950-AM.
The series: UCLA leads, 36-29-2. The Bruins have won six of the last seven meetings, including a 44-31 victory last season at the Rose Bowl.
What to watch: The return of former UW coach Rick Neuheisel has dominated the game-week conversation. On the field, both teams sense a chance at a rare victory. In some cases, the team’s problem areas pair interestingly, such as with UCLA’s running game, which ranks last in the Pac-10, going against UW’s run defense, which ranks ninth. This is Senior Day, and 19 Huskies playing their final home game will be introduced. This game also marks the final home appearance for UW coach Tyrone Willingham.
What’s at stake: Washington is still looking to shake its status as the only winless team in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and end its 11-game losing streak, which is a school record and the longest in the nation. The Huskies’ last win came on Nov. 17, 2007, so UW needs a victory today to avoid a full winless year. A Bruins’ loss assures a losing record and eliminates them from bowl eligibility.

And ...

Here's my hoops preview story and highlights box:

WASHINGTON (16-17 last season)
AT PORTLAND (9-23)
8 p.m., Chiles Center, Portland.
TV: CSN NW (Channel 179 on most Comcast systems).
Radio: 1150 AM.
Series: UW leads, 11-1, including five straight. The Huskies nipped Portland, 67-63, last season in Seattle.
Statistical leaders (returning from 2007-08): For Portland, G Nik Raivio, 12.6 ppg; F Luke Sikma, 7.3 rpg; G Ito Taishi, 3.2 apg. For UW, F Jon Brockman, 17.8 ppg and 11.6 rpg; G Venoy Overton, 3.2 apg.
Scouting report: The Pilots were picked sixth in the annual West Coast Conference preseason poll. They return five players that started at least 13 games last season and seven of their eight top scorers. Sikma is the son of former Sonics star Jack Sikma, and Raivio is the brother of former Gonzaga star Derek Raivio. … This game is expected to mark the UW debut for true freshmen Isaiah Thomas, Elston Turner and Scott Suggs. The Huskies might be without two big men: Matthew Bryan-Amaning, who took a hard fall in practice this week and whose availability will be a game-time decision; and true freshman Tyreese Breshers, who is out until at least December with a shin injury.
Next: 7 p.m. Tuesday, vs. Cleveland State, Hec Edmondson Pavilion

Here's my story on the incoming class of 2009, and here's the class:

ABDUL GADDY, 6-3, 170, G, Tacoma/Bellarmine
Listed by Scout.com as the sixth-best prep prospect in the nation and second-best point guard. Top vote-getter in Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram’s Best of the West voting. Led Washington Class 4A with 23 ppg as a junior, and also averaged six rebounds, five assists and two steals. First-team all-state and first-team all-state tournament selection, and became first non-senior in 12 years to be named Gatorade Washington Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

CHARLES GARCIA, 6-9, 220, F, Los Angeles/Riverside CC (Calif.)
First-team all-city selection as a high school senior. Enrolled part-time at Sacramento State, but didn’t play. In junior college, he grew into a first-team all-state selection, averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as a freshman while shooting 57 percent from the field. Has quickness to defend multiple positions. Counted on to contribute immediately when Jon Brockman and Artem Wallace leave after this season.

CLARENCE TRENT, 6-7, 230, F, Gig Harbor/Patterson School (N.C.)
Attended Gig Harbor High School through his junior year in 2007. Then moved to Findlay Prep School in Nevada as a senior, and currently attends the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C. Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 14 power forward prospect nationally. Averaged 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the 2007 National Prep School Showcase. Explosive. Can guard multiple positions.

C.J. WILCOX, 6-5, 180, G, Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS
A pure shooter with athleticism who somehow stayed largely under the recruiting radar until discovered by UW assistant coach Jim Shaw. Led Utah Class 5A basketball in scoring with 23.7 ppg. Also averaged six rebounds, 2.2 steals and two blocks. Unanimous first-team all-state selection. Father, Craig, played guard at Brigham Young University from 1993-95.

Here's the release from UW.

Here's a video of coach Lorenzo Romar's signing-announcement press conference.

After a delay of a couple of days, Washington will get around to introducing its men's basketball freshman class of 2009 at 3:15 this afternoon.

All of the previously reported commitments are still expected to move from oral and non-binding to written and binding.

The class is expected to include prize point guard Abdul Gaddy of Tacoma/Bellarmine (Here's a link to Doug Pacey's story about Gaddy picking UW.)
Power forward Clarence Trent of Nevada
Shooting guard C.J. Wilcox of Utah
And power forward Charles Garcia of City College of San Francisco.

The class has been rated No. 10 by Scout.com and 19th nationally by Rivals.com.

Here's more on the class from Dawgman.com.

UW is doing a nice job of conducting its football coaching search behind the scenes.

So, absent much real information, we updated our original coaching candidate list in today's paper.