A Few Notes On Intensity

by John Berkowitz on Mar 4, 2009 10:05 AM PST

I would have bet a considerable sum that the Husky basketball team was going to have an emotional let down last night. By no stretch of the imagination did I think they would lose the game. I did figure they would be thinking about was WSU and that would give Seattle U at least an opening to be respectable last night.

I was absolutely wrong!

Washington came out with the intensity of a Velociraptor and showed Seattle University absolutely no mercy the entire evening. They approached this contest like it was the national championship game.

You love to see that if you are a Husky fan because it shows beyond the shadow of the doubt that this team is ready to go very deep in the NCAA tournament. Coach Joe Callero of Seattle U who knows more than a little bit about basketball suggested that the Huskies are very capable of going to the Elite Eight and beyond.

I agree with him. I saw some things last night which show me Washington has pushed its game to another level and is peaking at exactly the right time.

All this being said there is a lot of balance in the top 32 this year and picking one team to win it all is almost impossible. I do like Washington's chances because of the depth and the pressure they are able exert on the opposition.

If you are a Husky fan it is time to get really excited because this team has the ability to do things we haven't seen since 1953 when Washington last visited the Final Four.

This is a working class team that gets it. It isn't driven by a lone superstar but the sum of all the parts working in cohesion has created something special and memorable.

Buckle your seat belts Husky fans it is going to be a bumpy and unforgettable ride!

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Velociraptor

is the proper spelling. In related news, I’m a huge nerd.

But I’m a nerd who likes the dawgs.

by zeeehjee on Mar 4, 2009 11:44 AM PST reply actions

I appreciate that

I made the change…I was running around and googled it….yikes. This thing doesn’t have spell check so it can get dicey.

by John Berkowitz on Mar 4, 2009 12:30 PM PST up reply actions

Heh, “Velossa Raptor”? I’ll have to remember that one…

I’m with you on that game last night – seemed the perfect storm of the right spot for an emotional letdown from the Dawgs against a scrappy team playing a lot better than most would assume given their first year back in Division 1. Instead, the Huskies were on it from the start and just about ran them out of the gym in the first half. I wish the 2nd teamers had shown a little more, but it was clear that the starters and key reserves were in top form and were not playing down to their opponent.

I’m most happy that Q-Pon didn’t appear to be seriously hurt from that scary fall. That would’ve put a huge damper on the game…

by kirkd on Mar 4, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions

Our guards are just ruining people on D. Fun to watch :)

by Snostrebla on Mar 4, 2009 12:10 PM PST reply actions

Amazing Defense

WSU is going to be in trouble.

by John Berkowitz on Mar 4, 2009 12:30 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah

For all that talk of how great WSU’s defense is, it’s not that much better than UW’s. Here are their Adjusted Defense Rates and their national rankings:
WSU: 88.7 (11th)
UW: 89.0 (15th)

by thecassino on Mar 4, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

Well Cassino

The thing with WSU is controlling the TEMPO.

Washington blew them out on their home court by taking that part of the game away from them. If you get sucked in by WSU’s tempo you can getin trouble.

by John Berkowitz on Mar 4, 2009 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

Adjusted defense accounts for tempo

by thecassino on Mar 4, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions

It accounts for tempo by considering the number of possessions

But there are two additional factors I can think of that really helps WSU when they slow it down. First, we have a limited bench, so fewer possessions helps conserve energy. This is partly why Rochestie has played three straight games without missing a minute. Second, we can expend a lot more energy on defense when there are fewer possessions.

But I agree, WSU’s defense this year is marginally, perhaps even negligibly better than UW’s.

Tony Bennett for Heisman!

by johnnycougar on Mar 5, 2009 2:05 PM PST up reply actions

The tournament this year has a life of its own and picking an odds on favorite is tougn because of all the balance out there. UW coming in as a three or four seed has as good a chance as anyone.

by John Berkowitz on Mar 5, 2009 7:19 AM PST reply actions