Happy Thursday, Husky fans. Hopefully this Morning Haul starts your day off well. We’ve got Huskies football articles this morning because apparently there is never an off season for college football!

Lisa Horne of Bleacher Report says anything less than a Rose Bowl berth next season will be a major letdown and could lead to Steve Sarkisian’s firing.

For some teams, seven bowls in 12 years is a pretty successful run. Four head coaches in 13 years? Well…not so much. Washington is yet again at another turning point in the football program’s direction, only this time it’s under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

 

He points to last year’s victory over No. 8 Stanford as the “ah-ha” moment of his career. The Cardinal — who finished fifth in the nation against the run — only allowed three players to go for more than 100 yards against them last season…Sankey had 144 [yards] in the win…[his] 1-yard touchdown run against the Cardinal, coming on fourth-and-1, brought the Huskies back to life and swung the momentum back their way.

 

Bob Condotta brings us two stories, the first being that Desmond Trufant will join other top NFL prospects in New York for the NFL Draft.

The NFL announced today that Desmond Trufant is one of 23 players who will attend the Draft, which begins April 25 in New York…Trufant will be the first UW player to attend the NFL Draft, (or at least the first since that began being a big deal).

 

The charge might make it more likely that Seferian-Jenkins could miss games in the 2013 season. The university released a statement announcing that Seferian-Jenkins remains indefinitely suspended.

Moser hails from Grant HS in Portland and originally committed to Arizona, then landed with UCLA. Coming out of high school, he was ranked in the top-100 prospects and was heavily recruited.

After a season at UCLA, in which he saw very little playing time, Moser transferred to UNLV. Before Anthony Bennett arrived, Moser starred for the Rebels and was considered a dark horse National Player of the Year candidate entering this season.

However, the arrival of Bennett displaced Moser to the small forward slot. This, combined with him dislocating his elbow early in the season, made it difficult for him to repeat his success from the year prior.

Now with a program that will allow him to compete at his natural power forward position, Moser will look to return to averaging 14 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, rather than his 7.1 and 6.1 averages of last season.

With the departure of Aziz N’Diaye from an already weak frontcourt, Moser will slide right in alongside Shawn Kemp Jr. and Perris Blackwell. Add in Jernard Jarreau, Desmond Simmons and Gilles Dierickx and the Huskies should have one of the deepest and most talented frontcourts in the Pac-12.

A lineup featuring Nigel Williams-Goss, Andrew Andrews, C.J. Wilcox, Moser and Blackwell will be the most athletic team Lorenzo Romar will have fielded since the Nate Robinson/Brandon Roy eras.

While the loss of Aaron Gordon hurts, the addition of Moser almost completely makes up for it. In all likelihood, Gordon would have only stayed one year, like Moser. There are few players in the country that are as talented as Gordon, but Moser has the potential to match his numbers due to experience and talent of his own.

Again, nothing has been confirmed by the UNLV athletic department, but Mike Grimala of RunRebs.com talked to UNLV head coach Dave Rice, who had this to say:

Per Dave Rice, Mike Moser will transfer and play elsewhere next season. Moser officially informed the team today

— Mike Grimala (@MikeGrimala) April 5, 2013

Rice on Moser: “I told Mike I was grateful for the two years we got to coach him, and I’m very excited for Mike in his new opportunity.”

— Mike Grimala (@MikeGrimala) April 5, 2013

Washington is the rumored destination for Moser, but Rice couldn’t confirm.

— Mike Grimala (@MikeGrimala) April 5, 2013

Once the reports are confirmed, we will have further analysis right here on The Husky Haul!

I opted not to watch the game and instead played in my rec league hoops game where we lost by 30 points. I still think I made the right call. NWG had a good game. In 15 minutes, he shot 4-for-6 from the field and missed his only three (although he did win the 3-point contest the day before). He finished with 10 points, six assists and two blocks. Solid all around, no doubt.

But then there is Gordon’s line.

To put that in perspective, only 10 people have scored more points than him in a McDonald’s All American Game. Some of those names? Jordan, Pierce, James and Durant. On the other hand, other names include Eddie Curry and Jonathan Bender. But still…

So, I didn’t watch the game but I still tortured myself by looking at the stat lines and then watching highlights on YouTube. It got me thinking – how filthy would this team be WITH Aaron Gordon in 2013-2014? Pair Gordon with NWG, Darin Johnson and Jahmel Taylor and we’re talking about a top-5 recruiting class. Pair that group with C.J. Wilcox (who I am assuming will return to school after his struggles during Pac-12 play), Andrew Andrews, Shawn Kemp Jr., Jernard Jarreau and Paris Blackwell, and we’re talking about a deep team lead by veterans paired with immensely talented freshmen.

Obviously that’s not reality – we’re going to battle with what we have and that doesn’t include Aaron Gordon. However, and maybe this is the eternal UW optimist in me, but Lorenzo Romar’s most talented and successful teams have been guard heavy.

When highly touted big men have come in (Hawes, Brockman, N’Diaye), UW has struggled. Granted, Brockman set records, but the only time his teams had postseason success was with talented perimeter players (Roy in 2006 and I.T. and Pondexter in 2009).

Without a true big man, the Huskies will look back to the glory days with Will Conroy, Nate Robinson and Brandon Roy in the backcourt. Photo via seattlesportsnet.com

The 2004 out-of-nowhere team ran essentially four guards out there with Nate Robinson, Will Conroy, Tre Simmons and Bobby Jones (who played the 4 but was built like a small forward/guard) and then rotated big men with Hakeem Rollins and Mike (gulp) Jensen.

The 2005-2006 team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tourney only had a slightly better low post option with Jamaal Williams, but was still dominated by guards.

Like I said, this could just be my homerism, but history doesn’t lie – Romar likes to coach athletic, fast teams that can run and dominate the perimeter. The guards he is bringing in are really good. Will they develop? Maybe; I hope so. NWG is widely recognized as a top-10 guard in the country – but then again, Abdul Gaddy was ranked No. 2 overall, behind only John Wall in 2009.

Unfortunately, after two lackluster seasons that were preceded by several years with postseason play, Husky fans are holding this program to higher standards and missing out on big time recruits just isn’t acceptable to us.

So now we wait – we wait until April when Wilcox decides what to do about the draft, then we wait until October when practice starts. Don’t get me wrong, I am fired up for Nigel Williams-Goss. A backcourt of NWG and Andrews oozes with athleticism, and you layer in Wilcox with guys who can get him the ball along with functional guys up front and there is tons of potential there. I hope history repeats itself with a guard heavy rotation.

July 13, 2012;Alexandria, VA USA;USA West guard Nigel Williams-Goss (right) dribbles up court against USA Midwest guard JaJuan Johnson (left) during the Nike Global Challenge at Episcopal High School. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

While UW may have lost out on one McDonald’s All-American, the Huskies still have one committed: Nigel Williams-Goss. After compiling an award-laden senior season at Findley Prep (Nev.), he topped it off with the McDonald’s All-American honor.

He joined 23 of the other top high school recruits in Chicago for the game and showed why he was invited.

He began the week as a competitor in the 3-point shooting contest, beating Desoto (Texas) product and Duke signee Matt Jones for the title.

A day after winning the 3-point crown, Williams-Goss helped lead the West to a 110-99 victory over the East.

An alley-oop pass that was monstrously thrown down by Aaron Gordon capped off his 10-point, six-assist performance. Gordon showed his flashy dunking skills throughout the game, eventually being named MVP for his 24 points and eight rebounds.

Gordon made more shots than anyone but Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker attempted, stealing the show. Williams-Goss was none too shabby, though. His 10 points came on 4-of-6 shooting in just 15 minutes.

Not only did he compete with the top players in the country, he had arguably the second or third most efficient game of them all. Add in that he won the 3-point contest and there is reason to believe NWG was one of the most impressive players in Chicago.

Many fans are still disappointed Gordon’s Excel spreadsheet didn’t point him toward Washington, the Huskies are still getting one of the best players in the nation in Williams-Goss.

Not only did he show he is as talented of a guard as there is, he has always been known for his leadership qualities. Before he was a 5-star, McDonald’s All-American, before people raved about his passing and shooting, everyone said his best quality was his leadership and maturity.

One of the few players to play all four years at Findley Prep, Williams-Goss picked up traits from all the talented high school seniors that went through there. Thanks to that, he has become one of the most well-rounded players in the country and the Huskies can’t wait to have him.

Few people know for certain where he will choose and those who do know haven’t disclosed anything. In the past weeks, there have been flurries of tweets suggesting where Gordon will go to school. They all agree on something: He will go to college, most likely at one of the four aforementioned schools. What they differ on is exactly where.

Marshall Cherrington doesn’t think the times line up in the Gordon timeline, but ultimately believes he will choose the Wildcats.

Good point I saw: Aaron Gordon said he made his decision 4-5 weeks ago and informed the coach. Romar was seen hugging him 3 weeks or so ago.

— Marshall Cherrington (@MCWayne22) April 1, 2013

Eldridge Recasner (who previously tweeted that he had sources saying Gordon to UA) says that the Steve Alford hire puts UCLA back in the picture for Gordon.

Breaking News: A little birdie just texted me again saying that UCLA is NOW in play for Aaron Gordon as a result of the Alford hire.

— Eldridge Recasner (@erecasner) March 31, 2013

However, Evan Daniels puts those rumors to rest after speaking with Gordon.

Steve Alford did call Aaron Gordon yesterday. “It was just too late,” Gordon said.

— Evan Daniels (@EvanDanielsFOX) April 1, 2013

There have been other reports of him to Oregon and everyone knows his history with Lorenzo Romar. The fact remains that he has been one of the few recruits that have been able to keep his commitment a secret until decision day and that is killing us. All we know are the four schools he will choose from. Here is what we think.

The Favorite: Arizona
The Wildcats have been in the picture for almost the entire time that Washington has, but were never considered the favorites until recently. Sean Miller apparently did a great job talking up Gordon’s involvement in their perimeter game. Whether that is realistic or not, it seems as though Gordon bought it. No Husky fan likes the idea of losing anything to Arizona, especially such a heralded recruit, but any rational person can see the reason behind the decision. The Wildcats have more recent success, more historical success and with Gordon, likely more future success. They don’t need Gordon to create a championship winning team, but he will make it a lot easier for Miller. Ultimately, it looks like he will choose the Wildcats based on pedigree and the pitch Miller made.

The Underdog: Washington
Like it or not, after years of recruitment, Lorenzo Romar finds himself as the underdog on decision day. He has been on Gordon’s trail since middle school and they have become very close. It seems to be the consensus that this won’t be enough when 9:30 rolls around. Gordon loves Washington, made clear by the fact that they are still in the the top four, likely the top two, at the end of his recruitment. It hasn’t been an easy decision for Gordon and much of that is due to Romar’s endless pursuit of the star forward. They aren’t favored to earn Gordon’s commitment, but it won’t be a surprise if he chooses the Huskies, as they were long thought as the favorites until recently.

The Dark Horse: Oregon
After their impressive season and Sweet 16 run, Gordon announced that the Ducks were back in play for his services. With Oregon comes lots of flash and an exciting system to play in. Dana Altman is one of the best coaches in the conference and showed it, tying for second in the Pac-12 with a team built with transfers. It’s hard for a recruit not to be interested in Oregon, at least a little. It is an exciting concept to play for a team that provides you with the top-notch equipment and newest uniforms in the game. While the amenities of being the showcase of Nike is appealing and playing for a fantastic coach like Altman is enticing, I doubt it is enough. Each program has top-notch facilities and equipment of their own as well as esteemed coaches. It was a case of too little, too late for Oregon, I think.

The one team that didn’t get categorized was Kentucky and while I think John Calipari brings with him a unique aura, there is just too much talent for one team. Gordon realizes that and will most likely pick a school at which he can star, or at least stick out, at.

I’m not foolish enough to predict where Gordon will land, so I’ll let you decipher the information and decide for yourself. If you want to know for sure, stick to your Twitter feeds at 9:30 a.m. PDT and come here right after for an analysis of his decision, no matter which school he picks.

The Great Danes have lost their top two scorers from last season who accounted for nearly 50% of their scoring total. However, their top returning scorer has stepped his game up and is averaging 17 points thus far with a 20 point night against a very good OSU team. The 6-0 180lb senior guard, Mike Black, is a solid all around guard who seems to be doing a little bit of everything for his team. Black is shooting a career average around 36% from range and about 45% from the field, while his free throw shooting is a respectable 70-75%. Last season Black led his team in assists, but has struggled to deliver the ball with the same aptitude 2 games into the year; something that should not throw off Husky or Albany fans. Abdul Gaddy and Andrew Andrews should make it their goal to contain Black as much as possible to limit his touches and shooting opportunities.

Perhaps the biggest surprise player for the Great Danes is the explosion of production from 6-10 235lb forward/center John Puk. After seeing his minutes dwindle between his freshmen and sophomore years where he averaged just over 2 points and 3 rebounds per game, Puk has immensely improved his game with some career nights to start the season resulting in a 9 point and 7.5 rebound per game average. In all reality, the rebounding number is the only one I have confidence in at the moment as Puk was shut down by the Buckeyes and held to just 4 points on 1 of 3 shooting over 30 minutes. To me that reads as a timid player who can be abused by a tough, defensive minded guy such as Aziz N’Diaye.

Oct 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies center Aziz N

Jacob Iati is third Albany player that demands a bit more attention with a shooting mindset and the skills to back it up. The 5-10 165lb guard hit 45% from deep last year and is off to a fairly hot start this season with 4 makes on 10 attempts. What is more impressive to me is his foul shooting. Despite only taking 20 attempts last season, Iati made 16 to give him an 80% average for the year and is a perfect 6 of 6 this season. Iati seems to be getting more aggressive in the lanes, which is a great improvement for any sort of sharp shooting guard. Hopefully C.J. Wilcox will mirror this aggression and get to the lane with some regularity this year as he is the best foul shooter on the team.

Key to the Game:

Ball Control:

The Huskies cleaned up their miserable 11 turnover first half performance against Loyola and went on to commit only 1 more infraction thus allowing the Dawgs to cruise home with a 20 point win. The Albany Great Danes should be much less of a match up than the Greyhounds of Loyola, but that does not mean the Huskies can afford to be as careless with the ball. Any halfway decent team can seize on the mistakes of their opponents and given the right circumstances a ball game can be made of a supposed blow out. Romar should treat this game as a real lesson teacher and pull players who do not show patience and basketball intelligence. With Seton Hall and the Buckeyes on the horizon, the Huskies really need to begin fine tuning their ball game and develop an identity. This all starts with ball control and guard play, where we are thankfully quite experienced.

Rebounding:

Despite the official scorekeepers taking away one of N’Diaye’s rebounds, the senior center still had a career night with 16 boards to his name. The Great Danes’ tallest player comes in a 6-10 and their heaviest at only 235lb. No one on the court can match up with N’Diaye’s massive 7-0 260+lb frame and he should dominate the night. Romar and staff really need to begin riding the big man, holding him accountable for producing less than he is capable of on the offensive end. What I noticed last game is that N’Diaye was often much too far outside the block when receiving the ball. The Washington guards can help correct this by working the ball into the corners, forcing N’Diaye to create space by backing his body into the paint and opening up for entry passes. Not only will this allow inside domination by our bigger line-up, but it will also allow much better position when it comes time to clean up the glass. The Huskies held a narrow 34-30 rebounding margin last game and will need to improve upon these numbers if they intend to compete at the highest levels. As I have already repeated a dozen times this paragraph, the Dawgs are a much bigger and better team and as such they need to prove their skills by grabbing every single loose board in sight. There is no reason N’Diaye can’t be expected to grab another 15-20 boards come Tuesday night.

Oct 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Abdul Gaddy (0) looks for an open player while being guarded by Western Washington Vikings guard Rico Wilkins (3) during the game at Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington defeated Western Washington 88-78. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Free Throws:

The Great Danes are averaging 76% as a team after two games and have several prove foul shooters. The Huskies had a great start on Sunday night with 22 makes on 30 attempts, but they can always do better. Free Throws win ball games. If you are new to my writing, be prepared to see this phrase written over and over in my articles. The importance of foul shots cannot be overlooked. If you don’t believe me, just go watch the Huskies in the Pac-12 tournament or against Nevada last season. The Dawgs need to capitalize on every single freebie to prevent any sort of confidence in the Albany players.

Final Thoughts:

This is another nice warm-up game for a Husky team with a plethora of new players and play-makers. The chemistry with this squad already seems a great improvement over last year’s talented, but unorganized team. With some good games in the following week against Colorado State and Saint Louis on the horizon, the Dawgs should be able to utilize this outing as a great moral booster and another opportunity for Romar and staff to work on their rotation, especially in light of Shawn Kemp’s fairly serious knee injury that will keep him out most, if not all, of this season. The Dawgs should put this one away midway through the first half and enjoy a great home town experience.

Final Score Prediction: UW-92 AU-64

Go Dawgs!

Josh Perkins and Willis Wilson were on the Husky Football roster. Then they weren’t. Now they’re back on it. Many figured that when they were initially dismissed that it may have just been a big time college program doing what big time college programs have to do to reach the upper echelon of competitiveness in terms of player turnover. With a big recruiting class coming in and not a lot of seniors on the roster, players are going to have to move on in one way or another.

Perkins and Wilson didn’t really make sense in that respect though. For one, Wilson isn’t occupying a scholarship as a walk-on, so dismissing him wouldn’t have helped the team from a numbers standpoint. He’s also getting reps in practice due to the injury to Deontae Cooper and the lack of depth at the RB position, so he’s a player who definitely has value for this team.

Perkins, also, is a player who has value in that he’s transitioning from WR to more of a hybrid WR/TE player. He may not get a ton of playing time this season, but down the road the Huskies may run into a problem at the TE position with all 3 true TE’s being sophomores (and, as of yet, 0 TE commits in the 2013 class). Perkins may be relied upon to bridge that gap.

That the players were reinstated and the matter is being dealt with “internally” suggests perhaps a few things. One, this might have been a warning shot from coach Steve Sarkisian about behavior that will not be tolerated. Whatever happened clearly was not something that the coaching staff would ever like to see, and maybe the plan all along was to give Wilson and Perkins a bit of a scare, while at the same time sending a message to the other players on the roster. Or perhaps the leaders of the team, guys like Drew Schaefer, Keith Price and Desmond Trufant, met with the coaches and came to an agreement on bringing them back. This scenario would suggest a healthy amount of trust in the older players, and a good relationship between the leaders and the coaches: both very good things.

Whatever the reason, don’t be too happy for Perkins and Wilson: having things “taken care of internally” means that those two guys probably had one of the most grueling workouts of their lives pretty recently. And maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Yesterday, was the mark of the first day of Husky football camp. Here are some important tweets, links, and other related content you as the Husky fan will want to check out.

Let me also point you to this landing page, where we have a wonderful staff writer that takes the time to constantly update that information. We will be changing the logo soon as he has expanded to football links too.

Drew Schaefer worked as the first team left tackle with Kohler at center before the injury.

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) August 7, 2012

UW updated roster out.Two scholarship players not on it — redshirt frosh LB Matt Lyons and true frosh WR Dwayne Washington.

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) August 6, 2012

UW QB Keith Price, who said he played last year at 185 pounds, listed at 202 as camp begins. …

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) August 6, 2012

Guys coming off injury such as Colin Tanigawa, Deontae Cooper, Hau’oli Jamora were pretty limited. But all were out there. …

— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) August 7, 2012

Video from Ryan Divish of Tacoma News Tribune. Keith Price after Day 1 camp.

This is a good link from the Kitsap Sun about the Day 1 for the Dawgs.

Spoke w/ Deontae Cooper 2day. Not only is he not afraid of contact, he’s looking forward to his knee taking a hit yfrog.com/o0ao9mgj

— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) August 7, 2012

Shaq Thompson is going to be everything people have told us. Needs to earn it, but stood out from the pack today. Fast, strong, instincts

— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) August 7, 2012

ESPN says that the Huskies are opening with a lot of “maybes”.

Finally, notes from Bob Condotta and video of Sark’s press conference.

Client Everette Thompson from the University of Washingtonian will be signing with the Arizona Cardinals today….good job Everette

— Donte Robinson (@DRobinson_Elite) August 3, 2012

Sep 24, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Zach Maynard (15) passes the ball while Washington Huskies defensive tackle Everrette Thompson (92) tries to block the pass in the 1st quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

This is great news for Thompson as he has been looking for a spot since graduating from the University of Washington. This contract is most likely just a spot for training camp with the potential of earning a position on the team.

Thompson has experience playing defensive tackle in college but spent the majority of his time at the defensive end. His Senior year at UW, he recorded 41 total tackles, 19 being solo, five were a tackle for loss, and he also recorded two sacks. In the game against Hawaii, Thompson blocked two PATs.

He has been a productive player from the beginning for the Huskies in his freshman year he had 18 tackles, two sacks, and five tackles for loss in 11 games.

The depth chart for the Arizona Cardinals could be improved at the defensive end position. Right now the Cardinals list (in order); Calais Campbell, Vonnie Holliday, and Ronald Talley as the ends. Thompson will look to find his way on the roster or the practice squad. And Arizona is looking for Thompson to add more size to the position. Thompson is listed at 6’6, 272 on the Huskies website. It is unknown if he has added or decreased weight since school.

Either way, Thompson is a former Husky to watch as he looks for a way onto the Arizona roster.

July 29, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Jake Locker (10) and Matt Hasselbeck (8) talk during training camp workout at the Titans training facility at Baptist Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE

Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network says that Jake Locker may hold a slight lead in the Tennessee Titans quarterback competition against 37 year old Matt Hasselbeck. The Titans may be moving towards their first round pick from last season to help bring youth and speed to the position.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com said this about the competition:

Despite Matt Hasselbeck’s solid performance last regular season, Locker’s explosive skill set can’t be denied. The hope and expectation inside the Titans’ building is that Locker will take the job. The second-year pro is the man the Titans want leading the team, even with a difficult early schedule.

Former Washington Husky, Jake Locker is the faster, more athletic of the two and the quarterback the Titans want for the future. If they feel he is ready to take the helm, even if he isn’t as polished as Hasselbeck, the Titans may feel it is time to develop him as the starter by being the starter.

However, reports out of training, from The Tennessean, state that the battle is close. The day after Lombardi declares Locker with the lead, Hasselbeck has an amazing day at camp and Locker isn’t as impressive.

John Glennon said:

The veteran finished 17-of-22 passing with one interception, while second-year pro Jake Locker went 8-for-20 with no interceptions.

Hasselbeck looked especially sharp in the two-minute drill. He went 7-for-9, deftly leading the first-team down the field and into the end zone. He utilized a number of different receivers and threw a touchdown pass to Nate Washington.

I covered the Huskies when Locker was the QB and saw what he could do. I also watched the Seahawks as a fan and saw what Hasselbeck can do. In my mind, it depends which way the Titans want to go. Hasselbeck is a safe and smart QB but Locker is a freak of an athlete that can make special plays, but that comes with the downside of forced plays or balls thrown in tight locations.

While Hasselbeck impresses in training camp, the reality is that it will come down to if the coaches want to go with the future now or the future later.

March 12, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Isaiah Thomas (2) celebrates after making the game winning shot in the 2011 PAC-10 basketball tournament championship game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Staples Center. The Washington Huskies won 77-75. Mandatory Credit: Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

With the 2012 Olympics well underway and the “Redeem” team talking far too much smack about whether or not they could beat the 1992 Dream Team (the Redeem Team would get stomped, no question), I thought it would be prudent to construct our very own Husky Dream Team composed of 10-12 of UW’s best players ever. Keep in mind that this is my own personal list, feel free to add and debate in the comments below.

Without a doubt, Isaiah Thomas is the first man on my Husky Dream Team roster. I.T. is above and beyond the greatest player to don the Husky purple and gold (with the possible exception of Brandon Roy or Bob Houbregs). Thomas finished a mere 352 points from Chris Welp’s career scoring record of 2073 points. If I.T. had not declared for the draft a year early, Thomas would have demolished the old scoring record by a few hundred points (I used his average of 574 points per season to extrapolate his career total of nearly 2300 points).

On top of scoring, I.T. would have likely set the career record for number of assists as Will Conroy’s record of 515 is just 100 assists ahead of Thomas. With a career average of 138 assists per year, I.T. could have easily battled for the top spot. Thomas may have also finished number 4 in career steals. Perhaps more valuable than the ridiculous statistics I.T brings to the table is his will to win.

Anyone who doubts I.T.’s character and ability to push not only himself, but also his teammates, beyond their limits should simply watch the 2010-2011 Pac-10 tournament one more time. I.T. played an absurd 123 out of 125 minutes and nailed a perfect swish to take home the title and automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. Following the season, I.T. went on to become “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 60th pick in the NBA draft. Unwilling to accept being labeled irrelevant, Thomas fought and battled his way to winning the starting point guard position with the Sacramento Kings; outplay the number one pick, Kyrie Irving; and push his name into contention for NBA Rookie of the Year. On attitude alone, Thomas deserves a spot on this roster.

So who backs up “Mr. Irrelevant?” My vote goes to the a fore mentioned Will Conroy. Conroy was a master distributor and made B-Roy that much better. With amazing court vision, a strong pass, and the basketball IQ to see the smart and safe play, Conroy made a stellar point guard. Conroy was not a prolific shooter during his tenure, but a more than 9 point per game average is nothing to turn a nose up to.

Along side his 25 steal per season average and a career 3-point field goal percentage just over 33%, Conroy did enough to get himself into the NBA D-league where has he earned a few short contracts on NBA teams. I’ll admit I didn’t see many of Conroy’s early games, but his statistics yell consistency and consistency is key to any successful team. Just look at this past season and team to see why consistency is so important to winning. With I.T. likely playing 30 to 35 minutes per game, Conroy would be left with only 10 to 15 minutes a night to make his impact felt, but I have no doubt the duo of Seattle native point guards would tear apart the competition’s defense.

A pair of stars at the point guard demands equally impressive shooting guards. The greatest shooting guard to light up Hec-Ed is Brandon Roy. A Husky dream roster without Brandon Roy is a fallacy and an insult to the sporting world. B-Roy was absolutely destructive his senior season.

Jan 22, 2009; Seattle, WA, USA; Former Washington Huskies player Brandon Roy look at the rafters to see the retirement of his jersey number 3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Roy averaged over 20 points per game on his way to become the 6th overall pick in the NBA draft. A quick side note, the Husky record book incorrectly labels his season scoring average for that year under the Season Scoring section. It read 14.3 ppg (his career average), but should read 20.2 ppg. B-Roy was not only a scoring machine, he was a play making machine. With nearly 1.5 steals, over 4 assists, and just over 5.5 rebounds per night, Roy was a demolition crew that stuffed the stat sheet day in and day out.

Where Roy further distances himself from his competition comes from his various shooting percentages during that final year. Roy averaged over 50% from the field, 40% from range, and a very solid 81% at the charity stripe where games are won and lost. Much like I.T., B-Roy was a winner with a ferocious attitude that demanded respect and commanded fear from his opponents. The 2005-2006 Huskies came out of nowhere and stormed the basketball world with scrappy basketball, in-your-face defense, and a never-give-up attitude that carried them into the sweet 16 where UConn stole the win from us thanks to the zebras officiating the game.

Backing up Brandon Roy is no short order. In my mind, the only choice for the #2 in the 2-slot is Terrence Ross. While Ross was not always the big star predicted coming in to his sophomore/final season, his crazy NIT performances and excellent workouts led to the Toronto Raptors selecting Ross with the 8th overall pick in the NBA draft. Ross is a freak athlete with unlimited range and the ability to finish the most absurd shots next to the basket. Embodying everything that B-Roy excelled at, Ross also developed a mean cross-over move that froze the defense to open up the floor for his beautiful mid-range game.

In only 3 games as a sophomore was Ross held to single digit scoring. What is interesting is that Ross’ highest and lowest scoring totals in the regular season came against WSU, 30 and 2 respectively. As I discussed earlier, consistency is key in developing a dominant team and Ross was a consistent scoring threat who only began to show his superstar potential before departing for the bright lights of the big stage. Averaging 25 points per game during the NIT is no small task. A shooting guard who can score in droves is no unique snowflake. What helps separate Roy and Ross from the competition is their ability to rebound the ball on top of their scoring prowess. While Roy averaged 5.6 boards a night, Ross was able to average nearly 6.5 a night in his final year. I would argue that Ross had a higher rebounding average due to the fact that he took less shots than B-Roy and therefore had more opportunities to crash the glass.

The number 3 slot is a bit tougher to consider given the recent history of solid shooting guards who have often slide between playing the 2 and 3. My first pick would have to go to the real 2009 Pac-10 MVP, Quincy Pondexter. Pondexter had a B-Roy type explosion his senior year in terms of productivity. Pondexter had averaged around 10 points per game his first 3 years as a Husky. When Pondexter’s final year came around, Pondexter put the team on his back and averaged just under 20 points per game leading to a record five Pac-10 Player of the Week awards (more than Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, or any other of the Pac-10 greats).

Pondexter did it all for the Dawgs; scoring at will; rebounding with attitude and tenacity, finishing the season with an average just under 7.5 boards a night; playing the tough, scrappy defense the Huskies are known for with a 1.3 steal per night average; dishing out close to 2 assists a night; and finished the year with amazing shooting percentages at 53%, 35%, and 83% from the field, 3-point line, and foul line respectively.

Washington Huskies forward Quincy Pondexter. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Pondexter started every game in his last two seasons as a Dawg because he knew how to win and put in the work to ensure that the Huskies would come out victorious. What I love most about Pondexter was his ability to become an absurdly clutch foul shooter. Pondexter put up four perfect foul shot nights of at least 8 attempts, including two games where he went an amazing 11 for 11. While Pondexter might not be “cold-blooded,” he did nail his own game winner in a back-and-forth battle against Marquette in the NCAA tournament.

Personally, I struggled to come up with a real solid back-up at the 3. Tre Simmons is a decent choice in my mind. Ryan Appleby could certainly be in the mix, but he is a bit undersized. While it is still early, C.J. Wilcox could be another undersized choice for the 3 slot or perhaps move Ross to the 3 and have Wilcox or Appleby slide in at the 2. Justin Holiday is another guy I might look at for the 3 due to his defensive abilities. Unfortunately, my Husky knowledge only goes back about 10 years so my picks aren’t always the most educated and I’ve likely missed a solid wing in the years preceding my attention to the Dawgs. I’m hoping one of you readers can come up with someone to either assist or take over at the 3.

Back in his day, Bob Houbregs was considered the big man on the court and certainly played with the level of domination expected of such a large individual. Though he was a 5 during the ’50s, Houbregs is too small to be a center in today’s basketball arena and would be pushed out to the 4 slot; whether or not Houbregs would have the same level of success at the 4 is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is how great Houbregs was and what type of impact he had on the Husky squad. Averaging nearly 35 points per game in the post season of his NCAA Player of the Year season where he led the Dawgs to their first and only Final Four, Houbregs was unstoppable.

Houbregs still holds the Husky records for most points in a single game, 49, and most points in a season, 846. Houbregs actually holds the top 3 single game scoring records with 49, 45, and 42 points. Houbregs remains number 4 on the all time scoring list and second in career point average with 19.3 points per game. Houbregs is head and shoulders above fellow Huskies in career 30+ point games with 13. Next highest is Todd MacCulloch with 8. Houbregs remains the highest selected Husky in the NBA draft where he went number 2 overall to the Milwaukee Hawks.

Another 4 who played a lot of 5 in his day is Jon Brockman. The difference is that Brockman did his dirty work in the modern era where he was certainly undersized for a deep post player. What allowed Brockman to not only achieve, but dominate in the middle was his work ethic and I-will-be-better-than-you attitude. Brockman would run through a brick wall to get to a loose ball if it was in his way. Brockman suffered a small fracture in his hip following a hard rebound in the NCAA tournament where he landed on his side and literally bounced off the floor. Did he sit around and mope about it? Nope, he got right back up and ran down the court. Beast mode.

Brockman is the most dominate rebounder to grace the Huskies. Brockman led the Pac-10 in rebounding 3 straight years and went on to set the Husky record for career rebounds with 1283, 232 more than the number 2 career rebounder. Brockman is another player whose attitude alone is worth putting him on the roster. Brockman was and remains the type of player who does whatever is asked of him to make the team better. After averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game his junior season, Brockman was primed to explode for 25 a night his senior year. Brockman realized his team would have a higher success rate if he stepped back his scoring and helped clear space for freshman Isaiah Thomas to work the rim.

The Brockness Monster still averaged a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds a game his final year and proved why he should be an idol and model for any up and coming player.

The Huskies have a very solid pair of centers for the Dream Team. Chris Welp and Todd MacCulloch. Who to start is a tougher task than in the previous selections, but my personal preference would be MacCulloch. While Welp holds the scoring record for the Dawgs, this Dream Team already possesses scoring, what it needs is another dominate rebounder and force in the middle. MacCulloch is a massive man standing at 7-0 and 280lbs. He sucks up space on defense and scores with ease on offense. MacCulluch holds the top two slots for single game rebounds (since 1977) with 21 in each on top of 6 other games of 17+ rebounds.

As a senior, MacCulloch averaged an unbelievable stat line of 19 points, 12 rebounds, and a 66% field goal percentage. MacCulloch led the NCAA Division-1 league in field goal percentage his final three years, becoming only the second player to ever achieve such a feat. MacCulloch is fifth all time in scoring with 1743 points, averaging around 15 points a night. His season averages of 67.6%, 67.5%, 66.2%, and 65.0% fill the top four slots for season field goal percentage and his career average of 66.4%  is more than 7% better than second place. MacCulloch also holds the top two slots for best field goal percentage in a single game with a 10-10 night and a 14-15 outing. He is tied for third with a 13-14 game against California.

Christian Welp is the final player on my Husky Dream Team roster. The all time career scoring leader for the Huskies stands at 7-0 245lbs and was a huge success as an offensive player for the Dawgs during the mid 1980s when the Huskies shared a pair of Pac-10 titles. Welp was also a member of the 1984 team that went on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years. With a career field goal shooting average of 56.2%, third all time, and the second highest single season scoring record, Welp is certainly another weapon that this Dream Team could utilize. Welp is also the leader in career blocks with 186 and a season high of 67 and was the team leader in blocks all four seasons with the Dawgs. He also leads the Huskies in most fouls in a single season and career, something that also helps MacCulloch get the starting nod. Welp finished 5 rebounds shy of 1000 for his career and is 4th all time for the Dawgs. Welp won the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award in 1984 and is the only other Husky outside B-Roy to win Pac-10 Player of the Year (1986).

So that’s my list. What do you think? Would this team find success? Am I missing key players? Let me know in the comments below.

Go Dawgs!

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

That it should come to this.  Unbelievable.  Washington playing in CenturyLink Field.

Well, I’ll come right out and say it: Seahawks fans are unprincipled and disgusting, and at the heart of the problem is CenturyLink Field.

For example, at the north end-zone bleacher-seat area, there is the infamous Hawks’ Nest that looks down on the field as well as field-level suites and undercover seating equal to 70 percent of the 67,000 fixed seats.  For those who do not yet know, the Hawks’ Nest is the NFL’s dedicated insane asylum, a psychiatrist’s candy store, specifically designed for the most undisciplined, immature fans – unschooled hooligans, the NFL’s equivalent of Liverpool soccer fans.

Oh, yes!  That bad!

Exacerbating the problem, the Hawks’ Nest has the lowest-priced seating at CenturyLink Field, enabling attendance of rabble who paint themselves garish blue and green, and who (although probably on limited budgets) swill beer by the bucket while screaming obscenities at anyone who will…well, anyone.

Sordid, disgusting people.

Ghastly, repulsive and nauseating.  The bane of the NFL.

People like Mark Knight and Jeff Taylor.

Oh, yes!  That bad!

But it wasn’t intended to be this way.  CenturyLink Field, nee Qwest Field, was meant for much better things.

For example, CenturyLink Field was initially designed for intimacy but that kind thought was immediately trampled underfoot, and intimacy replaced by more common and, dare I say, abusive behavior.  What was intended for the display of sportsmanship is now being used to display the basest of public manners.  On the north side of the stadium, it’s the insane asylum.  Meanwhile, the south end zone is bordered by field-level suites that naturally lend themselves to conduct unbecoming of a professional athlete: those most unsportsmanlike touchdown celebrations.

Making matters worse, the Hawks Nest seats and aisles are constructed of metal, adept at transmitting great volumes of sound when consistently stomped upon by inebriated, overweight patrons.  During Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard touchdown run last year, crowd behavior registered at a 1 or 2 magnitude earthquake on a nearby seismometer.  As shown on the graph below, aftershocks were then registered with the successful PAT and the stadium replay.  But, I ask you, is such unbridled enthusiasm what our children should witness?

Jan. 3, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West quarterback (5) Jeff Lindquist against the East during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl high school football game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Roy Newton, a Mercer Island High School Spanish teacher and one of the track coaches, knows Jeff Lindquist well.

When asked about Lindquist’s relationship with Mercer Island students and athletes, what Newton described was someone of integrity, intelligence, above-average athletic ability, and with a natural gift for leadership.

“He is so well-liked and respected by the other students,” said Newton.  “He doesn’t just hang with the jocks but spends time with friends from various school classes, and kids with whom he goes to church…in fact they sing songs together.  He’s smart, cerebral, a good student.  He works hard.  He works hard at everything.  And he’s always ready to help someone else, even an underclassman he doesn’t really know.  So he’s a popular kid, gifted in all respects but, from my vantage point, still exercises genuine humility.  He’s the type of kid who makes teaching and coaching enjoyable.”

Lindquist is an incoming, 6’ 3” 230 lb., four-star-rated quarterback who, in the competition with redshirt freshman Derrick Brown and incoming freshman Cyler Miles, has all the tangibles and intangibles to potentially move into the No. 2 spot behind starter Keith Price.  Hopefully that won’t suddenly become a crucially important spot this season…but it could.

When both Miles and Lindquist committed to Washington, recruiting pundits considered it a coup because both could have gone to just about any university they wanted.  So why Washington?  Football aside, weighing academic reputation, campus characteristics, relative location by the lake and the city, etc., obviously Washington is not a bad place to go to college.

gohuskies.com head-shot of Derrick Brown

Considering football directly, the football program is again on the rise with a large, loyal fan base and a storied history in a dominant conference.  More specifically, the school has a history of great QBs from Don Heinrich to Jake Locker, and a head coach with a reputation 1) as being among the best, young head coaches in the country (the primary reason Washington Defensive Coordinator Justin Wilcox gave for coming to Washington) and 2) for putting QBs into the NFL.

Lindquist wanted to “stay home” and had good reason to.  How will he fare in the three-way competition behind Price?

“He has that intangible characteristic,” said Newton, “that makes other kids want to follow him; he just sticks out as being ‘the man.’  You watch him.  He unites and galvanizes teammates.”

gohuskies.com head-shot of Keith Price

Character aside (never a good idea), how naturally talented is Lindquist?

“People are surprised at how fast he is, considering how big he is,” said Newton.  “He competes in various events wherever he’s needed – the long jump and 4 X 400 meter relay [50.5-seconds relay split], for example.  Interestingly, before a race, he’ll shake everyone’s hand and wish them well – no one else [on any team anywhere] does that.  At the same time, he’s very competitive.  I think he has his teammates’ ‘back’ in that regard; he wants to win because he wants Mercer Island to win.  And I can understand that – winning as an individual is rewarding but winning as a team is ultimately more satisfying.  And the other guys are with him; he’s the leader.”

How fast is Lindquist?

When shown the 2009 Arizona run by Jake Locker, Newton, who does not follow Husky football closely, smilingly exclaimed, “Whoa!  No, [Jeff’s] not that fast!”

Comparisons with Locker have already occurred but, when it comes to foot speed, Locker has a unique gift.  And Cyler Miles is faster than Lindquist.  And bigger.

Lindquist, on the other hand, has depended more on his arm, and has worked repetitively on his velocity, accuracy and timing, while improving his field vision and ability to read defenses.

Cyler Miles Running Track (image courtesy of colorado track xc)

And, of course, Lindquist has been studying Washington schemes and plays.  When fall practice starts, with his maturity and intellectual acumen, he could be a sophomore in freshman’s clothing.  The plan is that Keith Price will play every down, and Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles will redshirt.  But if Price, God forbid, is seriously injured, and there are still football games to win, Coach Steve Sarkisian’s philosophy consistently has been that, regardless of year-in-school or past experience, the best players play.  Jeff Lindquist will approach fall practices with the understanding that, if his mind and arm eventually earn the No. 2 position, his services could be needed sooner than hoped for.

“With Jeff, if that happens,” said Newton, “he’ll be ready.”

Terrence Ross. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten should both find themselves drafted in the first round. Ross could even make it into the top 10 and Wroten into the top 20. It could be the highest pair of picks for the Huskies in recent years.

Griffin Bennett and Mark Knight will be tracking the NBA draft and updating this post to keep you informed on what is happening with Ross and Wroten. Rumors, trades, speculation, and where they are selected. Have this open while you watch the draft or keep up with us while you are at work.

• 7:30 – First round over. We are signing off. Check back tomorrow for thoughts on the Draft. (MK)
• 7:10 – Wroten will join Quincy Pondexter in Memphis. And remember Memphis was  team that sold but is now maybe in limbo. VERY VERY small chance but possible that team could come to Seattle. (MK)
• 7:06 – Don’t downplay the impact that having two players selected in the first round will have in recruiting. The number one thing that top players want to see is how the program will get them paid. (GB)
• 6:51 – The NBA Draft selection committee slotted Wroten to go anywhere from the 5th to the 25th. He ended up 25th. (MK)
• 6:49 – Memphis Grizzlies select Tony Wroten Jr. with the 25th overall pick. (MK)
• 6:45 – Atlanta passes on Tony. Just goes to show that off season promises don’t mean much. Now I hope the Heat grab him up. (GB)
• 6:36 – We heard all year that Atlanta “loves Wroten”. Let’s see how much. (GB)
• 6:29 – Draft fatigue setting in. That or this drinking game is kicking in. (GB)
• 5:51 – Rumors that Raptors are after Steve Nash to join Ross. (MK)
• 5:48 – Starting to get into a realistic Wroten range as he is the best PG on the table. (MK)
• 5:28 – From Dave “Softy” Mahler – “If the #Raptors pick up the option on Terrence Ross 3rd year, he’ll be guaranteed $6.7 Million” (MK)
• 5:23 – From the ESPN Stats Twitter – “Terrence Ross is 4th UW player to be drafted in top 10 in common draft era Roy/Hawes/Schrempf” (MK)
• 5:20 – Now does Wroten shoot up the draft boards, drop down the draft boards, or go where projected (bottom of first round)? (MK)
• 5:18 – “First off I want to thank God, without him I wouldn’t be here. It’s a blessing.” He then credits his defensive ability and shooting as why the Raptors liked him. (MK)
• 5:17 – Jay Bilas loves Ross’ shooting ability, says he and John Jenkins are the best shooters in the draft. He also lists rebounding and transition.
• 5:16 – Toronto Raptors Select Terrence Ross. (MK)
• 5:13 - Philadelphia 76er fans on Twitter are hoping for Terrence Ross. (MK)
• 5:08 – We’re officially in Ross territory here. He could pop at any time now. (GB)
• 4:44 – MJ and the Kittens take MKG with the second pick. The winner takes the winner. Great pick, in my opinion. (GB)
• 4:38 – Davis to New Orleans. No shocker there. I love the snapback hats they’re giving out, though. Very stylish. – (GB)
• 4:30 – Anyone in for a little drinking game? Drink if you hear “wingspan”, “upside”, “reach”, “ceiling”, or “potential”. More to come later, I’m sure. (GB)
• 4:19 – The draft committee nailed the Wroten projection with 5-25. Huge range but he could fall to the bottom of the first round or could be a “crazy” pick early in the draft. NBA GMs slobber over potential. Wroten oozes potential. (MK)
• 4:10 – My personal preferences for both of our guys: Ross goes New Orleans to create a great nucleus of Gordon/Davis/Ross and Wroten goes to a top contender like Boston/Miami/Atlanta/and maybe Memphis. (GB)
• 3:50 – Terrence Ross sporting a green bow tie. Looking pretty fly! https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/218475742026141697/photo/1 - (GB)
•  3:48 – Draft Express updated his mock draft with Terrence Ross to the Bucks at 14. Wroten at 30 to Golden State. (MK)

Mar 14, 2012; Louisville, KY, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun leads a huddle to end their practice for the second round of the 2012 NCAA men

The Connecticut Huskies are banned from the 2012-2013 post season due to low academic scores in the APR. There were 9 other basketball teams that also received a ban but the UCONN Huskies are the only major program to receive the punishment.

Normally, we don’t cover the “other” Huskies but this has implications for the Washington Huskies. As they will be facing each other in the next season, it shows that major programs are not exempt from education, and lastly that education is still and has been the primary reasons students should go to college.

Walter Harrison, NCAA Committee on Academic Performance Chariman, as told to USA Today said:

“It sends a message to our teams and to our critics that we mean business. Teams need to take care of (academic) things first things first, or they won’t be able to play in the postseason. Those teams not eligible for the postseason need to think hard about who they recruit and how they support their student-athletes.”

Washington basketball is taking care of business as they scored really high. It wasn’t one of the top programs in the country like Kansas with a perfect 1000. But it did score second in the Pac-12 behind Stanford. The Cardinal basketball program scored 989 and UW came in at 979.

The APR is a system developed to help pre-determine where programs are headed academically in terms of graduation rates. The higher the score the more likely the student is going to graduate and then the team is judged or graded by each player on scholarship. This is how the APR is determined.

The failing grade given out to UCONN means that as a whole the team is likely to not graduate due to academics.