2010-2011 Washington Huskies Basketball Preview

The Huskies come into the 2010-2011 season with alot of hype. They are picked to win the pac-10 by almost every expert and there is reason why. The huskys return star all-pac-10, pac 10 tourny MVP Guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas and Justin Holiday are the team captians, Thomas a JR will take over a leadership roll from Quincy Pondexter. While Justin Holiday is coming out of a break out year as an all around hustle player. UW finished last year #21 in both coaches and AP polls after a sweet 16 and a pac 10 tourny championship.

UW losses four players from last years team

Quincy Pondexter (graduation)- Quincy was drafted in the first round on the 2010 NBA draft to the Hornets. Quincy led the team in both points and rebounds averaging 18 points and 7.4 rebounds. Quincy was the lone senior of last years squad and is the biggest loss to the UW team. Quincy hands over the leadership roll to Isaiah Thomas who had a second best 16.9 points per game and earned a spot on the all pac-10 team. His rebounds should be taken over by 6'9 PF Matthew Bryan Amaning.

Elston Turner-(Transfer)- Elston was the best pure shooter on the UW roster last year. He didnt get the minutes he wanted so he left the team to go to Texas A&M. He avg 5.5 pts per game. With new comers CJ Wilcox and Terrence Ross this loss should be softened.

Tyreese Breshers(Injury)- Breshers has struggled with injury every since his arrival at UW. He had a a good year at UW last year playing 10min Per game. He will still stay with the UW team but will not play or practice. He had 4 blocks in his final game against Cal. 7 foot JUCO transfer Aziz Ndiaye is expected to take his minutes.

Clarence Trent-(transfer)- The Trent story is strange, Trent did not really have a role on the team but he was a ATH. So, last year Trent decided to join the football team. He played 2 practices and then quit the team. Then soon after announced he would transfer to Seattle U. Losing Trent really should not impact the team. His dunks tho should be replaced by newcomer Terrence Ross http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxnoIHQo5ek.

UW has 4 new players on the roster this year.

Terrence Ross- 6'5 SG, Ross was ranked as the #3 SG coming out of high school last year and he did not even play HS basketball last year. Ross in known for his stroke and ability do drain the 3. Ross committed to UW on his visit in April. He is very athletic and fits into Romars system very well. Here is Terrences Highlight tape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTqpwXliYgk

Aziz Ndiaye- The 7ft 250lb JUCO Center from Senegal will play at UW as a RS Soph. Not much is known about Aziz but from what ive heard is that he is athletic and runs the court well.  He is a true Center and a power guy. He didnt play last year for medical reasons but he is healthy now. He is rated on Scout.com as a 4 star center.

Desmond Simmons- Desmond is 6'7, he was a 4 star and the #25th PF in the class of 2010. He is often compared to Justin Holiday because of his hustle play. He seems to be athletic enough to play D1 ball but needs to polish his shot and other aspects of his game.Here is the Desmond Simmons highlight tape

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97kSV6ApYV0

CJ Wilcox- CJ Wilcox red shirted last year and has some high expectations by husky fans. Thats expected when Isaiah Thomas says that CJ is the best shooter he has ever seen. CJ is 6'6 so he could play SF and SG. Not much about CJ is know because he was not highly rated in HS.

UW also adds a walk on PG, Antonie Hosley. He played for the same school as Terrence Ross.

Isaiah Thomas- SG Isaiah will try to take over where Quincy left off, leading this team to wins. Thomas is poised for a huge year, he averaged 17 pts per game last year and 3 assist (he avg 6.3 in the Ncaa tourny)with 4 reb. Thomas is the pre season favorite for Pac-10 MVP.

Abdul Gaddy-PG Abdul Gaddy had a disappointing freshman year averaging 4pts and 2 assist per game. Gaddy was ranked as the #2 PG in the country passed only by John Wall. . He has been working on his shooting this year and could have a great year if he can shoot the ball well.Gaddy is one of the best passers in the Pac-10 but lacked the shooting skills to take him to the next step.

Venoy Overton- PG Venoy Overton is one of the best defenders in the nation. He showed off his shooting skills last year averaging 8.5 pts per game and 1.4 steals. When i think of Venoy i think of speed and clutch free throw shooting. He can run down the court faster than your eyes can follow. Venoy will share time with Gaddy at the point this year.

Matthew Bryan Amaning- MBA started to find himself during the second half of last season. He started to attack the rim and play power basketball. MBA is expected to have a break out season next year. If he delivers double doubles weekly against a Pac-10 that lacks big men it will be huge for Washington. Last year he averaged 9pts and 6reb per game with 1.5 blocks.

Justin Holiday- Holiday is a all around baller. He can drain 3s, pass, rebound, block and play all pac 10 defense. Holiday and Overton were both on the all pac 10 defense team. Holiday averaged 6pts, 4.5 reb, 2 assist and 1 steal.

Darnell Gant- Gant played 12min per game last year but during his freshman season he started almost every game. His numbers will not wow you but he has had his moments, solid play by him could be huge for washington.

Scott Suggs- Suggs is a great shooter from 3pt range. He avg 5pts per game and is a good athlete.  UW is stacked at SG so its going to be hard for him to get major time.

Washington plays in the Maui Invitational this year. They start off against a Tony Bennett coached Virginia team and if they get past them then they might get to play Kentucky. That gets UW fans excited because they would like to beat Calipari and Terrence Jones(Jones committed to UW but then after a series of shady events signed with Kentucky) The Maui Invite is stacked this year with UConn, UO and UK, it should be a good measuring stick for UW.

Our other notable games are @Texas a&m and Texas Tech at home(last year beat UW in OT in texas) Both of these games will provide a challenge but they are both very winnable.

The Pac-10 is going for another weak year, the talent is just not here yet. The major teams in the Pac-10 are UCLA, Arizona , WSU and Arizona State. If the huskies play smart they should be able to roll the rest of the pac-10. Games at UCLA, ASU,UA and WSU will be UWs biggest test. UW may go undefeated at home this year.

Washington will make a statement in Maui, they may not win but they will show the country the speed of husky ball. After Maui UW will most likely be favored in every game. Isaiah Thomas will have another all pac 10 year. Senior Matthew Bryan Amaning will have a Quincy Pondexter like year and average a double double. CJ Wilcox will turn some heads with his shooting.  Aziz Ndaiye will establish himself as a force in the paint. Venoy Overton and Justin Holiday will anchor the husky defense.The dawgs have so much talent this year they should out match every school in the Pac-10.The Dawgs will win the Pac-10 and enter the tourny as a 3 seed and make it past the sweet 16 mark finaly.

The Dawgs go 25-5 (Updated)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDX40ih1vbo

Great moment in MBA dunk History, we will see more next season