It was just 10 months ago when the UW basketball team and its rival Oregon (18-1 overall, 6-1 Pac-10) lined up for the third time last season. It was in this game that the Ducks finally got over a five-game skid against Washington (11-7 overall, 1-6 Pac-10) by winning 84-73 in the Pac-10 Tournament.

Perhaps overshadowing that win, and the performance of Chamberlain Oguchi — who scored all of his 22 points in the second half — was the mid-game scuffle between Ryan Appleby and Oregon guard Aaron Brooks.

In the first half, Brooks — who thought that Appleby had swung his elbows through on a previous possession to brush him back — swung a vicious elbow of his own that hit the UW guard square in the mouth. The action resulted in instant ejection and also a two-game suspension. The first was served in the next tournament game, and the second will be the upcoming game against the Huskies.

“I’ve moved on,” Appleby said of the incident. “We’re 1-6 and we need some wins right now. I’m focused on that.”

Washington will get a chance to earn a much-needed win when it faces the Ducks tonight at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The team is not going to discount their rivals without Brooks, though.

“He’s a major part of what they’re doing,” said sophomore Jon Brockman. “Numbers-wise, not having him out there is going to affect their team, but their talent and their depth is enough to allow them to play at a high level.”

Brooks has been a top-tier player all season, and coach Lorenzo Romar said he is the top candidate to win Pac-10 player of the year. Brooks has also been leading one of the most interesting configurations in the league.

Ducks coach Ernie Kent has utilized the talent of his backcourt by allowing four of them to start. Alongside Brooks are sharpshooters Oguchi and Bryce Taylor as well as swingman Malik Hairston.

Replacing Brooks as the point guard will be freshman Tajuan Porter. Porter and Romar have met before when Romar coached the U.S. under-18 team. While trimming the roster, he cut Porter, who later said that he was looking forward to the Washington game the most through the Sporting News.

“That’s why I love the guy,” Romar said of Porter. “He will look for any edge he can. He plays with a chip on his shoulder.”

The Huskies will have to overcome the speed of Oregon and utilize its inside presence in order to get an edge over one of the best teams in the Pac-10. Romar believes that means that his team has to move its identity to the defensive side of the ball.

“If your identity is your defense and your offense is struggling, you can stay in the game,” he said. “But when your identity is offense and your offense is struggling, your defense can look really bad.”

The latter has been the case during Washington’s recent skid, and it is something Romar has been trying to change all season. He is hoping that a return to the home court will help it “click” for his team and propel them to victory in a do-or-die game.

Reach reporter Justin Chartrey at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.