Huskies outlast USC 60-51
by John Berkowitz on Feb 21, 2009 6:23 PM PST
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PrintIt wasnt' pretty but it was a win and the Huskies acheived their goal of departing Los Angeles with a split and a lead in the Pac 10 standings. With three home games remaining the Huskies are the outright favorite to win their first undisputed Pac 10 championship in basketball since 1953.
Quincy Pondexter scored a season-high 22 points and No.22 Washington defeated Southern California 60-51 on Saturday.
Pondexter, who shot 10-for-13 from the field, had eight points in the last 5 1/2 minutes to lead the Huskies (20-7,11-4 Pac-10). Justin Dentmon had eight points and Venoy Overton added seven.
Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis scored 11 points each for the Trojans (16-10, 7-7).
The teams traded baskets down the stretch in a game that had three lead changes and three ties. During crunch time the Huskies prevailed and pulled away as the clock ran out.
This is a big win coupled with UCLA's loss to WSU today. Despite the split the Huskies come out of Southern California in the drivers seat for the conference championship.
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Wow, a very big win
This was the game that always worried me as SC is so talented. When it was 11-22, i was thinking please don’t get slaughtered. What heart shown by the TEAM. I looove how despite JD and IT having off games, QP steps into the forefront. That is what is so remarkable about this team, a different player steps up when needed. I thought Darnell made some key shots today too. Now if AZ can beat ASU tomorrow, that will help also.
Never thought I would say this, but today I love the cougars and beavers. GO DAWGS
What a Bunch of Bitchers!
Bitch! bitch! bitch! That is all USC gives us in basketball. Tim Floyd is notorious for his bench outbursts and his kids have gotten into the bitching too. Play the game and quit bitching for a call.
I thought Overton showed a lot of character not getting rattled by the student section. AND I thought it was a good move not to attempt another shot after the students continued to chant “a-i-r b-a-l-l”. If he’d attempted another shot and missed, it would’ve fueld more student section outburts and it could’ve gotten the Trojans motivated. Overton showed great composure.
Back to the bitching, Overton is allowed to body up to Hackett. If the USC guard is not making an attempt at a move to the basket, Overton has every right to body up to him. Three consecutive times Overton bodied up to Hackett and Floyd, Hackett, and the entire USC team is bitching for a call. Theirs no call to be made. If he isn’t making a move towards the basket, Overton is allowed to body up.
The key to the game other then Q stepping up at the right time, was SC’s Gibson getting into foul trouble. All the physical USC play vanished and Gibson became pedestrian in the 2nd half. Glad to get the split on the road again- but it sure was nerve rattling.
Sweep the Sundevils and Cats at home- WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
Hackett and Lewis reportedly got into it after the game
That team is coming apart at the seams, and unless they right the ship quickly they’re heading to the NIT.
I wonder if the yakking by Floyd leads to the lack of chemistry.
Even the homer announcers stated that Lewis and hackett were yelling at each other.
Needed that one
Really like how the Dawgs were tested, nearly imploded and then just got it done. Gazing at the standings remains a pleasure.
Great win – however regarding next 3 at home – I do not think dogs can win all three however if they do I will REALLY be impressed – I think dogs will win 2 of the 3 and maybe only 1. Those are three good teams coming in – a lot on the line for all of the teams.
It's a Purple & Gold world
Arizona State is the big one this week. The only thing that rattles me about the matchup with ASU is that the game is on thursday night. Thursday nights have not been good to us lately. Now I will state that many of our thursday night losses have come on the road so maybe the thursday night thing won’t become a factor.
Why is the ASU game the big one this week? ASU is going to want to bring their best game to Seattle. They are a good team and I don’t think they want to get swept by us, so you can bet your butt that they will bring their A game. Arizona next weekend should be a dandy! Arizona still has national appeal. HecEd will be rocking and with a good home crowd this should be in the bag.
How does WSU win by serving up 80 points to the Bruins? Usually they get stomped when the score is that high. Translation: they beat Ucla at their own game. Washington State should be a good game, but since the Cougs have won the last 5 out of 6, the Dawgs will want to show WSU that we are still the team in the state of Washington. Gonzaga doesn’t count because they are a lower tier program from the WCC. Jump on the Gonzaga bandwagon all you want but what is their record in the NCAA tournament the last 3 years? One and done! The NCAA tournament birth every year is a given considering how low the competition is in the WCC. It’s all about Washington fellas
Go Huskies! WOOF!!!
All I saw was purple
I'm more worried about Arizona.
We match up great with ASU. Having found out that Harden has trouble when he is guarded well by bigger athletic players that we have plenty of. I don’t think the game will be that close as long as we don’t leave Harden all alone like we did Dragavic (sp) at UCLA.
Arizona, on the other hand, has three outstanding players in Hill, Budinger & Wise. All of which are as athletic as anyone on our team. When they get hot they are almost impossible to stop, It will be a tough test to slow them down.
To Beat Zona...
We need to push Hill out from under the basket. The guy is gold when he is at point blank range. We need to body up to this kid and if we have to use a lot of bodies to foul him out of point blank range, we’ve got the man power to do it.
Yet we got Hill in foul trouble in the earlier game and the Cats still won. But getting Hill uncomfortable down low is a good start. Budinger must shoot it from outside. Granted the kid can shoot from outside, yet he is just as effective when he penetrates the lane. Budinger’s penetration sets up Zona’s offense, where they can kick it back out and shoot from the perimeter. We’ve got to stack Hill and close off the penetration gaps. That should frusterate Hill inside and make the Cats a one-demensional perimeter team. They thrive when they can get penetration and still get open perimeter looks to the basket. Forcing them to play one-demensional will be key.
All I saw was purple
Since we want to play with Dentmon and IT on the floor at the same time ...
… the key to the game is to take out Nic Wise. Depending on who rotates to him, we’ll struggle stopping Budinger because he can shoot bombs over most of our guards. If we focus on Wise, we might be able to deny Budinger the ball in easy spots.
If you watched the USC game, you will note how aggressively we bodied Hackett -the goal was to keep him from getting easy assists and, to force him into tough shots of his own. Overton made a play at a key moment that exemplified that in the second half. It was on the inbounds right after that wild jump ball towards the end of the game. Hackett started baseline right when the ball was inbounded to a wing. He tried to run up to the top of the arc to get the ball. But Overton shadowed Hackett keeping his body not between the man and the basket, but between his man and the ball. Hackett couldn’t shake him. Lewis (I think) made a bad entry pass into the post leading to a bad shot and a fast break for UW. By taking Hackett away from the ball, we stopped their whole set.
It was beautiful basketball and something to emulate against UA.
"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.
I agree, Arizona State is easily our toughest matchup.
The pomeroy rankings have us ranked 16th in the nation and projected for a 13-5 record, to be tied with Arizona State atop the Pac-10. But if we knock out Arizona State, we take control of the Pac-10 and it’s ours to lose. I like our chances against Arizona State, we will definitely be favorites… But it’s going to be a tough game regardless.
I think they sweep at home
They are a completely different team on their home court not to mention the traditional home cooking the Pac 10 ref’s give you.
by John Berkowitz on Feb 22, 2009 8:40 AM PST up reply actions
ECSTATIC FOR ROMAR
All those ridiculous Romar Haters will have to shut their mouths for good when the Huskies win the conference.
I think we are very lucky to have Lorenzo
I really like Lorenzo because first of all he is one of us. Having an alum in the position means that we likely don’t have to search for a replacement until he retires at UW. I think his biggest strength is his ability to recruit and you all know you can’t win games without talent. I do think there are better X and O guys out there but with the right support behind him I think that can be overcome most years.
by John Berkowitz on Feb 22, 2009 12:02 PM PST reply actions
Romar is the Man!
What I love about Lorenzo Romar is nothing rattles him. He looks like a statue most of the time on the bench. Ever see coach K get rattled? Having complete composure fosters a winning attitude. You don’t get too high or too low and it keeps you gunning to play better. Compare Romar to USC’s Tim Floyd. The guy is a nervous nelly and it makes for an uncomfortable seat on the bench. Imagine how that translates out on the floor.
Granted their are probably better X’s and O’s guys out there. But that is not Romar’s style. He wants to play an uptempo foot race and if he has the talent to win that way then it’s good. I personally see our uptempo style a great recruiting niche. Everybody else in league is so dam worried about a “system”. I like that we encourage our players to think outside the box, adapt, overcome, and to improvise. Talent can do that. Not to mention but our style of play reflects that of the NBA. And if our style reflects the NBA then we will get future NBA talent walking thru that door.
Washington State has a slow tempo system and how many NBAers have walked thru that door? I don’t see Lorenzo Romar accepting another college job and that makes for a possible lengthy coaching career at the UofW. I think about the only thing we have to worry about is the possibility of Romar getting an offer from an NBA team because of the style inwhich he coaches. Make no mistake Romar would be a great fit in the NBA, hopefully they don’t come calling.
All I saw was purple
agreed crazi
plus talent alone wins 90% of D1 college b-ball games…. X & Os aren’t a major factor unless its two similar talented teams or the upper echelons of the NCAA tourney when talent levels are more even and games are over-officiated & have more breaks in the action from foul calls, tv timeouts, etc.
WOO! HOO!
After the devastating loss to ucla, this is what the doctor ordered! All is right in the world!
Washington Husky Football-1991 National Champions
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