Husky Basketball Preview
I know that previews are typically done before the season, but I feel like doing my Husky preview four games into the season. Anyway, early non-conference play isn't that important. After watching the Huskies basketball team’s first four games, I’m going to say something that could be viewed as premature or rash: this is the most talented team in UW history. I’m not saying they’re the best UW team ever (yet), but this team is absolutely stacked. What Lorenzo Romar has done in his tenure is nothing short of amazing. In the four years I’ve been at UW, the team has been transformed from a laughingstock to a powerhouse, a truly elite program that is here to stay. Their rotation this year goes twelve men deep. They’ve gone from a team that didn’t have anyone taller than 6’8” to one with six rotation players 6’7” or taller, without having to sacrifice athleticism, and still being able to play their signature up-tempo style. Everyone on the team can shoot; Ryan Appleby, Justin Dentmon, Phil Nelson, Harvey Perry, Quincy Pondexter, Adrian Oliver, Joel Smith and Brandon Burmeister have legitimate three-point range. Even Spencer Hawes and Jon Brockman have 17-foot range, and Hans Gasser can step back and hit a three, while also providing unlimited unintentional comedy with his overly-earnest setting of screens (you kind of have to see him to understand what I’m saying). The only non-shooter, Artem Wallace, is an undersized five who’s an absolute beast on the boards. Combined with Hawes, Brockman, Gasser, and Pondexter, this is the best rebounding group Romar has had, and even Dentmon is a great rebounder for an undersized guard. On defense, their length and quickness allows them to trap and overplay on passes, and they have the first dominant shot blocking force with Hawes since Todd MacCulloch.
As far as the incoming freshmen group, Pondexter and Hawes have been really impressive thus far. Nelson and Oliver seem to be works in progress. I’ve heard a lot of comparisons of Pondexter to Bobby Jones, but I don’t know how apt that comparison is. They have similar body types and athleticism, but Pondexter is a much more accomplished offensive player than Jones ever was in college. Jones didn’t have three-point range until his junior year, and really didn’t have any game off the dribble until his senior year. Pondexter already has both of these aspects in his offensive repertoire, plus a lot more confidence on the offensive end than Jones had.
Hawes already has a good complement of post moves, and his passing ability as a center is astounding, the best I’ve seen from a college center since Andrew Bogut. Early on it actually seems that he’s looking to pass too much, which has resulted in a lot of forced passes and turnovers. This is something that will be easily alleviated with experience. I’ve been really surprised by just how nimble he is, and how confident he is handling the ball. On the defensive end, he’s a dominant shot-blocker who also manages to stay in position well and doesn’t get into foul trouble. These are very rare traits to have.
Nelson and Oliver have shown talent, but both have been erratic so far. Nelson is a very good outside shooter and surprisingly athletic, but has looked tentative on offense, and kind of lost on defense. Oliver is a good penetrator and very active on defense, but prone to trying to do too much and forcing plays on offense, rather than letting the game come to him. He’s also very good at grabbing rebounds in traffic for a guard. My initial impression is that Oliver will get more minutes in the rotation than Nelson, backing up Dentmon for 10-15 minutes a game. I think as the season gets going and the rotation gets set at nine or ten players, Nelson, Burmeister and Wallace will get squeezed for minutes.
Because of their youth, this team will no doubt struggle at points this year, especially early in the season, and we've already seen this with the struggles early in the game against Northern Iowa and Sacramento State. Though it seems like a bad omen to be struggling against Northern Iowa and Sacramento State, one must remember that Northern Iowa is a returning NCAA tournament team that will most likely be back again this year, while Sacramento State is a team with a lot of talent and athleticism, albeit somewhat raw. Both teams also have a lot of experience, and are teams very reliant on a “system,” especially Northern Iowa, and those kinds of teams give young teams problems. What’s important is that the team gets time to gel before they hit conference play, and I think their schedule will allow for that, even with tough games against Gonzaga and LSU on the non-conference schedule. By the end of conference play, I think this team will be pretty damn good, and peaking at the right time of the year. This should be a sweet sixteen team again, and a team with enough talent to keep up that level of play into the future.
15 Comments:
I must agree with you 80-90% of your points. Pondexter's comparison to Jones is most applicable to his intensity, athleticism and defense. Obviously he's not nearly as honed on defense as Jones, but he is a freshman. Offensively, no comparison. Personally, Mr. Q kicks Jones' ass. I think my one complaint about Jones is that he seemed to lack the classic "x factor." He was not a standout team leader, besides through example, and definitely lacked the ability to turn up his offense a gear when needed. I think this ability, amazingly, is found in nearly all of our freshmen. Specifically, Hawes, Pondexter and Oliver. One more thing about Pondexter before I rip you a new one for underrating Adrian. Quincy seems to be a composed "professional" player, bringing a humbleness and work ethic to the team that is indescribable considering he is a true freshman. Oliver however, amazes me the more I watch him. Against Eastern he was everything. The two charges he drew against Stuckey in the backcourt were jaw-dropping and Robinson-esque. The fact that he led the team in rebounds, is simply unbelievable(9). In his first few games he has seemed a bit timid, but watching his scrawny self get down and dirty in the paint exemplifies what our program is about. The only two players on the team who hold the fans' expectations are Brockman and Dentmon. Since last season Dentmon has exploded. We saw a bit of it in the tournament last year we he finally started showing a little of his shooting range, but this year he's taken it to a whole new level. My only complaint is that he shoots too much and doesn't control the offense as well. Brockman however has been pitiful from the FT line and unimproved offensively. His frustrating knack from getting into foul trouble, is the one B-Roy characteristic that does not need to be picked up. However, I'm unsure if his lack of offensive edge is due to an increased effort and responsibility on defense. He definitely makes an impact on that end. Before I finish this glorified "comment", I must add that Hawes is still a mystery to me. His hands are amazing, as well as his composure and technique. I have found a new love of the game just from the beautiful way he stuffs the ball down into the faces of his opponents . However, I sense a subtle arrogance from him and a detachment from the team unit. I hope this is just paranoia on my part and a little bias towards his religious and political persuasion. Either way I doubt he'll stay here more than two seasons.
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