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Welcome to Romarville. Where, going into the 2009-10 season, the Washington Husky basketball program is flying high.
At least, so it seems. And why shouldn’t the Huskies have confidence? They’re the defending Pac-10 champions, and even though a lot of the experts think Cal has a legitimate shot at their title, not very many people are expecting a let down.
Despite losing Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon, the Dawgs bring back just as much talent, and bring in just as much talent. Which leads to expectations that are just as good.
Of course, Lorenzo Romar and the huskies have been in this situation before. Coming off of their second consecutive Sweet 16 performance, the Huskies were featured on Sports Illustrated as a Sweet 16 contender, and climbed into the top ten in the polls in 2006-07, before crashing and burning, not even to be selected by the NIT. Even more mediocrity followed, as the Huskies finished below .500 the following season.
The cause was the disappointing freshman class of 2006, where Quincy Pondexter was the only remaining member midway through his Sophomore year.
Ironically, Quincy Pondexter is now the reason that the Huskies will have to ability to put a halt to the rollercoaster that has been Husky basketball in the last ten years, and possibly create a Pac-10 dynasty.
To do so, is much easier said than done.
The Huskies still have a couple questions that need to be answered before we can book our tickets for the Sweet 16.
Should the loss of Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon be overlooked?
Washington lost nearly 30 points to the graduation of their senior leaders, and nearly 12 rebounds a game from Jon Brockman alone which led to Washington being the most dominant rebounding team in the Pac-10.
The scoring is hoped to be replaced in the back court, where with the arrival of Abdul Gaddy, Isaiah Thomas will be moved more into an off guard position, like Dentmon last season, which should lead to increased scoring opportunities, and more numbers.
Perimeter shooting could be an issue as well where Dentmon was the huskies only consistent threat. Either Isaiah Thomas needs to improve in this area or Romar will have to rely on bench contributors such as Elston Turner.
In the paint, the Huskies are hugely depending on the emerging and maturation of Mathew Bryan Amaning. The 6-9 240 pound Brit has shown tons of potential his first two years, where dawg fans hope that his Junior year is much more like the 23 point 12 board performance he had against Portland State without Jon Brockman taking the load off of him.
Compared to most of the conference slate where Amaning wasn’t the factor inside the Huskies had hoped for.
It's not a gimme that the Huskies will not miss these two.
Is Quincy Pondexter going to be ‘The’ guy
When the Washington Huskies needed a basket Jon Brockman willed the ball into the basket. When the Huskies needed to turn the tide, or stop the bleeding, Jon Brockman would not be denied on the boards. When the Huskies needed a leader, Jon Brockman would make his voice heard.
Jon Brockman is now in the NBA, and Lorenzo Romar has made it abundantly clear that this is Quincy Pondexter’s team.
A surprising notion three years ago when Quincy Pondexter was a hot head freshman from Fresno who thought he was one and done material.
Pondexter has the tools. The ability to handle the ball around the perimeter, a shot that gets more consistent each year, and a growing ability to score inside the paint. Last season proved that Pondexter was an improving player.
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