Final Score: UW-91 GSU-74
Solid night for the Huskies as C.J. Wilcox led the way with a game high 22 points on 8-12 shooting, 5-8 outside the arc. Wilcox also added in 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0 turnovers. It was a stellar performance that helped make up for Terrence Ross' somewhat quiet night.
Tony Wroten Jr. and Darnell Gant each dropped 18 on the board. Gant had 10 of UW's first 13 points and shot 7-8 from the field, 2-3 from range. 18 is a career high and Wroten's performance has to be one of the best career starts for a freshman in UW history. Wroten again showed how good he can be with some nice assists, but he also showed how risky his gameplay can be with 4 turnovers. Wroten had a very nice block on a GSU break away that ended with the Panther player suffering what looked like a broken arm or wrist. Tough break, no pun intended, if the GSU player does indeed have a broken bone as this was the first game of the season.
Aziz N'Diaye had a dominating defensive effort tonight and showed why he is such an important player to our team. He had a game high 8 rebounds and tied his career high with 5 blocks. N'Diaye had a devastating block as a GSU player tried to drive the baseline. N'Diaye stepped across the key, jumped straight up and smashed the ball and player to the ground. N'Diaye later got T'ed up after throwing a ball into the oppositions face. The other player was T'ed as well for pushing N'Diaye.
Abdul Gaddy had a game high 6 assists and an uncommon 4 turnovers. He shot decently on the night scoring 7 points on 3-9 shooting. Gaddy played a team high 32 minutes and was one of the few seasoned players on the court at the end of the game.
Other notable highlights from the night include Alex Wegner, the new walk-on from Vashon Island, hitting his first points as Husky with a nice 3 pointer. He went 1-3 overall, 1-2 from the 3-point line. Brendan Sherrer nearly scored as well but threw up a rather ugly shot. It looked as if he wanted to dunk, but was too far out and had to try for a bank shot instead.
Rashaad Richardson of GSU hit 7 3-pointers and was one of the few Panther players with any real offensive rhythm throughout the game. Josh Micheaux had 8 rebounds for the Panthers and added 9 points.
What Needed Improvement:
Free Throws:
The Huskies were noticeably rough around the edges when it came to the charity stripe. If there is one area that Wroten can improve in, its free throws. He was 4-8 on the night. Wroten has a really hard shot that could be improved with adding more arc or a softer touch. Ross, on the other hand, was 4-4 from the line. Desmond Simmons went 4-6 and looked solid on the floor tonight.
Ball Control:
UW only managed 15 assists on 32 makes. Slightly lower than the usual output for the Dawgs. This goes hand-in-hand with the 12 turnovers the Dawgs had. While 12 is not terrible, several were due to silly mistakes and overplaying the ball. The Huskies need to reign in their handling a bit to reduce unnecessary errors.
What was Good:
Rebounding:
While it was not a completely dominating effort, 44-36, UW controlled the glass fairly well. GSU did manage some lucky offensive boards in the second half that bumped up their stat line. Gaddy and Wroten picked up an impressive 7 boards apiece. UW did manage to get 11 offensive boards, though 15 or 17 would be much better in my opinion.
Scoring Options:
This is not something I would normally write about, but I think its important to note who were the high scorers for the Huskies. Wilcox led all scorers, no big surprise there, but the fact that Gant and Wroten were right behind is fantastic. This should give Husky fans some hope for nights when Ross or Wilcox can;t get in a groove. UW should be able to get in the lane or find production from other players. Hikeem Stewart also came out and drilled his first shot, a 3 pointer.
The most noticeable thing from the night might have been the absence of Jernard Jarreau. Despite the blow out and both walk-ons playing, Jarreau did not step on the court. This implies two possibilities, either Jarreau is hurt or he is redshirting. The later seems more likely as I suspect we would have heard about an injury.
Final Thoughts:
UW struggled a bit on defense in the first half. GSU tied the game at 23 thanks to good shooting and poor defensive switches. In the end they got their act together and used their superior depth to wear down the Panthers. Shawn Kemp Jr., Hikeem Stewart, and Martin Breunig all saw between 7 and 10 minutes, but didn't have much of an impact stat wise. The Dawgs got the win they needed and looked fairly solid throughout. I predict Wilcox will lead the Dawgs in scoring for the first few games of the season as teams try to shut down Terrence Ross. Wilcox showed the ability to drive the lane and score against the post. Wilcox also has the ability to catch and shoot quickly with skill and precision, which opens up a lot more shot opportunities. If there is a dark horse candidate for Pac-12 POY, its C.J. Aziz showed himself to be effective against smaller players and zone defenses, something he struggled with last season.
I got to Hec-Ed early and watched the University of Portland-Florida Atlantic game. Portland won 70-65, but FAU should have won. The Owls (FAU) made silly mistakes at the end of the game that came back to bite them in the rear. The Owls were led in scoring by Greg Gantt who had 18 at half time and 23 when the final buzzer sounded. FAU's diminutive point guard, Raymond Taylor, absolutely refuses to dribble when he has the ball at the top of the key. He continuously would stand at the point and wave players towards him to run the offense. This is great for UW as backcourt defensive is our specialty and should be able to really harass FAU through their point guard. I predicted a 94-60 win for the game tomorrow against FAU, but after seeing both teams in action tonight I would be surprised if UW didn't drop 100 on the Owls and win by 40+.
Go Dawgs
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
University of Portland Game Preview
The Pilots return to Hec-Ed once more following a 20-12 season, 7-7 in the West Coast Conference. Last season UW beat Portland 94-72 with Justin Holiday and Isaiah Thomas leading all scorers with 20 points. MBA added 15 and Scott Suggs dropped in 13 of his own. Nemanja Mitrovic led the Pilots with 15, followed closely by departed senior Luke Sikma with 14.
It'll be two very different line-ups taking the court this coming Monday as the game's top four scorers for the Huskies and two of the top three scorers for the Pilots have either graduated or are injured. Sikma had dominated the glass as well with 16 rebounds accounting for nearly 60% of his teams rebounds, four times as much as his next teammate and twice as much as anyone on the UW squad.
Coming into the 2011-2012 season, Portland looks to be rebuilding their frontcourt. Losing 3 starters from last years squad is tough enough, but the Pilots lose their top two rebounders in Luke Sikma and Kramer Knutson who were responsible for almost 50% of the teams total rebounds. That is even tougher to overcome and 6-11 freshman Thomas van der Mars will be asked to help fill that void. Luckily for Portland, their backcourt seems stable and skilled, which will help alleviate the absence of experienced talent in the post.
Nemanja Mitrovic is one of the top 3-point shooters in the nation, hitting 93 shots on 201 attempts last year, slightly better than highly touted 3-point shooter Jared Stohl who graduated this past season. He returns as the Pilots leading scorer after averaging just under 14 points a game. At 6-5 and 200lbs Mitrovic matches up well against the UW defense and will definitely be able to compete. The Dawgs will need to throw their top defenders at Mitrovic to keep him contained.
Another returning (semi)starter for the Pilots is 5-10 160lb Tim Douglas. Douglas led the team in assists last season, but also led in the turnover category. Portland also brings back a starter in Eric Waterford, 6-1 180lb, who had the best assist to turnover ratio at 1.9.
UP posts some decent size with Riley Barker at 6-10 and van der Mars at 6-11. Both have a lot of work to do before they can match the productivity of Knutson or Sikma, but it'll have to happen if the Pilots want to compete this season.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Portland:
Tim Douglas 5-10 160lb
Eric Waterford 6-1 180lb
Nemanja Mitrovic 6-5 200lb
Ryan Nicolas 6-7 235lb
Riley Barker 6-10 225lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
Just like the past two reviews, and the rest of the season, I will continue to stress the importance of rebounding. Alongside free throws, nothing decides games more than how a team attacks the glass. With the loss of two extremely proficient rebounders, the Pilots will be looking for new players to fill the rebound column. UW can take advantage of this by using their more experienced rebounders to dominate the glass on both ends of the court. By boxing out their men in both the paint and the perimeter, UW can prevent missed shots turning into extra opportunities for the Portland sharpshooters.
Perimeter Pressure:
With a vast majority of Portland's talent coming from their backcourt, UW will need to push their defensive efforts out. I would be vastly surprised to see UW run a zone defense as that type of defense is prone to 3 point attacks. Man-to-Man is the way to go and it is where the Huskies always excel. Portland matches-up much better against the Dawgs than the other two teams in the tournament and as such, the Huskies should expect a much better performance out of the Pilots than the other two squads.
Get in the Paint:
The Dawgs face another inexperienced frontcourt, making them susceptible to sloppy fouls and easy buckets. By getting our tall guards and wings to pressure the lanes, we can open up a lot of opportunities for the smooth shooting of guys like C.J. Wilcox on the perimeter. This is a great chance for our big men to play against players with a little more height, though the strength aspect still appears to be less tested. N'Diaye should have a solid 40 pounds on his defender and can use his weight to back down his man for the easy lay-in or dunk.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-90 UP-70
While the Pilots have more talent than either Georgia State or Florida Atlantic, they do not possess the scoring talent and rebounding ability to compete with the Huskies. UW should take over fairly quickly with an aggressive rebounding attack to maximize second shot chances as well as preventing those for the Pilots. Mitrovic will likely have some success from range and the Huskies need to limit these shots as much as possible. If I am Romar, Wilcox is my go to man for the defensive assignment in this game. He has great athletic abilities that allows him to block shots with authority. In my mind, Wilcox has shown the ability to change shots on the perimeter nearly as effectively as N'Diaye does in the paint. All in all, UW should find themselves with another comfortable game in which Romar can learn a bit more about his team and which players really have chemistry together on the court.
It'll be two very different line-ups taking the court this coming Monday as the game's top four scorers for the Huskies and two of the top three scorers for the Pilots have either graduated or are injured. Sikma had dominated the glass as well with 16 rebounds accounting for nearly 60% of his teams rebounds, four times as much as his next teammate and twice as much as anyone on the UW squad.
Coming into the 2011-2012 season, Portland looks to be rebuilding their frontcourt. Losing 3 starters from last years squad is tough enough, but the Pilots lose their top two rebounders in Luke Sikma and Kramer Knutson who were responsible for almost 50% of the teams total rebounds. That is even tougher to overcome and 6-11 freshman Thomas van der Mars will be asked to help fill that void. Luckily for Portland, their backcourt seems stable and skilled, which will help alleviate the absence of experienced talent in the post.
Nemanja Mitrovic is one of the top 3-point shooters in the nation, hitting 93 shots on 201 attempts last year, slightly better than highly touted 3-point shooter Jared Stohl who graduated this past season. He returns as the Pilots leading scorer after averaging just under 14 points a game. At 6-5 and 200lbs Mitrovic matches up well against the UW defense and will definitely be able to compete. The Dawgs will need to throw their top defenders at Mitrovic to keep him contained.
Another returning (semi)starter for the Pilots is 5-10 160lb Tim Douglas. Douglas led the team in assists last season, but also led in the turnover category. Portland also brings back a starter in Eric Waterford, 6-1 180lb, who had the best assist to turnover ratio at 1.9.
UP posts some decent size with Riley Barker at 6-10 and van der Mars at 6-11. Both have a lot of work to do before they can match the productivity of Knutson or Sikma, but it'll have to happen if the Pilots want to compete this season.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Portland:
Tim Douglas 5-10 160lb
Eric Waterford 6-1 180lb
Nemanja Mitrovic 6-5 200lb
Ryan Nicolas 6-7 235lb
Riley Barker 6-10 225lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
Just like the past two reviews, and the rest of the season, I will continue to stress the importance of rebounding. Alongside free throws, nothing decides games more than how a team attacks the glass. With the loss of two extremely proficient rebounders, the Pilots will be looking for new players to fill the rebound column. UW can take advantage of this by using their more experienced rebounders to dominate the glass on both ends of the court. By boxing out their men in both the paint and the perimeter, UW can prevent missed shots turning into extra opportunities for the Portland sharpshooters.
Perimeter Pressure:
With a vast majority of Portland's talent coming from their backcourt, UW will need to push their defensive efforts out. I would be vastly surprised to see UW run a zone defense as that type of defense is prone to 3 point attacks. Man-to-Man is the way to go and it is where the Huskies always excel. Portland matches-up much better against the Dawgs than the other two teams in the tournament and as such, the Huskies should expect a much better performance out of the Pilots than the other two squads.
Get in the Paint:
The Dawgs face another inexperienced frontcourt, making them susceptible to sloppy fouls and easy buckets. By getting our tall guards and wings to pressure the lanes, we can open up a lot of opportunities for the smooth shooting of guys like C.J. Wilcox on the perimeter. This is a great chance for our big men to play against players with a little more height, though the strength aspect still appears to be less tested. N'Diaye should have a solid 40 pounds on his defender and can use his weight to back down his man for the easy lay-in or dunk.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-90 UP-70
While the Pilots have more talent than either Georgia State or Florida Atlantic, they do not possess the scoring talent and rebounding ability to compete with the Huskies. UW should take over fairly quickly with an aggressive rebounding attack to maximize second shot chances as well as preventing those for the Pilots. Mitrovic will likely have some success from range and the Huskies need to limit these shots as much as possible. If I am Romar, Wilcox is my go to man for the defensive assignment in this game. He has great athletic abilities that allows him to block shots with authority. In my mind, Wilcox has shown the ability to change shots on the perimeter nearly as effectively as N'Diaye does in the paint. All in all, UW should find themselves with another comfortable game in which Romar can learn a bit more about his team and which players really have chemistry together on the court.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Florida Atlantic University Game Preview
A quick update on conference foe Utah before we get into the FAU preview. Utah recently lost an exhibition game against DII opponent, Adams State 61-60. The game may have cost them more than their dignity. David Foster, their gigantic 7-3 senior center, is undergoing foot surgery that will keep him out indefinitely and possibly the entire season. They also lose junior guard Chris Hines for 2-4 weeks with a rib injury. Both players were hurt during the exhibition game. If the Utes were looking rough before, its even worse now.
Florida Atlantic is the returning Sun Belt champion, posting a 22-11 record, 13-3 in conference. With 4 returning starters and a line-up with 5 juniors and 3 seniors, the Owls have the experience and skill necessary to take the Sun Belt conference again. Joe Lunardi currently has FAU in one of the four play-in games as a 16 seed. The Owls return 3 of their top 4 scorers including leading scorer, Greg Gantt, at 14 points per game. Their top two scorers, Gantt and Raymond Taylor, are also their top returning 3 point shooters, each hitting about 33% with 60 or so makes.
FAU does lose their top rebounder, a category they definitely struggle in at only 33 boards per game. With their tallest player standing at 6-8 and Taylor at 5-6 it is no surprise that the Owls have trouble on the glass. This is an area where UW can gain a HUGE advantage using their clearly superior size. FAU will add a 7-1 transfer next season to their roster as he is currently sitting out his transfer year as per NCAA regulation.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Florida Atlantic:
Raymond Taylor 5-6 145lb
Alex Tucker 5-11 165lb
Greg Gantt 6-2 205lb
Jordan McCoy 6-6 185lb
Kore White 6-8 245lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
Washington should and will dominate the glass in this match-up. With such a ridiculous size advantage we can expect the Dawgs to come out with a +15 or more rebounding margin. This is the type of game where N'Diaye and Ross could both go for double doubles with points and rebounds as well as guys like Gaddy and Tony Wroten could possibly double-double with points and assists.
Push the Post Option:
This is a great time for UW to get some serious points in the paint, valuable experience for later in the season against bigger frontcourts and tougher match-ups. With N'Diaye having a 4 inch and 20lb advantage and Gant with 2 inches and 50lbs on his man, its tough to see either of them struggling significantly with posting up their man. Ross, Wilcox, and especially Gaddy will also have significant size advantages that will allow them to drive the lane as well as elevate for some nice three point attempts.
Force the Backcourt Pressure:
With our frontcourt having definitive size and skill advantages, the Dawgs can afford to push their backcourt defense a bit harder and cheat a little more on cutting off passes. The Owls scoring also finds most of its success on the perimeter so shutting down their guard play with tough, in-your-face defense will prevent many opportunities.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-94 FAU-60
As bad as GSU looks, FAU is a much better match-up for the Huskies. Not only is our backcourt anywhere from 4 to 12 inches taller than theirs, our frontcourt also has a huge advantage in size and strength. FAU is similar to UW in that their frontcourt is their weakness and the backcourt is their strength and our strength is much stronger than theirs by any stretch of the imagination. UW should have another dominate victory, but one in which our scoring in the paint will prove to be much more decisive than usual.
Florida Atlantic is the returning Sun Belt champion, posting a 22-11 record, 13-3 in conference. With 4 returning starters and a line-up with 5 juniors and 3 seniors, the Owls have the experience and skill necessary to take the Sun Belt conference again. Joe Lunardi currently has FAU in one of the four play-in games as a 16 seed. The Owls return 3 of their top 4 scorers including leading scorer, Greg Gantt, at 14 points per game. Their top two scorers, Gantt and Raymond Taylor, are also their top returning 3 point shooters, each hitting about 33% with 60 or so makes.
FAU does lose their top rebounder, a category they definitely struggle in at only 33 boards per game. With their tallest player standing at 6-8 and Taylor at 5-6 it is no surprise that the Owls have trouble on the glass. This is an area where UW can gain a HUGE advantage using their clearly superior size. FAU will add a 7-1 transfer next season to their roster as he is currently sitting out his transfer year as per NCAA regulation.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Florida Atlantic:
Raymond Taylor 5-6 145lb
Alex Tucker 5-11 165lb
Greg Gantt 6-2 205lb
Jordan McCoy 6-6 185lb
Kore White 6-8 245lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 190lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
Washington should and will dominate the glass in this match-up. With such a ridiculous size advantage we can expect the Dawgs to come out with a +15 or more rebounding margin. This is the type of game where N'Diaye and Ross could both go for double doubles with points and rebounds as well as guys like Gaddy and Tony Wroten could possibly double-double with points and assists.
Push the Post Option:
This is a great time for UW to get some serious points in the paint, valuable experience for later in the season against bigger frontcourts and tougher match-ups. With N'Diaye having a 4 inch and 20lb advantage and Gant with 2 inches and 50lbs on his man, its tough to see either of them struggling significantly with posting up their man. Ross, Wilcox, and especially Gaddy will also have significant size advantages that will allow them to drive the lane as well as elevate for some nice three point attempts.
Force the Backcourt Pressure:
With our frontcourt having definitive size and skill advantages, the Dawgs can afford to push their backcourt defense a bit harder and cheat a little more on cutting off passes. The Owls scoring also finds most of its success on the perimeter so shutting down their guard play with tough, in-your-face defense will prevent many opportunities.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-94 FAU-60
As bad as GSU looks, FAU is a much better match-up for the Huskies. Not only is our backcourt anywhere from 4 to 12 inches taller than theirs, our frontcourt also has a huge advantage in size and strength. FAU is similar to UW in that their frontcourt is their weakness and the backcourt is their strength and our strength is much stronger than theirs by any stretch of the imagination. UW should have another dominate victory, but one in which our scoring in the paint will prove to be much more decisive than usual.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Georgia State Game Preview
I'll be doing all three team previews for this week's games by Friday. My friends and I in the Dawg Pack have a lot of work to do getting all our materials prepped that will be fairly time consuming and I'm already going to be writing 3 review articles. I'll try to throw some mentions of how the teams have done in their other games in the tournament.
It appears that Aziz N'Diaye has been cleared to play by doctors as of today and should participate in the tournament this weekend. He will likely return as a starter in place of Desmond Simmons. We could also see him replace Darnell Gant in the starting 5. Simmons and Gant strike me as similar players, but Simmons is a better banger in the post and is a stronger rebounder, both things this team needs. Simmons showed a nice baseline shot in the exhibition game, a signature shot for Gant. On to Georgia State.
Georgia State is coming off a 12-19 season in the Colonial Athletic Association, 6-12 in conference. Last season they lost 68-62 to a McNeese State team UW beat 118-64. While the associative property does not directly apply to basketball, especially across seasons, it is a good indicator of how differently talented the two teams are. Overall Georgia State could be slightly better than last season. They sport 6 seniors and a junior on their roster as well as returning 4 of their starters from last year. The best word to describe Georgia State is "Inconsistent." Several player have shown the ability to score in double digits and add on another 6+ rebounds. They have also shown that they can be held scoreless. This resulted in GSU placing last in conference in several important categories, namely turnover percentage per game (21% of possessions, 14 per game) and points per possession (.93). These two things combined to make the Panthers a low scoring offense that also posted the second lowest free throw percentage in the nation at just over 59%.
The Panthers are a smaller team with only two players above 6-7 (6-9 and 6-10). Their star point guard, Devonta White, stands at 5-10 and will likely have troubles matching up against Abdul and Wroten as he gives up 5+ inches 30+ pounds.
Erik Buckner, 6-7 203lb, is their go-to guy. He led GSU last season with 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Buckner can shoot lights out at times as shown by a streak last season of 4 games where he went 33-39 from the field. I suspect Darnell Gant and Desmond Simmons will draw the defensive assignment.
Jihad Ali returns as a streaky, but deadly three point shooter. Without their 2 three point shooters from last season, GSU will need Ali to step his game up and find some consistency behind the arc. At 6-5 and 200lb he can also drive the lane and find some success. Last season he was forced to play the 1 and 2 spot, whereas his skill set is a better fit at the 3. I suspect C.J. Wilcox could draw this assignment if he remains in the starting 5 after blocking several shots in the exhibition opener.
Josh Micheaux is a big bodied 3/4 at 6-5 and 222lb. He is a solid rebounder and shot blocker with some scoring ability near the hoop. His free throw talents rival that of Aziz N'Diaye, meaning he lacks a consistent shot (53.9% on 48-89 shooting). UW will need to post someone bigger on Micheaux to limit the effects of his weight and strength.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Georgia State:
Devonta White 5-10 158lb
Josh Micheaux 6-5 222lb
Jihad Ali 6-5 200lb
Erik Buckner 6-7 203lb
James Vincent 6-10 267lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
UW had the narrow lead over SPU last game and needs to improve on boxing out their man and getting to the glass. Don't be surprised if Tony Wroten or Terrence Ross lead the team in rebounds in several games this season. They attack the glass well on defense and do a fantastic job of preventing their man from picking up the offensive board. I fully expect N'Diaye to lead us in offensive boards as his size and strength is immeasurably useful. If UW can control the offensive glass for second opportunities and take over on the defensive end to limit GSU's possessions, the Dawgs will seize the game early on.
Backcourt Defense:
GSU is extremely turnover prone and Washington is known for their guard defense. If we can keep fresh legs on the court and continually harass their point guards, UW will be able to get out in transition where they excel and hopefully pull off a few more fancy plays.
Limit Turnovers:
Washington did a fairly good job of controlling the ball against SPU. Wroten had some silly turnovers due to too fast of a pace being played, but that is something that comes along with having zero fear and also results in fantastic plays such as the no look to Martin Breunig in the post.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-88 GSU-56
The Dawgs have too much size and talent for GSU to compete. Their inconsistent offense should struggle against UW's defense and I predict a minimum of 15 turnovers and 7 blocks. Wilcox and Ross should find a lot of success once more as they have the ability to elevate over their defenders. Gaddy would do himself and the team a ton of good by taking his smaller defender to the rack for strong finishes and easy points. Gaddy showed the ability to hit the lane hard several times against SPU. I think N'Diaye can have a field day as well. Their big man is a slower player who can be beat if N'Diaye can throw in the occasional post move. Expect another exciting game for UW and other SportCenter Top 10 player from at least one of our guys.
It appears that Aziz N'Diaye has been cleared to play by doctors as of today and should participate in the tournament this weekend. He will likely return as a starter in place of Desmond Simmons. We could also see him replace Darnell Gant in the starting 5. Simmons and Gant strike me as similar players, but Simmons is a better banger in the post and is a stronger rebounder, both things this team needs. Simmons showed a nice baseline shot in the exhibition game, a signature shot for Gant. On to Georgia State.
Georgia State is coming off a 12-19 season in the Colonial Athletic Association, 6-12 in conference. Last season they lost 68-62 to a McNeese State team UW beat 118-64. While the associative property does not directly apply to basketball, especially across seasons, it is a good indicator of how differently talented the two teams are. Overall Georgia State could be slightly better than last season. They sport 6 seniors and a junior on their roster as well as returning 4 of their starters from last year. The best word to describe Georgia State is "Inconsistent." Several player have shown the ability to score in double digits and add on another 6+ rebounds. They have also shown that they can be held scoreless. This resulted in GSU placing last in conference in several important categories, namely turnover percentage per game (21% of possessions, 14 per game) and points per possession (.93). These two things combined to make the Panthers a low scoring offense that also posted the second lowest free throw percentage in the nation at just over 59%.
The Panthers are a smaller team with only two players above 6-7 (6-9 and 6-10). Their star point guard, Devonta White, stands at 5-10 and will likely have troubles matching up against Abdul and Wroten as he gives up 5+ inches 30+ pounds.
Erik Buckner, 6-7 203lb, is their go-to guy. He led GSU last season with 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Buckner can shoot lights out at times as shown by a streak last season of 4 games where he went 33-39 from the field. I suspect Darnell Gant and Desmond Simmons will draw the defensive assignment.
Jihad Ali returns as a streaky, but deadly three point shooter. Without their 2 three point shooters from last season, GSU will need Ali to step his game up and find some consistency behind the arc. At 6-5 and 200lb he can also drive the lane and find some success. Last season he was forced to play the 1 and 2 spot, whereas his skill set is a better fit at the 3. I suspect C.J. Wilcox could draw this assignment if he remains in the starting 5 after blocking several shots in the exhibition opener.
Josh Micheaux is a big bodied 3/4 at 6-5 and 222lb. He is a solid rebounder and shot blocker with some scoring ability near the hoop. His free throw talents rival that of Aziz N'Diaye, meaning he lacks a consistent shot (53.9% on 48-89 shooting). UW will need to post someone bigger on Micheaux to limit the effects of his weight and strength.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Georgia State:
Devonta White 5-10 158lb
Josh Micheaux 6-5 222lb
Jihad Ali 6-5 200lb
Erik Buckner 6-7 203lb
James Vincent 6-10 267lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
Keys to the Game:
Rebounding:
UW had the narrow lead over SPU last game and needs to improve on boxing out their man and getting to the glass. Don't be surprised if Tony Wroten or Terrence Ross lead the team in rebounds in several games this season. They attack the glass well on defense and do a fantastic job of preventing their man from picking up the offensive board. I fully expect N'Diaye to lead us in offensive boards as his size and strength is immeasurably useful. If UW can control the offensive glass for second opportunities and take over on the defensive end to limit GSU's possessions, the Dawgs will seize the game early on.
Backcourt Defense:
GSU is extremely turnover prone and Washington is known for their guard defense. If we can keep fresh legs on the court and continually harass their point guards, UW will be able to get out in transition where they excel and hopefully pull off a few more fancy plays.
Limit Turnovers:
Washington did a fairly good job of controlling the ball against SPU. Wroten had some silly turnovers due to too fast of a pace being played, but that is something that comes along with having zero fear and also results in fantastic plays such as the no look to Martin Breunig in the post.
Final Score Prediction:
UW-88 GSU-56
The Dawgs have too much size and talent for GSU to compete. Their inconsistent offense should struggle against UW's defense and I predict a minimum of 15 turnovers and 7 blocks. Wilcox and Ross should find a lot of success once more as they have the ability to elevate over their defenders. Gaddy would do himself and the team a ton of good by taking his smaller defender to the rack for strong finishes and easy points. Gaddy showed the ability to hit the lane hard several times against SPU. I think N'Diaye can have a field day as well. Their big man is a slower player who can be beat if N'Diaye can throw in the occasional post move. Expect another exciting game for UW and other SportCenter Top 10 player from at least one of our guys.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Seattle Pacific University Game Review
Final Score: UW-77 SPU-60
This will be a much quicker review than usual. UW plays Oregon in football today and tailgating is starting bright and early.
UW showed a lot of potential in last night's exhibition. They showed some good things as well as bad. Our offense is as potent as ever with a lot of scoring options. UW had 14 assists on 28 makes, which is around what our team did last season. Our defense was solid forcing 11 turnovers, 7 steals, and an amazing 10 blocks. SPU gave a valiant effort, but our team was much too quick, athletic, and skilled to overcome. Andy Poling and Jobi Wall each had 12 points for the falcons, but it took them a combined 10-31 to get the points. SPU's biggest key to remaining in the game was the superb job they were doing on the glass. UW managed to out rebound SPU 41-36, but the Falcons were fairly efficient at attacking the glass. The added height of their two 6-10+ players was a definite advantage.
Some quick hitting facts.
Four UW players had 10 or more points, three had 15 or more, and C.J. Wilcox led all players with 19. Wilcox still seemed to struggle offensively despite his high score. He was 5-12 from range, but missed some pretty open shots. This is something he needs to tack down, soon and preferably before any major non-conference game. 5-12 is 42%, a very respectable percentage, but Wilcox could have had another 2 or 3 shots go in without a doubt.
Terrence Ross led all players in rebounding with 8. UW also had 6 rebounds from Desmond Simmons and Tony Wroten Jr. UW only managed 10 offensive boards, a poor number in my opinion. The Dawgs felt the loss of Aziz N'Diaye and Matthew Bryan-Amaning in this instance.
A few thoughts on the players:
Our freshmen are pretty fresh, but some show lots of promise.
Martin Breunig really impressed me. He finished with 8 points on 3-6 shooting and 2-2 from the line (both were AND1's ). What I liked most was his ability to finish through contact. Breunig went strong to the hoop with both hands on lay-ins, which allowed him to finish his shots despite the fouls. Breunig held on solid as Tony Wroten threw him a pass with so much English on it, the Queen could have knighted it. Martin went to the hoop, made the shot, got fouled, and sunk his free throw. The place went nuts.
Tony Wroten Jr. will indeed be one of our top assist and play makers this season. He will also turn the ball over quite a bit. 4 assists and 4 turnovers. Admittedly, 1 or two of his turnovers were simply Tony getting two excited and overplaying the ball. He needs to slow down just a tad and make a bit smarter play. He will be one of my favorite players without a doubt. Wroten picks up where MBA left off getting super amped on big plays, yelling and chest pumping. It's fantastic and I'm glad to see someone is excited to make plays. Wroten also threw a great alley oop pass to Terrence Ross who was throwing down with authority all day.
Kemp has a ways to go before being a defensive threat outside the block. He plunders around a bit. There is a reason Simmons is the second post option. Kemp ran into foul trouble, picking up 4.
Jernard Jerreau had lots of foul trouble himself. He is long and lanky with a lot of room to improve. He only played 11 minutes so I don't have too much an opinion on him.
Hikeem Stewart is going to need to improve to be a legitimate point guard option.
Terrence Ross was monstrous. 6-8 shooting and a vicious transition dunk. After tipping the ball away, Ross chased the ball down, gathered it up, leaps up, jacks his arm all the way back, and slams home a brutal dunk. He was impressive throughout the game and as Romar said preseason, our wings will likely be our better post options. Ross, Wroten, and Simmons all showed the ability to finish inside as well as out.
Brendan Sherrer jumped in for the final two minutes and Alex Wegner got a minute as well. Andrew Andrews only saw 7 minutes of play time in what will be his only game this season.
All in all UW got the job done and won by 17. They had to opportunity to do more, but for a preseason game it wasn't a terrible outing. There is plenty of work to be done, but the fact that our players were able to play solid defense and get some good scoring in points towards a successful season. Our rebounding could use some improvement and Aziz N'Diaye is going to have a huge impact on how the Huskies play and succeed, that much is plainly obvious. People can criticize his offense all they want, but his defensive and rebounding contributions are immensely important. I liked what I saw out there. It was a bit sloppy as expected, but that is actually reassuring in a way. It means our coaches will continue to push our players harder everyday to get them to their full potential.
Go Dawgs!
This will be a much quicker review than usual. UW plays Oregon in football today and tailgating is starting bright and early.
UW showed a lot of potential in last night's exhibition. They showed some good things as well as bad. Our offense is as potent as ever with a lot of scoring options. UW had 14 assists on 28 makes, which is around what our team did last season. Our defense was solid forcing 11 turnovers, 7 steals, and an amazing 10 blocks. SPU gave a valiant effort, but our team was much too quick, athletic, and skilled to overcome. Andy Poling and Jobi Wall each had 12 points for the falcons, but it took them a combined 10-31 to get the points. SPU's biggest key to remaining in the game was the superb job they were doing on the glass. UW managed to out rebound SPU 41-36, but the Falcons were fairly efficient at attacking the glass. The added height of their two 6-10+ players was a definite advantage.
Some quick hitting facts.
Four UW players had 10 or more points, three had 15 or more, and C.J. Wilcox led all players with 19. Wilcox still seemed to struggle offensively despite his high score. He was 5-12 from range, but missed some pretty open shots. This is something he needs to tack down, soon and preferably before any major non-conference game. 5-12 is 42%, a very respectable percentage, but Wilcox could have had another 2 or 3 shots go in without a doubt.
Terrence Ross led all players in rebounding with 8. UW also had 6 rebounds from Desmond Simmons and Tony Wroten Jr. UW only managed 10 offensive boards, a poor number in my opinion. The Dawgs felt the loss of Aziz N'Diaye and Matthew Bryan-Amaning in this instance.
A few thoughts on the players:
Our freshmen are pretty fresh, but some show lots of promise.
Martin Breunig really impressed me. He finished with 8 points on 3-6 shooting and 2-2 from the line (both were AND1's ). What I liked most was his ability to finish through contact. Breunig went strong to the hoop with both hands on lay-ins, which allowed him to finish his shots despite the fouls. Breunig held on solid as Tony Wroten threw him a pass with so much English on it, the Queen could have knighted it. Martin went to the hoop, made the shot, got fouled, and sunk his free throw. The place went nuts.
Tony Wroten Jr. will indeed be one of our top assist and play makers this season. He will also turn the ball over quite a bit. 4 assists and 4 turnovers. Admittedly, 1 or two of his turnovers were simply Tony getting two excited and overplaying the ball. He needs to slow down just a tad and make a bit smarter play. He will be one of my favorite players without a doubt. Wroten picks up where MBA left off getting super amped on big plays, yelling and chest pumping. It's fantastic and I'm glad to see someone is excited to make plays. Wroten also threw a great alley oop pass to Terrence Ross who was throwing down with authority all day.
Kemp has a ways to go before being a defensive threat outside the block. He plunders around a bit. There is a reason Simmons is the second post option. Kemp ran into foul trouble, picking up 4.
Jernard Jerreau had lots of foul trouble himself. He is long and lanky with a lot of room to improve. He only played 11 minutes so I don't have too much an opinion on him.
Hikeem Stewart is going to need to improve to be a legitimate point guard option.
Terrence Ross was monstrous. 6-8 shooting and a vicious transition dunk. After tipping the ball away, Ross chased the ball down, gathered it up, leaps up, jacks his arm all the way back, and slams home a brutal dunk. He was impressive throughout the game and as Romar said preseason, our wings will likely be our better post options. Ross, Wroten, and Simmons all showed the ability to finish inside as well as out.
Brendan Sherrer jumped in for the final two minutes and Alex Wegner got a minute as well. Andrew Andrews only saw 7 minutes of play time in what will be his only game this season.
All in all UW got the job done and won by 17. They had to opportunity to do more, but for a preseason game it wasn't a terrible outing. There is plenty of work to be done, but the fact that our players were able to play solid defense and get some good scoring in points towards a successful season. Our rebounding could use some improvement and Aziz N'Diaye is going to have a huge impact on how the Huskies play and succeed, that much is plainly obvious. People can criticize his offense all they want, but his defensive and rebounding contributions are immensely important. I liked what I saw out there. It was a bit sloppy as expected, but that is actually reassuring in a way. It means our coaches will continue to push our players harder everyday to get them to their full potential.
Go Dawgs!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Seattle Pacific University Game Preview
SPU is coming in riding high after beating Arizona in Arizona 69-68. This makes their third straight win over a D1 opponent dating back to last season. They finished 20-10 last season with a 12-6 conference record. The Falcons, while DII, have shown they can compete with their DI opponents. Without Aziz N'Diaye the Huskies will have a little more on their plate as SPU sports a 6-10 240lb player and 6-11 240lb player.
Last year's exhibition was a blowout and this year's is likely to be the same. Sure, they beat UA, but the Huskies will be a bit more prepared, a bit more experience, and a bit more talented. Let's take a quick look at their roster and what they bring to the game.
SPU Roster:
Jonnie Washburn 6-2 175lb
Ryan Todd 6-2 180lb
David Downs 6-2 185lb
Riley Carel 6-2 190lb
Jeff Dorman 6-2 190lb
Riley Stockton 6-4 195lb
Josh Jordan 6-5 195lb
Alex Weber-Brader 6-5 195lb
Jobi Wall 6-6 215lb
Jake Anderson 6-6 210lb
Scott Morse 6-7 190lb
Kellan Moll 6-8 220lb
Cory Hutsen 6-8 230lb
Modou Niang 6-10 240lb
Andy Poling 6-11 240lb
Andy Poling was a beast for SPU last season. He was third in scoring at 14 points per game and second in rebounding at 7 rebounds an outing. At 6-11 he has great height and with 240lb he can muscle most players around. Poling also manged to average a block a game. Aziz N'Diaye would have been a great match-up for Poling. It'll be up to Darnell Gant and Desmond Simmons to contain the SPU big men. David Downs is their best returning guard with a 7 point per game average. He also had a team high 4 assists per game. Downs is the returning 3 point expert at 41% (35-86).
As a team SPU is fairly uptempo, averaging over 75 points per game and a decently respectable 35 boards per game. These are better numbers than some Pac-12 teams (yes, the competition is worse) and the Dawgs would be wise not to overlook the Falcons.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Seattle Pacific University:
David Downs 6-2 185lb
Jeff Dorman 6-2 190lb
Jobi Wall 6-6 215lb
Jake Anderson 6-6 210lb
Andy Poling 6-11 240lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Desmond Simmons 6-7 220lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Keys to the Game:
Get in the Paint Early
UW needs to establish their post quick and early to open up our perimeter shooters. Get the ball to Simmons on the block or Gant at the high post and let them work. UW can also drive the lanes and pressure their big men into sloppy fouls. Getting Poling and Niang out of the game early will help our cause immensely.
Attitude and Hustle
Playing in an exhibition game against a DII opponent can seem very unimportant in the grand scheme of things and statistically it is. What is important to remember is that these games help sort out real game team chemistry issues and allow coaches and players to find out how they'll react in a game situation. The Dawgs need to give 100% the entire game and not allow their ego get in the way of a quick and easy preseason win.
Get the Freshmen Some Minutes:
With 7 freshmen on the roster we have a lot of young talent that needs to get rid of the first game jitters and discover themselves at the college level. A lot of this talent is in the post, which makes it even more critical that they find confidence in themselves and their teammates to ensure success later in the season.
Game Expectation:
UW should break out quick and early with SPU tagging along for the first 5 or 7 minutes. UW's depth on the perimeter should open the game up. SPU's post will be tougher to handle and I suspect a majority of their offense will run off the block. The key to preventing that is controlling the backcourt with tenacious defense. Look for Terrence Ross to show off some athletic moves, Tony Wroten to wow with a few crazy passes, and our bench players to see their fair share of minutes. The court should mostly be bench players when the final buzzer roars as risking injuries to first stringer in an exhibition game is just plain silly.
Final Score Predicition:
UW-84 SPU-60
Romar always instills a great sense of defensive importance in his program and players. UW has much better athletes who should be able to shut down most of SPU's offensive capabilities. I think the offense will be a bit down after last season and more players will need to learn how to get in a groove, which will prevent a 100 point outing. Not saying it couldn't be done with the shooters our team has, but I'd be amazed if it happened. Easy game, easy win, lots of fun. Let's get the excitement started and get ready for some great basketball.
Last year's exhibition was a blowout and this year's is likely to be the same. Sure, they beat UA, but the Huskies will be a bit more prepared, a bit more experience, and a bit more talented. Let's take a quick look at their roster and what they bring to the game.
SPU Roster:
Jonnie Washburn 6-2 175lb
Ryan Todd 6-2 180lb
David Downs 6-2 185lb
Riley Carel 6-2 190lb
Jeff Dorman 6-2 190lb
Riley Stockton 6-4 195lb
Josh Jordan 6-5 195lb
Alex Weber-Brader 6-5 195lb
Jobi Wall 6-6 215lb
Jake Anderson 6-6 210lb
Scott Morse 6-7 190lb
Kellan Moll 6-8 220lb
Cory Hutsen 6-8 230lb
Modou Niang 6-10 240lb
Andy Poling 6-11 240lb
Andy Poling was a beast for SPU last season. He was third in scoring at 14 points per game and second in rebounding at 7 rebounds an outing. At 6-11 he has great height and with 240lb he can muscle most players around. Poling also manged to average a block a game. Aziz N'Diaye would have been a great match-up for Poling. It'll be up to Darnell Gant and Desmond Simmons to contain the SPU big men. David Downs is their best returning guard with a 7 point per game average. He also had a team high 4 assists per game. Downs is the returning 3 point expert at 41% (35-86).
As a team SPU is fairly uptempo, averaging over 75 points per game and a decently respectable 35 boards per game. These are better numbers than some Pac-12 teams (yes, the competition is worse) and the Dawgs would be wise not to overlook the Falcons.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups:
Seattle Pacific University:
David Downs 6-2 185lb
Jeff Dorman 6-2 190lb
Jobi Wall 6-6 215lb
Jake Anderson 6-6 210lb
Andy Poling 6-11 240lb
Washington:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Desmond Simmons 6-7 220lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Keys to the Game:
Get in the Paint Early
UW needs to establish their post quick and early to open up our perimeter shooters. Get the ball to Simmons on the block or Gant at the high post and let them work. UW can also drive the lanes and pressure their big men into sloppy fouls. Getting Poling and Niang out of the game early will help our cause immensely.
Attitude and Hustle
Playing in an exhibition game against a DII opponent can seem very unimportant in the grand scheme of things and statistically it is. What is important to remember is that these games help sort out real game team chemistry issues and allow coaches and players to find out how they'll react in a game situation. The Dawgs need to give 100% the entire game and not allow their ego get in the way of a quick and easy preseason win.
Get the Freshmen Some Minutes:
With 7 freshmen on the roster we have a lot of young talent that needs to get rid of the first game jitters and discover themselves at the college level. A lot of this talent is in the post, which makes it even more critical that they find confidence in themselves and their teammates to ensure success later in the season.
Game Expectation:
UW should break out quick and early with SPU tagging along for the first 5 or 7 minutes. UW's depth on the perimeter should open the game up. SPU's post will be tougher to handle and I suspect a majority of their offense will run off the block. The key to preventing that is controlling the backcourt with tenacious defense. Look for Terrence Ross to show off some athletic moves, Tony Wroten to wow with a few crazy passes, and our bench players to see their fair share of minutes. The court should mostly be bench players when the final buzzer roars as risking injuries to first stringer in an exhibition game is just plain silly.
Final Score Predicition:
UW-84 SPU-60
Romar always instills a great sense of defensive importance in his program and players. UW has much better athletes who should be able to shut down most of SPU's offensive capabilities. I think the offense will be a bit down after last season and more players will need to learn how to get in a groove, which will prevent a 100 point outing. Not saying it couldn't be done with the shooters our team has, but I'd be amazed if it happened. Easy game, easy win, lots of fun. Let's get the excitement started and get ready for some great basketball.
University of Washington 2011-2012 Preview
Back to Front. Left to Right.
Andrew Andrews. Alex Wegner. Brendan Sherrer. Jernard Jerreau. Martin Breunig. Shawn Kemp Jr. Hikeem Stewart. Desmond Simmons. Tony Wroten Jr. Scott Suggs. Aziz N'Diaye. Darnell Gant. Abdul Gaddy. Terrence Ross. C.J. Wilcox.
It has been a long time in the making (OK, so its only been since March, I'm anxious cut me some slack), but the 2011 season is just about here. 11:30am tomorrow I'll be lined up in front of Hec-Ed waiting for the 7pm Exhibition Opener against Seattle Pacific University. Sure it doesn't count towards our record, but after SPU beat Arizona last week, I'm pumped for a bit higher quality game (more on this in the game preview that will be up later today).
Washington finished the year with a disappointing loss to UNC in the NCAA Round of 32. UW had every chance to win the game, including a game winning opportunity with only seconds to go. Let us not remember these painful memories and think about the good things the team accomplished.
After a third straight NCAA appearance, Darnell Gant and Scott Suggs are poised to become the first Washington players in quite sometime, if not ever, to appear in four straight NCAA tournaments. Back to Back Pac-10 tournament Champions after a Pac-10 regular season title. UW finished the year 24-11, 11-7 in conference, good for third place. It was a disappointing season in the sense that UW was the unanimous pick to win the conference and after an an extremely proficient 6-0 start, it seemed as though UW could go undefeated in conference and dominate the title run. A 3 game losing streak to WSU, UO, and OSU on the road took away those dreams and Arizona took home the banner.
The biggest blow came soon after the tournament when Isaiah Thomas declared for the NBA draft. It was a somewhat surprising decision as Thomas had stated he would be coming back for his senior season. Thomas was drafted with the final pick and went to the Sacramento Kings.
UW is primed for another solid season, but a lot of questions remain with the graduation of three seniors and a star junior. How has the post developed? Who will step up to be the leader? Who will be the face of this team?
Key Losses:
Justin Holiday 6-6 185lb
Holiday was a terrific defender who suffered a bit of a down turn towards the end of the year. This was slightly overshadowed at the beginning of the year when his offense seemed to have hit its peak. He was hitting his jumpers, dropping threes all over the place, and was playing with a fire under his shorts. The second half of the season, Holiday struggled to get his shot together. Regardless, Holiday had enough consistency to help the perimeter open shots and get the ball to the posts. UW will miss him most for his defensive and shot blocking capabilities. He was also a strong rebounder due to his lanky arms that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Matthew Bryan-Amaning 6-9 240lb
Much like WSU will miss DeAngelo Casto, UW will miss MBA and what he brought to this team perhaps more than any other player. I know I cursed his name a thousand times for missed shots, poor free throws, etc, but it is because I saw how good he could play and it is frustrating when a player doesn't always meet his potential. MBA's senior season showed drastic improvement on his rebounding abilities, completing 10 double-doubles on the year. MBA also possessed some vicious dunking and blocking skills that made for exciting and entertaining plays each and every game. He was tough in the post and along side Aziz N'Diaye, the duo made up a brutal frontcourt that several teams struggled to match up against.
Isaiah Thomas 5-9 185lb
The face and star of the Washington Basketball squad last season and years past for that matter. He was poised to return for a record shattering senior season. I.T. could have broke the points, wins, assists, and numerous other records. He would have gone down as perhaps the greatest to play for UW. Better than BRoy, Nate, Brockman, Pondexter, Hawes, the list goes on. He was a fantastic scorer, who's hard work and tenacious attitude carried him above and beyond the call of duty so many times. If you don't believe me, remind yourself of the fact that Isaiah Thomas played 123 minutes out of a possible 125 in the Pac-10 tournament, missing only 2 minutes and 2 offensive possessions against Oregon. He also made the perfect shot in the Pac-10 Championship game to win it all, in overtime. The board lights up as it drains through the net. That is the stuff you dream of as a kid and pretend to have happen every day in practice. Unreal. The NBA lockout is just one more reason I.T. should have stuck around.
As opposed to my previous previews, I'm going to look at UW's players a bit more in depth. I know them better and the fan base that reads these articles are primarily UW fans. I'll go class by class starting with the freshmen and moving up to the seniors.
Freshmen:
Desmond Simmons 6-7 220lb
Simmons redshirted last season after nagging knee pains kept him from his full potential. Simmons returns as one of the most hyped up defensive players in a while. People liken him to a bigger Quincy Pondexter or Justin Holiday with the aggressiveness and hustle ability of Jon Brockman. Simmons gets up and down the court, dives after balls, muscles bigger players out of his way, and does whatever it takes to get the win. He is a real scrapper that will prove to be a huge asset. Throw him in at the 4 behind Gant and we have ourselves a bit more solid frontcourt.
Andrew Andrews 6-2 195lb
Yes, his first name is essentially his last. No idea why his parents would do that to him...anyways...He and Romar agreed he would redshirt this season as he chose to come to UW instead of prep school after the graduation of Isaiah Thomas. He is a very solid point guard with great speed and passing skills. His defense needs improvement as he often gets tagged with sloppy and obvious fouls. Once Romar gets him aligned with the UW defensive ways, Andrew(s) will be one of the better guards to come through UW. We'll likely see him garner some play time tomorrow against SPU, but that will be the last of him this season (a player can participate in exhibition games during their redshirt season).
Alex Wegner 6-7 190lb
Wegner is a local walk-on from Vashon Island. He averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds his senior season and was a McDonald's All-American nominee. He is listed as both a guard and forward due to his ball handling skill. Combined with his size, Wegner make a solid 3 prospect, but one that will likely not see a ton of time outside of garbage minutes. Walk-ons don't get scholarships for a reason, they aren't quite ready to play at the next level. Who knows, in a year or two Wegner could see some play time. I certainly expect Brendan Sherrer to see some play time his senior season.
Hikeem Stewart 6-2 175lb
Younger brother to twins Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart, who both played for USC, Hikeem has a basketball family. As a guard, Stewart will likely see time behind Abdul Gaddy and fellow freshman, Tony Wroten Jr. He has a solid skill set for a 1 guard with some shooting ability to allow him to combo as a 2. Being able to play either guard position should see him more play time. If Stewart can get his defensive game together and make smart decisions on offense, I see no reason he can't expect 10 to 15 minutes a game.
Jernard Jarreau 6-10 195lb
Jarreau is a skinny kid. That much is obvious, but what is not obvious is that he grew 7 inches at the end of his high school era and kept the point guard skills he had developed at 6-3. Now he is 6-10 with the ability to play from the 1 to 4 without too much concern. If Jarreau can add another 20 to 30lb of muscle, he could really get low in the post to bang for boards and points. For now he may have to extend his game a bit further out and use his size and jump shot to create opportunities.
Martin Breunig 6-8 210lb
A strong forward prospect from Germany with Vietnamese heritage (his full name is Martin Phong Ni Watt Breunig, seems Vietnamese to me), Breunig averaged close to a double double with 15 points and 9 rebounds. He played in the NBBL in Germany as well as their FIBA U18 team in the European tournament. Breunig isn't a developed back-to-basket type player yet, but his face-up game is pretty good. He has a great mid-range jumper that can extend to the arc. His height allows him to get up on the glass, throw down some dunks, and block shots.
Shawn Kemp Jr. 6-9 265lb
Son of famous Sonics legend, Shawn Kemp aka the Reign Man, Jr has been through a lot to get to UW. He has spent the previous two seasons committed to two different schools, both of which he was declared ineligible for due to academic reasons. With his schooling in line and tutors in place, Kemp Jr. is ready to roll and provide support for Aziz N'Diaye in the post. Romar expects Kemp Jr. to play at 250lb and has already helped improve his conditioning and endurance 10 fold. Kemp reminds me a lot of Tyreese Breshers who retired from basketball due to an undisclosed medical reason. He is a big boy who can throw his weight around to attack the glass. I haven't seen too much of his game play outside of a small scrimmage, but he looks like a decent enough 5. Good enough to give N'Diaye some rest time without a huge drop off.
Tony Wroten Jr. 6-5 205lb
Wroten is likely the highest rated player to ever come to UW. A local prospect, Wroten chose to stay home and represent his city in a big way. Known for his extreme passing abilities, Wroten is a pass first guard with the ability to attack the lane when he wants to. At 6-5 he will prove to be a tough match-up for teams like OSU where a potential starter is Ahmad Starks, nearly a foot shorter at 5-7. Wroten has been known to throw passes his teammates cannot handle and is a bit turnover prone. Don't be surprised if Wroten leads the team in both assists and turnovers. Romar will need to reign him in a bit to help the team out. A big question is whether Wroten and Gaddy can share the court due to their passing guard nature. Gaddy says yes and I agree. Gaddy showed great shooting improvement before his injury, which would allow the two to play at the same time. Expect some spectacular plays between Wroten and Ross or Wroten and N'Diaye.
Sophomores:
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Wilcox is one of the best 3 point shooters the UW has ever seen. He had a somewhat slow year marred by injuries that seemed to have shaken his confidence. All that being said, Wilcox proved himself at the end of the year when he scored 24 points in the second half against UCLA, averaged double digit scoring in the Pac-10 and NCAA tournaments, and drilled an all important 3 pointer in the Pac-10 championship game against Arizona. Wilcox has been overshadowed in the off-season due to the high expectations of Terrence Ross. When it comes down to it, Wilcox may be a less prolific player, but a much smoother shooter and he will find his success without a doubt. Expect Wilcox to be one of our top scorers and one of the best 3 point shooters in the conference and likely the nation. I predict Wilcox to be first off the bench if Wroten starts along with Gaddy, second if Wroten comes off the bench.
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Ross is without a doubt the most hyped player coming into the season. The coaches and players (both past and present) are assured that he is the best to come through the program. Isaiah Thomas says he'll be gone after this year and the NBA draft board certainly has him as a near lottery pick (top 10 picks). Romar thinks he could be one of the top scorers in the nation and if his play in the Pac-10 and NCAA tournaments were any indication of where his game is heading, I'd say Romar has it right. Ross had some utterly fantastic games throughout last season and struggled to find a groove in others. One thing is certain, Ross is not afraid to shoot and attack the hoop. He is extremely athletic, with long arms, a sweet shot, and the ability to throw down with the best. Ross should be a candidate for Pac-12 Player of the Year along with Jorge Gutierrez and Reeves Nelson.
Juniors:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
After a below average freshman year, Gaddy broke out at the start of his sophomore year with brilliant shooting and stellar passing only to be cut down with an ACL tear in practice. Now back in action, Gaddy looks as solid as ever. He is not wearing a brace and is expected to start tomorrows exhibition. Gaddy is player who, if he has an extremely proficient year, could head to the draft in the off season. I'd love to see him finish his four years and break Will Conroy's assists records.
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb
The 7 footer is even bigger this year, adding on at least 10 pounds of muscle. With an improved offensive game, N'Diaye is the biggest key to a successful season. If he has truly turned a corner with his hands and back-to-the-basket game, N'Diaye will be a terrifying player to go up against. He could easily average a double double. It would not surprise me to see him lead the conference in rebounding and blocks. Heck, he could be one of the top rebounders in the nation if he steps his game up. My biggest wish is for his free throw shooting to see drastic improvement. If Aziz can become a true post threat, UW could make a great run at the conference title as well as a deep run in the NCAA.
Seniors:
Brendan Sherrer 6-8 255lb
In his third season as a walk-on, Sherrer has begun to really draw notice from his peers and coaches. The Human Victory Cigar could soon put that title on the line as I suspect we will see Sherrer on the court for legitimate minutes and not just garbage time. How much remains to be seen, but don't be surprised when Sherrer is sitting at the scorers' table during the first half. From Dawg Pack to Player, Sherrer's journey is one I wish I could travel. He is a tough, dedicated player with a great attitude. He needs to start becoming more offensively minded as his time on the court is usually spent running around screening anything and everything. It's actually kind of comical. Sherrer is one of those players who can provide defensive depth during foul trouble situations or high speed games where rest is needed for our starters.
Scott Suggs 6-6 195lb
Scott Suggs is the third head of UW's three point shooting trio. Suggs showed off his newly acquired talents this past year driving the lanes and working the attack from more than just a spot and shoot position. Out currently with a broken foot, Suggs is hoping to return in time for the game in St. Louis, but likely will not return until the December match-ups against Marquette and Duke. Suggs could hae a breakout senior year as is common in Romar's tenure. He could be the rock the team leads on in close games as his senior leadership and experience is crucial.
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Gant is the first redshirt senior Romar has ever had. Gant showed a big improvement in his rebounding game in the second half of last season and his scoring has also taken a turn for the better. Gant is another player the season success will rely on. UW does not have a ton of size combined with experience in the post and it will be important Gant remains healthy, active, and successful on both ends of the court. Gant needs to pick up where he left off: attacking the glass, and taking the open shots. I'd like to see him drive the lanes more when he receives the ball on the wings.
Predicted Starting Line-Up:
Abdul Gaddy 6-3 185lb
C.J. Wilcox 6-5 185lb
Terrence Ross 6-6 195lb
Darnell Gant 6-8 230lb
Aziz N'Diaye 7-0 260lb (Will be out against SPU with a concussion, Desmond Simmons will start)
That may be the tallest line-up UW has ever garnered. Heck, our shortest player is 6-2. Without Aziz against SPU we get a glimpse of the struggles we could face down low when he finds himself in foul trouble.
What to Expect:
This could be another topsy turvy season for UW as a lot of questions remain unanswered. If UW can overcome their somewhat youthful roster and use their new found size to great advantage, UW should be dancing in March once again. Several players appear like they could be NBA level talent, its a matter of living up to the expectation. UW will also needs its bench to fill in the holes and step up their games. All told, UW should be one of the top teams in conference without a doubt. How good they can be remains to be seen. Romar always seems to have them ready by post season, but we have to get to the post season first before we can truly prepare for it. With Ross, Wroten, Gaddy, and Aziz leading the way I see no reason UW can't compete with UCLA and UA to take the title. KenPom is predicting a 12-6 conference record, but only predicts two losses (on the road at UA and UCLA, which I agree will be tough). Personally, a 14-4 record sounds about right. I fully predicted 18-0 and I fully believe it should have happened. This year I am a little more cautious and apprehensive. We could do as well as 16-2 or as bad as 12-6. A lot remains to be seen and hopefully the non-conference schedule answers our questions early so the Duke/Marquette games can be exciting and competitive wins for the Dawgs. Let's hope this team can pull through and break that Sweet 16 barrier. It would go a long way in helping our program step into the limelight as well as help our recruiting take the next step forward.
Go Dawgs!
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