Apr 17, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) attempts a shot over Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) during the fourth quarter at the Sleep Train Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 112-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: A-

Statistics: 26.9 minutes, 13.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals per games

IT took the NBA by storm last season and he didn’t fall into a sophomore slump in this one. His shooting percentages took a slight dip, but nothing to be concerned about. He worked his way into the starting lineup even more than he did during his rookie year, earning him about a minute-and-a-half more playing time per game. He made use of that time with an increase in scoring from 11.5 to 13.9 points per game. He was able to score more with lower shooting percentages by being more aggressive. The 5’9″ point guard took nearly two shots more per game and attempted over 100 more free throws.

Similar to Nate Robinson, Thomas completely exceeded expectations while providing excellent play at point guard for his team. It’s hard to find more value out of the 60th pick in the draft (I sure can’t in NBA 2k13).

I can’t remember the last time Thomas struggled at a level of basketball, probably because it hasn’t happened. Even as a freshman at UW, he was the leading scorer on the team. Each time he has entered a higher level of play, he’s done it as the underdog. Coming into Washington, he was just a ho-hum three-star recruit that didn’t play defense. Well, Lorenzo Romar changed that pretty quickly. Entering the NBA, he was the last pick in the draft that left college a year early. Well, he put up only slightly lower numbers than he would have in college. No matter where he goes, Thomas succeeds with determination and a unique scoring ability.

With so many players in the pros, it is hard to pick who is Romar’s biggest success, but Thomas makes a nice case for himself. With so much success just two years into his career, I can’t wait to see how he develops (I just wish it was in Seattle).

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!

Terrence Ross (Washington) is introduced as the number eight overall pick to the Toronto Raptors. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

This is part I of a two part series looking at the next set of Husky basketball players who have a chance to join the long line of Husky greats taken in the NBA draft. Part I will focus on the incoming seniors, while Part II will look at the underclassmen possibilities…

On Thursday night, the Washington Huskies saw two players taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Terrence Ross was taken at #8 by the Toronto Raptors, while Tony Wroten was taken at the #25 spot by the Memphis Grizzlies. This is the first time in Husky history that two players on the team were taken in the 1st round. It is still amazing to me that a team with two first round caliber players missed out on the NCAA tournament. But, that’s a discussion for a different day. Lorenzo Romar has certainly been able to maintain a pretty good stream of players being taken in the NBA draft.

Since the 2004-05 season, Romar he has seen nine of his players selected in the NBA draft. And usually there is at least one every year. Let’s take a look at his track record.

In 2005, Nate Robinson was taken in the 1st round with the 21st pick.

In 2006, Brandon Roy was taken in the 1st round with the #6 pick, while Bobby Jones was taken in the 2nd round with the 47th pick. Will Conroy went undrafted, but has played on various 10-day contracts in the NBA while bouncing around the D-League and international leagues.

In 2007, Spencer Hawes was taken with the 10th pick of the 1st round.

In 2008, no one selected.

In 2009, Jon Brockman was taken in the 2nd round of the NBA draft with the 38th pick overall. In addition, while undrafted, Justin Dentmon was able to make his way up through a couple international leagues and the D-league into the NBA on a few short-term contracts.

In 2010, Quincy Pondexter was taken with the 26th pick of the 1st round.

In 2011, Isaiah Thomas was taken with the 60th and last pick of the NBA draft.

So, 9 players have been taken in the last 8 drafts and only in one of those years no players were selected. That is a pretty good track record for potential recruits to look at. Everyone talks about how John Calipari has a track record of getting players to the NBA. But, really, does anyone really believe that these 5-star one-and-done prima donas wouldn’t have gotten to the NBA without Calipari’s help? But, with Romar a number of his players were 4-year players who really did need the time to “develop”.

Thus, it leads us to the inevitable discussion of who will be the next Husky great to get the call from the NBA. There are essentially two questions to ask here. First, are there any players on  the current roster who look like definite NBA talent for the 2013 draft? And second, will Romar get any of the one-and-done players in the 2013 recruiting class that would enter the draft in 2014?

First, let’s examine the current roster. In this article, I am focusing on the three seniors on the roster who will definitely be hoping that the NBA comes calling next summer. In Part II, I will examine the underclassmen to see who else might be possibilities to be drafted in 2013 or 2014.

Washington Huskies guard Abdul Gaddy. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

When you look at the seniors on the roster, you have Abdul Gaddy, Scott Suggs, and Aziz N’Diaye. Since this is their final year of eligibility, each of them will hope to get the call to the NBA next year. It is their last chance to shine, to show improvement on the things they need to work on, and wow the scouts with their athleticism, potential, leadership. Last, but not least, they must demonstrate that they are winners. This is a season of unknowns in 2012-13. Will this team with arguably less talent be able to get to the NCAA tournament, while the team with two first round picks could not? Getting to the Big Dance will likely depend on whether these three seniors have the kind of season that will also get them into the NBA draft.

Let’s start with the team’s starting point guard Abdul Gaddy. Gaddy has been somewhat of an enigma for Husky fans since he arrived. Gaddy was a highly touted 5-star recruit, rated the #2 point guard in the nation out of high school. He originally committed to Arizona for Lute Olsen. But, once Olsen decided to retire, he decided to stay closer to home. Many figured he would be a one-and-done type player, except that that wasn’t an option since he was too young to enter the draft. In fact, he was the youngest player in all of Division I in the country that year.

But, after a pretty disappointing freshman season, many people chalked it up to age (he was only 17) and inexperience. Gaddy did show some improvement during his sophomore year until he suffered that torn ACL early in the year that knocked him out of the rest of the season. Gaddy came back last year as the starting PG and played more minutes than any other Husky player. He was reliable and durable and definitely started to grow into the position. With a roster full of high fliers, but with no obvious leaders, you could see him grow more and more into that role of elder statesman as the season wore on.

Gaddy seemed comfortable as a play-maker, but definitely lacked much of the necessary explosiveness to be an effective scorer. He improved his outside shooting, but seemed to struggle taking defenders off the dribble or defending quicker guards. It will be interesting to see if he can finally blossom into the 5-star recruit that he was hyped as 3 years ago. This is his last chance to show NBA scouts that he has a future in the league. Currently, he has gone from a sure-fire NBA prospect to missing from the Mock Boards of both DraftExpress.com and NBADraft.com. He will definitely need to show the same level of reliability, improved leadership, and improved scoring ability to get himself back on the board.

Cal State Northridge Matadors guard tries a hook shot over Washington Huskies center Aziz N'Diaye

Aziz N’Diaye is another senior with a shot at an NBA career. In fact, his chances of playing in the league may be even better than Gaddy’s. While Aziz clearly has his limitations on the offensive end, his size and athleticism is definitely something that NBA scouts are looking for. As the old saying goes “you can’t teach height”. But, it goes beyond that. He is so strong and muscular, that he is very difficult to move out of the post and his ability to run the floor will be very effective in breaking up fast breaks and getting down the floor for rebounds on the offensive side. He could still use some improvement on his footwork, but his athleticism gives him the ability to recover when out of position to disrupt opponent’s shots.

While shooting 38% from the free throw line is not very encouraging, his ability to take up space on the defensive end and intimidate guards who drive into the lane could prove quite useful at the next level. His solid minutes on a team without much front line depth last year helped relieve some of the injury concerns by NBA scouts, but his propensity to foul too much has to keep them concerned. Hopefully Aziz will be able to stay out of foul trouble this year, he will improve somewhat on his post play and offensive skills, and he will be able to continue to show his durability. Currently, NBADraft.com has him as the #56 player taken, which is late in the 2nd round. But, DraftExpress.com does not have him on the board. If undrafted, I do think Aziz might be able to carve out a niche in the NBA as an undrafted free agent.

Scott Suggs is someone who is not really being talked about right now in the NBA draft. After redshirting last season, it is difficult to really know what we are going to get from him. After the former Mr. Basketball from Missouri arrived at UW, he had a disappointing freshman season (which many people, including me, felt he should have redshirted), an improved sophomore year, and a promising junior year. While he is certainly a good shooter from outside and a solid defender, his ability to dribble and run the offense need work. He needs to take on more of a leadership role next year, and needs to be a threat to drive to the basket with his tall athletic frame and ability to pass out of traffic. A lot of people are excited to see what he will look like in this 5th year. He could potentially have a real breakout season with the absence of obvious scorers ahead of him like Ross and Wroten. He biggest competition for touches and shots will come from CJ Wilcox. But, being more featured on offense could give him a chance to shine. But, I don’t believe that even a big time season would get him into the NBA draft . I think he could have a chance to make it someday, but it would likely similar to the route taken by Dentmon and Conroy via the D-League. Or, more likely he’ll carve out a nice little career overseas.

So, of the current crop of seniors, I see Aziz N’Diaye as the most likely to be drafted. Tomorrow, I’ll look at who else might make it among the rest of the roster.

April 03, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) goes up for a shot against Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash (13) during the fourth quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Isaiah Thomas was told he couldn’t play in the NBA. He was scoffed at when he declared he was headed to the NBA after his junior year playing for the Washington Huskies. He was ridiculed during the draft as name after name was called and Thomas’ was not.

Finally, the last pick in the NBA draft came and the odds didn’t look in Thomas’ favor for being drafted. In fact, the Sacramento Kings were on the clock and they had already drafted a point guard in the draft (Jimmer Fredette).

The chances were low that they would grab another one. However, they did, and this decision gave Thomas the title of “Mr. Irrelevant”. The title that goes to the last pick of the NBA (and NFL) draft.

Mr. Irrelevant is typically, or should I say, always irrelevant. This player often won’t make the squad for the team that drafted them. Often they are sent to the developmental league or cut all together after preseason training. They never win the Rookie of the Month award, much less win it twice. And it is essentially a ridiculous idea to even mention them in the discussion of Rookie of the Year.

Thomas did all of that. He made the team, he then won the starting job, he won the Oscar Robertson award, he won Rookie of the Month award twice during the season, and he was even in the discussion for Rookie of the Year.

Kyrie Irving has, reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports, won the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Source says Kyrie Irving will win Rookie of the Year (no surprise there) with trophy handed out early next week. Best bet is Tuesday.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) May 13, 2012

This came after many speculated that Thomas was in the running and some, including myself assume he even received a few votes.

If you look at a comparison of the stats between Irving and Thomas you can see why Thomas was right in the mix with the Rookie of the Year.

In that table you can see why Kyrie won it over Thomas but how far has Thomas come from being Mr. Irrelevant to being a candidate for Rookie of the Year?

I think Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com explains it better than I would. Kennedy examines how big of impact Thomas has made in Sacramento and in the NBA.

Isaiah Thomas doesn’t let expectations hold him back. He sets his own expectations and he is just getting started.

After coming in with lofty expectations as a 17-yeard old freshman, Gaddy underwhelmed; he has been criticized for everything he can’t do on the basketball court.

He wasn’t doing anything wrong, but the 6-3 point guard from Tacoma wasn’t doing anything to show why he was rated the number 2 point guard in the country behind John Wall. He’s too slow, not explosive enough, he doesn’t score enough, or grab enough rebounds; in some fans eyes all he’s been good for is walking the ball up to half court and passing it off to a teammate to score.

Washington Huskies guard Abdul Gaddy during the game against the Washington State Cougars. (Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE)

Ask Lorenzo Romar or former teammate and current Sacramento Kings rookie Isaiah Thomas and they’d tell you that Gaddy has always been much more than that. They’d say the stats don’t tell the whole story and that Gaddy has been a huge part to every success the Huskies have had with him on the team.

Regardless of whether you’ve loved or loathed Gaddy up until this point, the last few weeks he’s shown why he could be a very special player. He’s brought a newfound confidence to the court that hasn’t been seen since early in his sophomore campaign before he tore his ACL; but this time around he looks even better.

Gaddy has posted 6 or more assists in each of the Huskies last six games including a career high 12 against UCLA.  Over those 6 games his assist to turnover ratio is 41:14, nearly 3 to 1, and he’s doing that while improving in other areas as well.

Normally a poor three-point shooter, Gaddy has shot 45% from outside in the last seven games, 12% higher than his season average. That’s helped him score in double figures 5 times in the last 7 games.

The culmination of his game really starting to click was against Oregon in the NIT quarterfinal; when he had his best game of his career.

Gaddy tied a career high in rebounds, he posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 assists, added a rare block, and only turned the ball over twice; but in true Gaddy form he did it quietly.

Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten stole the show, combining for 46 points, but Gaddy’s complete game may have been even more impressive.

His defense is something that is largely overlooked, because he doesn’t get many steals or blocks, but rather just plays solid, fundamental defense; that’s what he did against Devoe Joseph that made his night so impressive. Joseph averages 16.6 points per game, but Gaddy limited him to just 12 points on 4-15 shooting. Gaddy also drew a key charge late in the game against E.J. Singler that gave him his fifth foul with under a minute to play.

While Gaddy’s hot finish has been important for the Huskies run toward the NIT championship, it really could be a sign of much bigger things ahead.

Under Romar players seem to have a knack for closing their junior year strong and coming back to have huge senior years; Gaddy looks well on his way to doing just that.

Brandon Roy increased his points per game from 12.8 to 20.2 from his junior to senior year; Quincy Pondexter went from 12.1 to 19.3; Matthew Bryan-Amaning went from 8.8 to 15.3; and Justin Holiday went from averaging 5.9 points per game up to 10.5 his senior year.

All four of these players have something in common other than their senior leap, it didn’t some out of nowhere; they were productive players who just hadn’t taken the next step from productive to great.

Gaddy fits in perfectly with those four players, he’s contributed for multiple years, he’s been solid, but never been the go to guy and never had the spotlight on him.

Next year should be his year to shine, Wroten and Ross appear on their way to the NBA, which means next season, when Gaddy comes within three rebounds of a triple double, he’ll be more than just a footnote, he’ll be the headline. If they stay, Gaddy could be that much better having two more scoring options to dish the ball to.

The skills are certainly there for Gaddy, he will never be Tony Wroten or Isaiah Thomas because he just isn’t that type of player, but Gaddy could easily be a quite assassin more along the lines of Brandon Roy or a Jason Kidd.

The last few weeks he’s taken strides towards stardom and now Gaddy looks poised to take a huge leap into his final season and emerge as the face and star of the Washington Huskies.

Follow Lawrence on Twitter @AMitchellReport

March 30, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Brandon Roy (7) against the New Orleans Hornets during the third quarter at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Trail Blazers 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

As Husky fans get ready to see their team in the NIT tournament and with the fact that quite possibly current stars Tony Wroten Jr and Terrence Ross might be entering this year’s NBA draft I thought it would be appropriate to give the readers a chance to reminisce and give an update of the former stars who also once wore the purple and gold with pride:

Brandon Roy- Man was he good; he was consistent and stayed for the full four years. During his senior year Roy led the team to the sweet sixteen and was named player of the year averaging in that season 20 points a game. Many remember draft day when Roy was drafted by the Timberwolves but them immediately traded to the Portland Trailblazers, which for the next few years worked well for the Blazers. In his career with the Blazers (06-11) Roy averaged close to 20 points a game and became the true leader for a Blazer team that was trying to reconstruct their image away from the “Jailblazers”.

Roy went down last season and had to have arthroscopic surgery on both knees and this happened because Roy had been playing many years bone to bone which isn’t the greatest thing if you want a long career. Roy was forced to take a reserve role for the rest of last season. Who could forget that memorable game last year in the playoffs versus the Mavericks in game 4 of the first round when magic struck and Roy went off for 18 points in the 4th quarter that won the game for the Blazers and left the Rose Garden buzzing. Roy today is retired and enjoying time with his family though he has thought about making a comeback.

Nate Robinson-Robinson has been a factor on each NBA team he has been on. He has played for the Knicks (the team he was drafted by) the Celtics, Thunder and currently the Golden State Warriors. This year with the Warriors Robinson has been averaging 9 points a game providing a spark off the bench for the Warriors.

February 4, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) and Golden State Warriors point guard Nate Robinson (2) before the inbound pass during the second quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

He is on a very appropriate team, the Warriors are very run and gun and like to shoot the ball, something that Robinson is very good at. Robinson at this point in his career doesn’t look like he could be a starting point guard and I believe that he knows this and has accepted his role as a bench player.

Isaiah Thomas- IT! Has been a great story this season and has continued his great production from the college ranks to the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. As of recent Thomas has become the starting point guard for the Kings and has been averaging 9 points a game but his last 10 games he has been putting up 14 a game. With the game against the Cavs when he put up 23 and then the next night against the Heat when he had 24. He showed that he is more than capable of holding down his own in this tough league.

Jon Brockman- He hasn’t had that great of an NBA career like his other friends. He was drafted by the Blazers then traded to the Kings where he didn’t have much success in terms of seeing the floor only averaging 2 points a game and 4 rebounds a game. By 2010, Brockman became expendable and was traded to the Bucks where he is buried in the bench and hasn’t seen much playing time there either. On the plus side though Brockman has been showing off his trick shot skills by producing 2 videos that showcase his talent.

Spencer Hawes- The big man has turned it around this year after sitting on the bench with the Kings in his first few seasons. He got a chance to pick up extra minutes and eventually shine when he was traded to the 76ers. His numbers have blossomed, averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds a game and those are pretty solid numbers if you look at the lacking amount of offensive and defensive balanced centers. Hawes compliments his improvement to working with Seattle Supersonic legend Shawn Kemp over the summer. Kemp has been quoted saying “He’s got a lot of upside to his game” and Kemp has successfully brought out that upside to Hawes’s game and this only cements the fact that Hawes is here to stay in the league and has been become a dominate post down low.

Quincy Pondexter- has seen some solid minutes in Memphis and while his stats aren’t overly impressive he is helping the Grizzlies where he can. His best days are still ahead of him but he has shown that he belongs in the NBA and that his potential is impressive.

As we look at past stars it feels great to reminisce on the good times of Husky basketball especially 2004-2005 when Brandon Roy, Will Conroy and Ryan Appleby and crew took this team to the Sweet Sixteen and now Huskies fans look to the future with high hopes of getting to the NCAA championship game and winning it all. The possibility is there that either Tony Wroten or Terrence Ross or both could leave for the NBA after this season. But Husky fans are salivating at the idea of them returning. They look toward current stars like C.J Wilcox, Terrance Ross and Tony Wroten who hopefully will lead this team to glory for the next couple of years.

Marquette Golden Eagles guard Darius Johnson-Odom at the net as Washington Huskies forward Shawn Kemp Jr. and guard C.J. Wilcox defend at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

When Isaiah Thomas declared for the draft last year, the hopes for the Washington Huskies took a dramatic hit. He was the fourth major impact player that would be leaving the program.

Thomas, along with Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Holiday and Venoy Overton were the heart and soul of the Huskies. With them out of the picture and very little upperclassmen talent, the 2011-2012 outlook was bleak.

Sure the Huskies returned Terrence Ross and C.J. Wilcox who proved they could be dynamic scorers in their first season; and they also added a bunch of freshman including Tony Wroten, the gem of the class.

Yet, it was expected to be a year of rebuilding, a year of bumps along the road. Losing 4 major impact players is nearly impossible to recover from, and no one knew that one of the two seniors, Scott Suggs would also miss the season.

Picked fourth in the conference, no one knew what to expect from such a young team. The talent was there, but many uncertainties made the season look like an uphill battle.

Personally I expected this season to be an incredibly fun team to watch, full of energy and fast paced aggression; I figured that would translate into a decent season, top three in the conference.

Yet the beginning of the season didn’t start off so well and that high flying, fun team I expected was nowhere to be seen.  A 6-5 start had be uninspired and expecting the worst, even in a down year for the Pac-12 the Huskies didn’t look like they cared.

They were blown out against South Dakota State, a game I attended and vividly remember seeing no charge, no spurt, nothing at all to suggest they would win that game. We all know the end result, a crushing defeat; what I didn’t know was that was the turning point in the season, whether it was the embarrassment of letting Nate Wolters score 34 points, or just getting jolly-stomped at home; it was clear the Huskies didn’t want to let it happen again.

Washington Huskies forward Darnell Gant embraces his teammates following a 79-70 victory against the Arizona Wildcats at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

From that point on the Huskies went an astonishing 16-4 including 14-4 in conference, securing their second outright conference title since 1953.

It was a revival from the dead; even the most die-hard Husky fans expected the season was going to be a loss after the blowout at home to SDSU. Some were calling for Lorenzo Romar’s job, as we know now; it takes Romar sometime before he is able to work his magic.

The biggest change may have come from Tony Wroten, who at the beginning of the season was struggling with his decision making. The highlights were there nearly every night, but for as many jaw-dropping passes he’d make, he’d have just as many turnovers that had Romar and fans wondering if he could turn it around.

He did turn it around, limiting his head-scratching moments, increasing his fundamental passes and proving his ability to put the team on his back at times and will them to wins.

Wroten was the epitome of the Huskies, a warrior, who clearly has talent, but has issues too. Is young and out of control at times, but in the end has the will to win.

It just took a while for Wroten and the Huskies to figure out how to win games, their close losses early in the season to Nevada, Marquette and Duke are games that today they’re going to be more confident in closing out.

They may have stumbled against UCLA in the regular season finale, but that doesn’t discredit the strides this team made over the course of the season. They didn’t back into being conference champs; they pushed California into a corner that they couldn’t quite get out of.

A 14-4 conference record and 4-1 in the final 5 games is an incredible finish, strong finishes mean not backing into a title. The brutal non-conference start has some down on the season as a whole, but forget about what happened in November and December; when it mattered most; in conference play, the Huskies grew and won a title.

There should be zero discounting that, any championship of any sort is a great accomplishment. Adding in the fact that they were picked 4^th in the conference, were 6-5 at one point, and the turnaround by the Huskies is incredible.

The down year in the conference means any solid credit will forever elude them, but every team had the same opportunity to win 14+ games; the Huskies were the only team able to do so; that’s something to hang their hat on.

They won’t hang their hat there for long though, the conference tournament is right around the corner and no doubt they want to win it all.

Following that, the NCAA tournament, they will want to win that as well, but no one will believe in them, but why not Husky fans? Why can’t this year be the magical run that Husky nation has been waiting for? The talent is there and it could very well be gone next year if Ross and Wroten leave.

If you’re ever going to believe, why not now? Were you believing in the Huskies after their 6-5 start? They’re out to prove doubters wrong and there’s nothing to suggest this can’t be a magical season.

March 1, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar watches game action against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

The 1976-1977 Philadelphia 76ers with George McGinnis, Dr. J, Joe Bryant, Caldwell Jones, Harvey Catchings, Darryl Dawkins, Henry Bibby, Doug Collins, Mike Dunleavy and World B. Free was considered the most talented team in the NBA (some would say “ever”) but, as everyone south of Castle Rock knows, the Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas-led Portland Trailblazers were 1977 NBA champs. The difference was a team vs. a collection of individuals including characters with flaws.

Recent revelations about UCLA bring this phenomenon to light again. Reeves Nelson was first team all-conference during games but a first-class horse’s behind in practice. Intentionally re-injuring a recovering teammate in practice, ignoring or mouthing off (including profanity) at assistant coaches, and throwing basketballs into the stands and calmly ordering the team manager to “Fetch” are incidents indicative of someone who is not just antisocial but sadistic. This in concert with several other pampered, inflated egos, resulting in the recent UCLA version of the 1976-1977 Philadelphia 76ers.

Washington has had some problem children too. Take the worst case, Venoy Overton, for example. The enormous difference is when Overton was playing under Coach Lorenzo Romar, Romar kept Overton on a very short leash, especially after Overton stepped out of line the “first” (actually, the second – the police told neither Overton nor the U of W during the first Overton investigation) time. Overton even graduated (American Ethnic Studies). Although he can be smart, when Overton made a conscious choice to be real stupid, it was after basketball and graduation. When Overton played, he was one of the most intense players on the floor – one of Washington’s two best defensive playes – and it’s a shame he screwed the pooch because he actually did have borderline NBA – at least CBA – potential that if cultivated, might have led somewhere. But, as Forrest Gump’s momma said…

There has been quite a bit of stupid in Westwood during the past few years; the culprits are both players and coaches, particularly the head coach who had not been exercising responsible authority over his team. A former Washington football lineman once remarked that although former Washington Head Football Coach Don James was relatively small, he quietly exuded power to the point of intimidation. An effective head coach must be a person of authority. Lorenzo Romar fits that description. Unfortunately, after considerable counseling, once Overton was off the leash he greatly disappointed Coach Romar and Overton fans.

But it happens: as anyone familiar with recidivism will testify, the Venoy Overtons of the world can flummox the best of counselors. It’s not that Coach Romar is naïve. He’s from Compton and had seen it all by the time he graduated from high school. And now he’s head basketball coach at a great university; he’s a man of strong spiritual conviction with a wonderful family. Lorenzo is the Venoy-not, evidence that early difficult circumstances do not dictate a lifetime of losing. If Romar from Compton could rise to the top, Overton from Seattle could have at least come halfway.

Feb 22, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Venoy Overton (1) signals a play against the Seattle Redhawks during the 1st half at the Key Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Nelson-US PRESSWIRE

Coach Romar knows he has to win games – and he wants to win games – in order to be a successful basketball coach but, within Romar’s perception of “success,” being a winning coach enhances opportunities to effect favorable changes in the lives of players, like Overton, and their families. He spent a lot of extra time with Overton and was, again, greatly disappointed. His time spent with Overton is evidence, however, that whereas the apex in basketball life for some coaches and most fans is strictly winning basketball games, Coach Romar’s priorities obviously go beyond that – as further evidenced by the Lorenzo Romar Foundation, a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, the purpose of which is strengthening families, in particular the prevention of domestic violence, and provision of educational assistance for disadvantaged youth.

It’s not a chicken-and-egg situation; difficult neighborhoods have become that way because of conventional family nucleus deterioration. If a family does not provide support, greatly needed structure, a sense of unity and, in the more difficult neighborhoods, protection, ‘hood gangs will. Gangs sell “family.” Many young men join gangs to get that sense of belonging. Alternatively, if an unprotected non-member does not want to belong, the gangs – which include ex-cons and future cons – can readily make life so difficult that the non-member eventually has no other option than to join. The Romar Foundation was started in 2006 to dam and divert that flood. Check out the Foundation on the internet and contribute if you can.

In his nine full seasons at Washington, Coach Romar has taken his team to the Dance six times, and the Sweet 16 three times. Washington just became Pac-12 Champion again. Yet some people complain the team can’t get past the Sweet 16, evidence some people will complain about anything. As I wrote in the Wilt Chamberlain article, Washington has the physical talent; the players need maturation and focus, and need to come together as a team. On Thursday, Coach Romar said he was impressed with the team’s focus and attitude in practice. Wilt would approve.

On the other hand, there has been speculation that 1) Romar will be the first in line for 2) the expected UCLA vacancy, and that 3) he will take it! Speculation knows no bounds on the internet. The UCLA mystique from the John Wooden era hangs around – ask Josh Smith (in view of the problems at UCLA, the best thing Josh Smith could do for the development of Josh Smith is a 2012-2013 redshirt year at Washington if it were acceptable to Washington) – but the Wizard of Westwood, bless him, hadn’t coached since 1975, and passed away on June 4, 2010, while Lorenzo Romar, approaching his mid-50s, is very much alive and building a vibrant, dominant program at Washington on a foundation of discipline and team play. His affinity with his players extends beyond graduation, and that loyalty is being returned. Isaiah Thomas was at the Washington State game (remarkable because the weather was terrible and, as a destination location, Pullman isn’t Cabo San Lucas) loudly displaying his Washington bias. When this was mentioned to Romar, he said he wasn’t too surprised; other former Huskies, also in the pros, show up from time to time in far away places. John Wooden inspired loyalty. There is no reason to believe Coach Romar will not also continue to inspire it.

Dec 13, 2008; Anaheim, CA, USA; John Wooden at the Wooden Classic at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

With respect to principle, Lorenzo Romar probably comes closer to John Wooden than any UCLA coach since Wooden. While other successful coaches (take your pick) in basketball and other college sports bend the rules and stretch the truth, it is not a stretch to suggest Coach Romar’s personal standards exceed NCAA standards, leading to his respect and popularity in the basketball community. A while back, opposition players voted him the opposing coach they’d most like to play for. His personal character and principles preclude the most basic of human character flaws: betrayal (if someone steals from you, slanders you, lies to you, or physically harms you, what is that little match that first lights the fire of anger; was Judas Iscariot a coincidence or was that reflective of something far greater?). Betrayal may seem like a harsh word to use but it is the initial sensation Husky fans would have, and justifiably so. But Lorenzo Romar has been good for Washington and Washington has been good for Lorenzo Romar – for nine years that street has run both ways. Coupled with Romar’s integrity and loyalty, if the choice is his, he’ll be Washington’s head coach for a very long time.

Venoy Overton was an anomaly, and the coaching staff went the extra mile to get Venoy pointed in the right direction. Venoy just didn’t want to go there. Otherwise, Washington fans, some fair weather but most diehard, have every reason to be proud of Lorenzo Romar the basketball coach and Lorenzo Romar the person – in part because it is impossible to know where one begins and the other ends. He’s always Lorenzo Romar, and Lorenzo Romar does not compromise his principles.

Win or lose, the problems of UCLA – the lack of discipline, direction and accountability; the jerks, the character flaws – will not be the problems of Washington, and for that Washington fans have Lorenzo Romar to thank.

While I am equally guilty of being caught up in the Jeremy Lin story, our very own Isaiah Thomas is having his own Cinderella season down in Sacramento.

Thomas went from Mr. Husky to Mr. Irrelevant after being taken 60th overall in this year’s NBA Draft and was an afterthought when it came to 2012 impact rookies. I won’t bother Husky fans with the details of his back story as I’m sure you’re all familiar.

It’s been a wild journey so far for I.T. He made the team out of camp, which wasn’t a guarantee, and passed fellow King rookie Jimmer Fredette on the depth chart earlier in the season. The Kings were desperate for a point guard as Tyreke Evans continued to struggle to run the offense and John Salmons is John Salmons. Thomas was given more time off of the bench and he took full advantage of it.

“During the whole process where we were seeing if he was going to be a candidate for this team, he was running out there playing so close to NBA-ready,” Kings’ head coach, Keith Smart said. “He never looked like a rookie. He’s shown that every single night when he’s been on the floor.”

While the Kings continued to rack up losses, Smart decided to make a change and thrust the 5-8 Husky point guard into the starting lineup 4 games ago against the Pistons. It may just be the “smartest” decision he’s made.

After only playing 23 minutes in his first start, he still racked up 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. It has been his latest 3 games that have really turned heads.

Playing against two #1 draft pick point guards in Kyrie Irving and John Wall as well the #1 NBA team in the Heat, Thomas has averaged 21.6 points, 7.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and only 2 turnovers per game. While those may not be Jeremy Lin-esque, he is certainly turning heads and making the other 29 teams that passed on him (some twice and three times) regret their choice. According to ESPN and John Hollinger’s PER, Thomas is the 7th most efficient rookie this year. That’s above Klay Thompson, Derrick Williams, Kemba Walker, and Ricky Rubio.

I firmly believed in the fact that Isaiah Thomas would have a long and fruitful career as a role player, but I have to admit that I would never have guessed that he would be starting for the Kings before the All-Star break during his rookie season.

When asked about why he has been so successful this season, Thomas attributed the lessons that he learned while at Washington.

“I’m just out there playing. I’m not trying to score. I’m not trying to get my teammates involved. I’m being aggressive to make plays,” Thomas said. “One thing [Lorezno Romar] always told me was to make winning plays. Just go out there and try to make the right play.”

We all wish that I.T. would have returned for his swan song season this year at Montlake, but it makes me very happy to see our guy succeeding so young and so early in his NBA career. Husky fans, keep your eye on that other team wearing purple down in Norcal. Thomas’ blood is just as cold as it was before and it seems to be on the verge of freezing.

February 6, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) against the New Orleans Hornets during the second half of a game at the New Orleans Arena. The Kings defeated the Hornets 100-92. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Bryan Rosa from ARoyalPain.com, a Sacramento Kings site, has taken the time to answer a few questions about Thomas and the fans perspective on him. I also threw in a question about the current financial situation of the Kings ownership at the bottom.

1. What were your thoughts when Isaiah Thomas was picked as the final pick in the draft and for the Kings?

You know, I (among many others) were actually very excited that the Kings lucked into Thomas. There were actually quite a few of us that really wanted Thomas, but, most of us didn’t think he’d last until our final pick after we drafted Honeycutt earlier in the second round. I had three guys on my wishlist for the second round – Honeycutt, Justin Harper and Thomas. Once we took Honeycutt and Harper was taken, I didn’t think there was anyway that IT would last – thankfully for the Kings, he did.

2. At what point was the fan-base first excited about Thomas?

Very early! With Sacramento being somewhat in Pac-12 country, he was well known by name and game already – say as opposed to Thomas being drafted by a Eastern Conference team. IT was impressive out of the gate for the Kings, not just in-game action but as a person. He carries himself so well – he’s fantastic in the community – he’s what you want as a player on your team. Then as far as his on-court performances – if you want to endure yourself to Sacramento King fans, the best way is to play balls out: diving on the court, playing every minute like it’s your last, etc – and that’s exactly how Thomas plays. He was a fan favorite immediately before ever stepping on the court and after he did that? King fans just fell in love with the guy.

3. What were the expectations of fans for him?

I think they were tempered obviously – I mean, you don’t see second rounders come into the NBA and play a big role, let alone the final pick of the draft. You just hope at some point they eventually make the rotation and you get value out of that pick. Add in the addition of Fredette, I really wasn’t sure he’d see more than maybe 5-7 minutes a game when the season started. Now, he’s essentially forced the Kings to put him in the starting lineup because of his strong play.

4. Are fans hoping he stays as the starting point guard?

There’s no doubt about it – Thomas on the court makes the Kings a better team, be that as a starter or as a reserve. One problem the Kings have continually had all season is falling into big deficits early, which is why I believe Smart inserted Thomas into the starting lineup initially – hoping to avoid doing just that. Two games into it – they’ve avoided digging that hole early, despite no wins in those games. I’m still not sure how effective Tyreke Evans will be at small forward, which is where he’s forced to play with Thomas at the point (assuming they have a three guard lineup on the floor) – but that says more about the lineup issues the Kings have than Thomas. Fans are beyond pleased with IT as the starting point and I imagine he’ll be doing so for the foreseeable future.

5. Why do you think he has been successful at rising from Mr. Irrelevant to starting PG?

I think it’s actually been a perfect storm for IT. The Kings are a team in need of a floor leader. Good as Tyreke Evans can be, he just doesn’t have that ability to lead a team in regards to how a typical traditional point guard can. Outside of Evans, the Kings really have nobody on the roster who can play PG. They have some guys who can handle the ball, like a Fredette or a Garcia – but Jimmer is fresh meat, still in the initial stages of learning to play NBA point guard and Garcia’s essentially out of the rotation – so for Thomas, assuming he showed he could play the role – it was begging to be taken. Once he was given the chance, he didn’t look back. On another team which had some semi-solid floor generals, he might not have been able to crack the rotation to show his abilities – but with a team so stretched for a point guard, his game fit the Kings perfectly.

6. What are the typical fans thoughts of him?

King fans are super loyal – they’re a rare breed. With no other professional sports in Sacramento, the Kings literally are the heart and soul of the city and the surrounding areas. Becoming a fan favorite in Sacramento is a special thing for players – you hear about former players (both All-Star level and bench players) praise King fans for their universal love and the way they treat their “own”, if you will. I think IT’s quickly climbing his way into the top rungs of all-time fan favorites, already.

7. What do you see as his role going forward?

Well, I think there are a couple factors that could play in – namely the trade deadline and can the Kings get away with a three guard starting lineup (Evans, Thornton, Thomas). Those are questions that will be answered in due time, but, I think it’s pretty clear that Thomas has certainly cut out a niche on this Kings roster and despite if he’s starting or coming off the bench, he’s going to be getting significant minutes for the rest of the season.

8. Isaiah Thomas aside, do you think Sacramento is able to keep the Kings?

As crazy as it sounds – it’s literally going to be determined later this month (Feb 28th) when the City Council will approve or decline the financing plan for the new arena. If it’s approved, then yes, they’re going to be staying in Sacramento – if not, well, let’s just say it would be more than devastating and they’d have a foot out the door. I don’t want to say 100% they’re gone – but, the outlook would be very bleak.

Thanks Bryan! Be sure to check out ARoyalPain.com for more on Isaiah Thomas and the Sacramento Kings.

Jeff Taylor: This is your third season covering the beat of the Washington Huskies. In all three seasons you have witnessed this team go into slumps and then have to get hot late in the season just to make the NCAA tournament. Why do you think the Huskies have been so inconsistent the last three seasons despite their enormously talented players?

Percy Allen: Well, to answer that question, I think you have to look at the coach. Romar himself has admitted that there are issues he needs to address to prevent these types of slumps and the poor performances they have often had on the road. Part of the reason I think the team gets off to slow starts against decent competition has to do with Romar’s philosophy about coaching. As a player, he appreciated the ability to find his own game. That is something he tries to allow with the players he recruits.  He does not go into training camp with any pre-determined ideas about who will be the starter, how many minutes players will play, what their roles on the team will be. He does not have a “rotation” planned when the games begin. He gives the players lots of latitude to show what they can do, see who works well together, and sort of lets the players themselves figure out what the roles will be. But, during this process of the players finding themselves, it can result in issues of chemistry and lack of cohesion.

Jeff Taylor: But, there has to be a point in the season where he’s seen enough right? Is there a point in the season where he builds in more structure to the offense and defense? At what stage does he take the reigns and decide “OK this is what the rotation will be and what roles you will have”.

Percy Allen: I think Romar usually tightens the leash right around the 5th or 6th conference game. At that stage, he generally will shorten up the rotation, he’ll play certain combinations of players more, and decides what sort of roles they will play. Every year is different and much of it depends on the personnel he has. He is constantly adapting as the season goes on. If he sees something develop that needs fixing, he’ll change things up mid-stream.

Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) reacts against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Jeff Taylor: You have had the chance as a journalist to cover the Sonics in the NBA and the Huskies in college hoops. You’ve indicated previously that you enjoy the NBA more. But, what specific things do you like more about the NBA and are there things you enjoy more about college basketball?

Percy Allen: Wow, that’s a great question and a tough one to answer. In terms of the NBA, I think the thing that really stands out most is the athleticism. These players are just such incredible athletes. Their size, speed, and leaping ability just boggles the mind. It’s almost as if the court is too small to hold 10 players of that caliber all at once. The other thing I appreciate is the ability to get to know the players much more. I learned so much about the game of basketball from players like Gary Payton, Nate McMillan, and Shawn Kemp. Those guys, especially Nate McMillan, really would take the extra time to talk with you, explain what was happening on the court, why they ran certain plays or schemes.

George Karl is one person I admire the most. He really took the time to “teach” me the game, in a way that you could not possibly get just by watching in the stands. It’s much harder to get to know the players in college. They are just kids. They are students and they need to get out of the locker room and back to their classes and studying. And, that’s the way it should be. But, it is just harder to spend that time with them to develop the relationships.

Jeff Taylor: So, are there things about the college game you like more than the NBA?

New Orleans Hornets small forward Quincy Pondexter (20) shoots past Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22). Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Percy Allen: It’s different. One thing I like is that the college game is a bit more unpredictable. It’s really enjoyable watching the young players develop and to find their game. It was amazing to watch Isaiah Thomas grow as a player in his three years at UW and to see what he is doing now in the NBA. It was fun to watch a player like Quincy Pondexter really sort of click, to “get it”, his junior year. Then to see him really carry this team on his shoulders his senior year, and then head off to the NBA.

Jeff Taylor: How do you feel about the atmosphere of NBA games and college games as you have traveled around the country? What do you think about some of the criticism that people have of the NBA that there are so many games that many of the players sort of just take the game off.

Percy Allen: Well, there certainly are times when players take games off. It’s a long season and the coaches and players need to look out for the bigger picture, which is the NBA playoffs. That being said, I totally “get” why some people don’t really love the NBA. If I were paying $85 to go to an NBA game and one or more of the stars were not playing, or not playing with their best effort, I would be upset. Also, I understand the attitude in Seattle about not caring about the NBA. I am from Cleveland and I know what it is like to have a team ripped away from you. 

Jeff Taylor: But, how would you describe the differences in the fan base. Is one more passionate than the other?

Percy Allen: Well, I would say the fan base is more diverse in the NBA. People can really jump on the bandwagon when the team is doing well, not matter their background. The college crowds are a bit more provincial, more exclusive. People really only get into the team when they have some connection to the school; whether it is the school they went to or someone in the family went there. Often, a significant portion of the population is sort of thinking “what’s all the fuss about” when a team is winning, because they don’t have a direct connection to that university.

Jeff Taylor: OK, last question. Do you feel like you have gotten into the groove with the blog at this point? I know there were quite a few people complaining, or at least comparing you to Bob Condotta and how he ran the blog before you. Do you feel comfortable now that this space is yours?

Percy Allen: Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable with the blog. I am totally different than Bob and we do things differently. I completely respect Bob and what he has done with the beat and the following he has. But, I also think we have some fun over on this side and are doing things to keep the fans informed. I spend quite a bit of time reading blogs from other Pac-12 teams to see what they are doing and seeing how this site compares. I really like some of the things I see down in Tucson or in the Bay Area, and I try to incorporate new ideas that will work well. But, all in all, I think this blog is doing a really good job giving the readers the information they want.

We have a great staff at the Seattle Times. I am really amazed at the photographers and writers and staff who help put this thing all together. I am really proud of what we are putting together.

Jeff Taylor: Well, thanks so much for being so generous and taking the time to talk to me. I got my start following the Huskies online with the Seattle Times blog and although I am so busy writing for Husky Haul that I don’t comment much anymore over at your site, I check your blog every day and read everything that you write. I really enjoy your stuff and think you are doing a great job.

Percy Allen: Thank you and it was fun to get the chance to talk with you…

You can follow Percy Allen on Twitter @percyallen and follow me @huskylenz

If you’ve never checked out Percy’s blog over at the Seattle Times, which I am sure you have, click on the link.

Percy Allen Working on his Story for Seattle Times

On Thursday, January 26th, I had the chance to sit down with Percy Allen, Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball beat writer for the Seattle Times right before the Huskies 60-54 victory over Arizona State in Tempe. We had the chance to talk about his job, how much he enjoys covering basketball, and some of his observations of the Huskies both past and present. In addition, I was able to ask him some questions from you the fans. Percy gave some really honest and interesting answers to the questions. Let’s get right to it…

Jeff Taylor: Percy, thank you for meeting with me to answer some questions of the fans of Washington basketball for Husky Haul. You’ve certainly seen a lot of ups and downs over the past three years of covering the Huskies. From beating #3 seed New Mexico to advance to the Sweet 16 to difficult stretches of inexplicable losses. Is your job easier or more enjoyable when the team is winning or is it really about the same no matter what is happening?

Percy Allen: I’d say it is mostly the same. You try to maintain yourself as a neutral observer.  There are certainly differences in the kinds of answers you get in post-game interviews, how forthcoming they are, depending on how things are going which can make your job easier or harder. In fact, when the team is struggling it is sometimes easier to get them to express themselves more and give you information they might not have otherwise. Sometimes when a player is frustrated, whether it be a lack of playing time, losing some games, upset at teammates or the coaches, they have this nagging need to tell someone. Sometimes as a reporter, you are the first person they talk to, even before they get a chance to call their mother or girlfriend, and they have a need to get it off their chest. Often they simply want to tell someone “it isn’t my fault!”

When teams are doing well, they will often crow about how good they feel. But, the real insights and stories are harder to get. So, I tell young journalism students who are worried about walking up to players and asking tough questions right after a loss that they should look at it as an opportunity for a good story.

Jeff Taylor: How do you decide how to use the information you get in writing stories?

Percy Allen: When it comes to the type of information you get and what gets published, that depends on what team you are covering. When it comes to the Seahawks or the NBA, everything that comes out of their mouth is a potential story. These guys are professionals. How they deal with the media is in their contracts. They are grown men who know how to deal with the media, or at least should. If Marshawn Lynch or Matt Hasselbeck says something remotely negative about the coaches, other players, the ownership, then that is a story! But, when it comes to college kids, it is a bit different.

These guys are not paid atheletes. They are just kids. In many cases, they are just one step removed from high school and their maturity level is not always quite there yet. Sometimes players will say things they will later realize they really shouldn’t have, but they said it out of frustration. As a reporter, there is a bit of a filtering process.

Jeff Taylor: Yes, I teach high school and have coached high school basketball, so I understand what you are saying. At that age, they usually do not want to take responsibility for their actions, whether in the classroom or on the court, and want to blame someone else. So, how do you deal with that as a reporter?

Percy Allen: Well, you cut them a little slack. You look for patterns and try to see the bigger picture. Sometimes what they say provides insights into the team chemistry. But, often they are just venting and you have to decide whether it is something worth putting out there to the public. I mean, these are just kids and kids sometimes say things they shouldn’t have.

Jeff Taylor: You’ve indicated many times that you are not a “Husky Homer”.  But, you say you try to cover them as a neutral party with a goal of pointing out their flaws and their strengths. But, do you in the course of the beat, ever find yourself secretly or unexpectedly rooting for them when they go on a run or are playing in a big game? Is it easy or difficult to separate emotions from the job?

Percy Allen: It’s pretty easy to keep yourself from getting involved in the game. I am from Cleveland, I am a midwestern boy. I have no connections to the University of Washington. But, I’ll say this. I don’t root for the Huskies, but I root for good people. I’ve gotten to know Lorenzo Romar a little over the last couple of years. We’re not buddy buddy or anything, but I respect him and what he is doing with the program and I wish him well.

As for the players, in college it is harder to build up an attachment because they come and go. In fact, I don’t think most fans are really attached to the players as much as they are attached to the institution, to the brand. Most fans are fans because they grew up in an area or attended the school, not because of the players who currently go there. Players come and go, but the institution is always there to root for.

Jeff Taylor: I have to agree with this statement. After graduating from UW I went to graduate school at Michigan State. I went to games there, really like what Tom Izzo has done there, and witnessed the campus after they won the national championship. But, that being said, I grew up in Washington and my loyalties lie there. I still occassionally watch MSU and hope they do well, but I am not a big diehard fan.

Percy Allen: The fanbase of colleges and the pros are a bit different, especially since players will often stay in a city for many years and become a legend there. Fans can really build up a connection to one or a few players who come to represent the entire organization.

Jeff Taylor: But, do you ever find yourself getting into the moment? Do you ever find yourself rooting for the team you are covering when they go on a big run, make a big comeback, score on a spectacular play?

Isaiah Thomas - Cold-blooded Mandatory Credit: Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

Percy Allen: While I may not root for the team, as a reporter I certainly root for big moments. When Isaiah Thomas went on that incredible run last year in the Pac-10 tournament, when this 5’9″ guard put the entire team on his back and willed them to victory, yeah you can’t avoid not getting caught in the moment. That was a big story! That cold blooded shot against Arizona was huge and as a spectator you get excited to see something like that.

This is the conclusion of Part I of the interview with Percy Allen.

Look for Part II to go up in the near future…

UW's defense has been pivotal on the road series.

The Pac-10 tournament came down to Arizona and Washington and who can forget the “COLD-BLOODED” shot by Isaiah Thomas in overtime to clinch the win for the Huskies.

This game proved to be no different, as the Huskies completed a sweep of the Arizona schools on the road, with a Tony Wroten block in the final second of the game.

This team looks a lot different than they did earlier in this season, especially on the road. Many will point to Austin Seferian-Jenkins as the difference, or renewed team chemistry, or even the rapid rise of Wroten. However, what really looks different is their intensity on the defensive end of the floor?

Arizona is a good shooting team, especially from three. They had just beaten Washington State by making 15 three-point shots. In this game, they only had 4 (out of 13). They held Arizona State to only 24 points in the first half of their last game and forced 15 turnovers against the Wildcats in this game.

There are still some mental breakdowns on defense. For example, at the end of each half in the past two games they have allowed a defender to get right to the hoop, as if their minds were already at half-time. But overall, the defense looks much improved. The defense looks like a typical Romar defense.

Game Notes: 

• Tony Wroten will most likely win “Player of the Week” honors again after his huge performances in the last two games. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
• Abdul Gaddy was in foul trouble for a lot of the second half, and so his minutes were greatly diminished. He still tends to frustrate UW fans because of his lack of production in scoring and the way he slows down the game. However, his on-court leadership is helping not hurting this team.
• Aziz N’Diaye had a huge game being easily the tallest person to put in minutes, he had 12 points and 8 rebounds. He helped the Huskies get off to a fantastic start.
• Terrence Ross was the all-around man, he had 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks, and 2 assists.
• CJ Wilcox saw sizable minutes in this game and his 15 points were huge for the Huskies to win this game. They certainly needed a healthy Wilcox and he was there when called upon.
• Seferian-Jenkins only played for 6 minutes but had 3 rebounds. He had a couple of hard fouls and didn’t see much action after his second one. However, this is partly due to the fact that N’Diaye was having a ton of success down low.
• Desmond Simmons and Darnell Gant played good role players in this game but didn’t impact much in terms of stats. Their presence on the court matters in tight games.

The only way to explain what’s wrong with this years Huskies is that they just aren’t Cold Blooded, and they are far from it.

When each of those four stepped onto the court they brought an energy that made every other player on the team better. Even when they weren’t having the game of their life, they somehow found a way to get the crowd into the game to will them to victories.

Desmond Simmons (photo courtesy of GoHuskies.com) who at times appears to be the only Husky who wants to win

Before the four of them the Huskies had Quincy Pondexter, Jon Brockman, Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson.

This season it seems the closest the Huskies have to a fiery, passionate, emotional player, who goes hard on every play is redshirt Freshman Desmond Simmons. Throw in Tony Wroten as well, but at times he appears to take plays off, but that doesn’t take away from the emotion he brings to the game.

The only way to explain what’s wrong with this years Huskies is that they just aren’t Cold Blooded, and they are far from it.

During the first half against California the Huskies came out flat, there was nothing to get excited about on the court what-so-ever. It was like they were playing a road game, but they were in the friendly confines of Alaska Airlines Arena.

The Dawg Pack has taken heat this year for being weak, and up until this point they deserved that criticism, they had been as bad as I’ve ever heard them; but against California, they were back to their ravenous nature, how they should always be.

But it could only last so long, the players didn’t match what the Dawg Pack had to offer and in the first half the Huskies scored a measly 25 points.

(more…)

Lorenzo Romar

After Part I, people fairly pointed out that Romar’s 9 years and Bender’s 9 years are not even comparable when looking at overall record, conference record, quality of players in totality, and local or national perception. I completely agree with those comments. But, the point I was making is whether Romar’s success is his entirely and more importantly, as will be asked in Part III of this series, is whether he is the coach to lead the Huskies to that “next level” of Final Fours…or if that is even a reasonable possibility at the University of Washington.

After two disappointing seasons in 2007 and 2008, the Washington Huskies experienced something of renaissance in 2009 under the leadership of seniors Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon, junior Quincy Pondexter, sophomores Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Justin Holiday, and hard-charging freshman Isaiah Thomas (6 eventual professionals and 3 in the NBA).

The Huskies went on to win their first out-right Pac-10 conference title in 54 years by going 14-4 in the Pac-10 and 26-9 overall. They recieved a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament and suffered a final-second heart-breaking loss to Purdue in the 2nd round of the Big Dance. Despite the disappointment of not making the Sweet 16, there were a lot of good feelings out at Montlake following that season and lots of optimism that the program was back to the way it was from 2004-2006. The Huskies were back and a Final Four was right around the corner… or was it?

Jon Brockman graduated as the all-time leading rebounder and 2nd all-time in scoring in Husky history. But, in 2010, it would be Quincy Pondexter’s turn to rise up and lead the team as a senior. The team brought almost everyone else back and had some great recruits coming in such as 5-star guard Abdul Gaddy. The skies’ the limit or so it seemed…

But, with expectations raised yet again, the Huskies struggled in (more…)