Check out some of the Washington men’s basketball team’s digits:

14. That’s where the Huskies are ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls.

90.2. That’s the number of points the Huskies are averaging in their first four games, all wins.

56. That’s the margin by which the Huskies downed two-time defending Big Sky Conference champion Portland State on Nov. 15. That’s also one more point than the Vikings scored in that game.

Got your attention? The Huskies sure have made an impression on Montana coach Wayne Tinkle, whose Griz travel to Seattle to face Washington on Sunday evening in a game that will be televised regionally by Fox Northwest (Channel 60 on Bresnan cable in Missoula).

“It makes you worry that you could be in trouble,” Tinkle said with a laugh. “But I have a lot of confidence in our defense that we’re not going to allow a team to just run rampant for 40 minutes. I think we’ll try to do a good job of changing things around and keep them from getting into a rhythm. That’s going to be the plan, anyway.”

The plan worked well in the Grizzlies’ 68-55 win at Oregon, another Pac 10 team, last Monday. Tinkle switched between a man-to-man defense and a 2-3 zone in that contest, the first time the Griz have used the zone this season. It helped hold Oregon to 33 percent shooting.

“I told the guys how impressed I was that they were so sharp in (the zone) for not having played it much,” Tinkle said. “The guys are really focused on communicating and talked well. That’s a key in any defense, but especially in zone.”

A lot of the Huskies’ offense comes from a defense that is averaging better than seven steals a game.

“Washington puts so much pressure on the ball and they want to force you into quick, bad decisions and get out in transition,” Tinkle said. “That’s where they’re really strong. We know that if we take good care of the ball and take quality shots, it’s going to give us a better chance to get back and build our defense. That’s going to be a big key for us.”

The Griz have gotten a string of good performances from 6-foot-11 junior Brian Qvale, who is coming off of back-to-back double-doubles. Over the last four games Qvale is averaging 13.7 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 77 percent from the field.

Senior guard Anthony Johnson, who hails from nearby Tacoma, has scored 20 or more in all five Griz games and has made 41 of 44 free throws.

Junior Michael Taylor, who missed the Grizzlies’ first three games with a sprained shoulder, scored 12 clutch points against Oregon.

“That will bode well for his confidence here,” Tinkle said.

Sophomore 7-footer Derek Selvig, who has been battling a nagging foot injury, played 20 minutes at Oregon and snagged five rebounds. Tinkle said his availability will be determined game by game.

The Griz will need all the help they can get to keep the Huskies in check. Quincy Pondexter, a 6-6 power forward in a small forward’s body, leads the Huskies in scoring (24.0) and rebounding (12.0). Sophomore guard Isaiah Thomas (no relation to the former NBA great) adds 22.5 ppg.

“Pondexter is a slasher who can score with his back to the basket, runs the floor well and gets to the rim,” Tinkle said. “Their guards are so good at beating you off the dribble that if he’s around basket, he gets a lot of dish-offs for easy baskets.”

NOTES: Besides Johnson, Griz who grew up in the Seattle area include Ryan Staudacher (Kirkland), Mathias Ward (Gig Harbor) and Eric Hutchison (Longview). ... Tinkle started freshman guard Will Cherry in place of forward Raason Young against Oregon to better handle the Ducks’ pressure. He said he might go that route against Washington as well. ... Washington is outrebounding its opponents 42-26. The Griz own a 33-29 edge in that category. ... After shooting 47 percent from 3-point range in their first three games, the Griz are shooting 12.5 percent in their last two. ... Eighth-year Washington coach Lorenzo Romar is gunning for his 150th win at the school.

Sports editor Bob Meseroll can be reached at 523-5265 or at sportsdesk@missoulian.com.