The Washington Huskies basketball team start their season today versus McNeese St with high expectations. This is Lorenzo Romar's ninth year of coaching the Huskies and he has every reason to believe that this will be be the year that Washington could make it to the elite eight.
The Huskies return nine players from a explosive team last year that had a great end to the season after wining the Pac 10 tournament as a #3 seed and advancing to the Sweet 16 as a 11 seed for the third time since 2005.
The Huskies also return four out of the five starters from last year. The only person missing from the starters last year was Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter had a up and down year last year however, he did average 19.3 points per game last year.
To make up that crucial 19 points, Romar went out and signed three top recruits including Jefferson High School star Terrence Ross. Ross will help make up the scoring with his outstanding three point shot. . We also can't forget Sophomore Aziz N' Diaye. He ran a mile in five minuets and that will sure help the teams transition game that Romar loves to play.
Rebounding will be another key. Since the Graduation of John Brockman the Huskies haven't found that go to guys to get the rebounds. Lets hope that Aziz N' Diaye will help rebounding this year.
C.J. Wilcox is coming off a red shirt season. Wilcox is a 6-5 Guard. He should be a good rebounder and knock down the timely shot. Give him four years and he could be a major contributor in his Senior year.
The Huskies season ended last year when the West Virgina Mountaineers beat us 69-56. I just finished watching that game and from what I saw during that game this could be a good year. Which is not what I thought before I watched the game. If you can recall Pondexter was in foul trouble the hole game, yet they were leading at half 29-27. Furthermore, Washington was turning the ball over lots and taking bad shots at the wrong time. Could this be the year?
This is not the answer that most Husky fans want to hear. No. The Huskies will play in another weak Pac 10. Therefore the Dawgs will have to have a really impressive conference record to be a #1, #2 or #3 seed. To get a top 3 seed they will have to run the table like the 2008 Memphis Tigers team did in the C-USA. Which means they will be at least a #4 seed which would see them playing a number 1 seed in the Sweet 16. The Huskies were 11-7 in the youthful Pac 10 last year. A 21-9 record and a Pac 10 tournament title got them a 11 seed. So would a 13-5 record and a Pac 10 tournament title mean a 9 seed. All this means is playing the #1 seed a round early. So my answer is no. The Huskies will not make it to the Elite eight.
One thing that is on the Huskies side is their non conference schedule. The Huskies will travel to Maui for the Maui Invitational. This will mark the first time ever the Huskies will take place in the Maui Imvatational. The Field of eight teams could be the best ever with the likes of Mich. St., Kentucky, Uconn and Witchita St.
In the end the Huskies will look at this season as a productive season. They will be runners up in the Pac 10 Regular season next to UCLA, Semi Finalists in the Pac 10 tournament, a 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a heartbreaking loss in the second round. Though the Huskies will consider this a good season.
Just one other note about Huskies Basketball. The Huskies have already signed four high school players to their team next year Including Tony Wroten Jr. None of them are planning to pull a Terrence Jones who signed with Kentucky who said he would go to UW. By the way T.J. finished with 25 points and 12 assists for the Wildcats who won their game today 88-65 over ETSU.
No comments:
Post a Comment