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October 30th,
2006
By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
Broadcast Basketball
Washington
Huskies
Overall Rank:
#16
Conference
Rank: #3 Pac-10
2005-06:
26-7, 13-5, 2nd
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 Washington is
done rebuilding. Despite the loss of two NBA draft picks, the
Huskies have more talent now than they have had during the
recent string of success. That’s reloading. The problem is
that the upperclassmen on the roster have a combined total of
two starts over their careers at UW. Last year’s great
recruiting class will be this year’s stars and this year’s great
recruiting class might have a little stardom in the near future
as well.
Who’s Out:
Three
starters are gone in Brandon Roy, Bobby Jones and Jamaal
Williams. Those are the only three players who averaged over
ten points per game with 20.2, 10.4 and 13.8, respectively.
Mike Jensen earned 12 starts during his final campaign in
Seattle, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. Seldom used
Zane Potter has also run out of eligibility.
Who’s In:
Incoming
freshmen Spencer Hawes, Quincy Pondexter and Adrian Oliver could
all earn starting jobs in November. Hawes, a 6-11 center, has
all the tools necessary to be a dominate force in the Pac-10.
He can score inside and out and his hard work should make him a
lottery pick whenever he decides his time at UW is up.
Pondexter has continued to work on his perimeter shooting and
with a little consistency there, the 6-7 small forward will be a
great player. Pondexter has amazing quickness and can slash to
the basket with the best of them. Oliver, a combo guard, is a
tremendous scorer, who averaged 26.1 points per game last year
and will provide valuable depth on the perimeter. Sharpshooting
forward Phil Nelson gets lost in the shuffle, but is still a
highly touted recruit. Once strength is gained so Nelson can
more effectively attack the rim, the 6-8 Keizer, Oregon product
will make some noise in Seattle. A couple redshirt freshmen
will look to battle for minutes. Harvey Perry is a long and
athletic defensive specialist who missed last year with a back
injury. Joe Wolfinger will use his seven foot frame to provide
another big body off the bench. Zach Johnson, a 6-7 center, is
expected to miss the season with a knee injury and delay his
debut for the Huskies.
Who to Watch:
Justin Dentmon and Ryan Appleby will have to replace the
perimeter production of Roy. Dentmon averaged 8.3 points and
3.8 assists as a freshman. The 5-11 Carbondale, Illinois
product took over the point guard duties early and surprised
everybody with his solid season. A little more consistency and
little less turnovers and Dentmon will be one of the elite point
guards in the conference. Appleby is the most dangerous long
range shooter on the team. He excelled coming off the bench
last year and may end up in that role again if newcomers Oliver
or Perry can handle the starting duties. Joel Smith will be in
the mix as well after averaging 3.7 points per game last year.
Final
Projection:
After a freshman
season in which Jon Brockman averaged 8.4 points and a team high
6.5 rebounds, bigger things are expected this year from the 6-7
forward. And with two freshmen expected to join him up front,
Brockman is suddenly the elder statesman in the paint. Having
his close friend Hawes by his side, there won’t be any chemistry
issues with two youngsters at the four and five. Hans Gasser
and Artem Wallace provided emergency depth last year and will do
the same this year. The youth will cause some problems, but the
sheer talent on this team will keep Washington in any game. If
Coach Lorenzo Romar can keep his team together through the
inevitable bumps early in the year, the Huskies can compete with
UCLA and Arizona for the top spot in the Pac-10.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Justin Dentmon,
Sophomore, Guard, 8.3 points per game
Ryan Appleby,
Junior, Guard, 7.9 points per game
Quincy Pondexter,
Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
Jon Brockman,
Sophomore, Forward, 8.4 points per game
Spencer Hawes,
Freshman, Center, DNP last season
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