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Seattle Times staff reporter Bob Condotta provides a running commentary on the Huskies.

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January 31, 2008 6:42 PM

Stanford game thread

CAL BEATS WSU, NOW HEADED TO SEATTLE --- The Cougars continue to show some chinks in the armor, now having lost two of three and barely escaping in the other. What it means to UW is a revived Cal team coming to Seattle Saturday. All for now but I'll chip in with some post-game notes and quotes later.

THE ROUT IS ON --- Sorry, not much to add of late. Brook Lopez has a career-high 31 points and UW is shooting 14-46, so more of the same from the first half. A bright spot for UW is the 14 points and seven rebounds of Quincy Pondexter, surely motivated a bit playing against his former high school teammates, the Lopez twins.

BTW --- UW is back in a man defense after playing zone for a while at the beginning of the half.

FT WOES CONTINUE --- The Huskies were 3-13 at the line before Joe Wolfinger made the last of three he attempted after being fouled on a three-pointer. UW has scored five in a row to force a Stanford time out but the Huskies are still down 47-31 with 12:44 to go.

DOMINATION --- Getting ugly now as Stanford leads 43-26. UW is still in the zone, but they have no answers for Brook Lopez who has 23 points --- three shy of his career-high --- with 15:24 to go. This is threatening to be UW's worst home loss since an 86-62 defeat to Gonzaga on Dec. 3, 2003, shortly before Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson and that group began their great run.

QUICK HOOKS --- The second half isn't starting out a lot better, and Romar is losing his patience. He took out Venoy Overton 49 seconds into the half after an out-of-control play led to a turnover, and just lifted Wallace at the 18:05 mark after he hesitated and traveled. It's 36-23 Stanford as I type this.

HUSKIES DOWN 33-22 AT HALF --- UW stayed in the zone the rest of the way and slowed down Stanford's offense a little ---- Stanford had 19 points at the time UW switched to the zone with just under 10 minutes left. But the Huskies continue to struggle on offense, hitting just 8-23 for the half (Stanford is at 12-26). Jon Brockman and Ryan Appleby lead the Huskies with six points each while Pondexter and Dentmon have five. UW has also made just 3-9 free throws while Stanford has made 7-11. And the Cardinal is really dominating the boards with a 20-13 edge. Brockman has five rebounds for UW but no one else has more than two.

ISAIAH THOMAS IN THE HOUSE --- IT just showed up and is sitting behind the UW bench, on a brief leave from South Kent Academy. That's the good news for UW. The bad is it is 29-19 Stanford as the Cardinal has hit 11-21 shots while UW is 7-21. UW hasn't had any blocked since the opening four minutes but the Huskies are simply finding nothing easy on the offensive end. UW is also just 3-9 at the free throw line, giving away its best chance to get easy points in this one.

HUSKIES IN 2-3 ZONE --- UW shifted to the zone at about the 10-minute mark with the Huskies having six fouls and no real answers for Stanford inside. UW also played about half the game at Arizona in the zone, as well, as much as I've seen them do in a long time. Offensively, Stanford is double and sometimes triple-teaming Brockman and UW is having trouble getting the ball rotated quickly enough to take advantage. It's 22-13 Stanford but Dentmon is at the line for two after getting fouled on a fast break off a turnover.

HUSKIES IN EARLY TROUBLE --- It's now 15-7 at the timeout with 11:58 left and the Cardinal is dominating. Brook Lopez points --- or as many missed shots as UW has in nine attempts. The Huskies also have five turnovers as they are struggling to find any rhythm on offense. Tim Morris has two early fouls, the last a charge, as he looks like he may be trying too hard against his former teammates. UW has already used everyone available except for Justin Holiday with MBA checking in now.

EARLY BLOCK PARTY --- Stanford has blocked three of UW's first seven shots, all by the Lopez twins, as the Cardinal has taken a 10-5 lead. Joe Wolfinger is in the game (he came in at 16:16) as Romar surely wants him to draw one of the twins out of the middle of the key. Wolfinger guarded Brook Lopez on the one defensive possession he has played. UW also has three turnovers along with 2-7 shooting.

WALLACE GUARDING BROOK LOPEZ --- And Brockman is guarding Robin Lopez as UW starts out man-to-man.

LINEUP THE SAME --- No changes tonight according to the stat monitor.

A MUST WIN? --- Okay, so technically they are all must-wins, so it's stupid at times to even bring it up.

But this one just feels big for the Huskies.

This is the first of four in a row for UW and I know the feeling around the program is that they have to win three of these to stay in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth. And considering next weekend brings USC and UCLA, the best way to win three of four is to win one of one at the outset.

I'll try to post as often as I can during the game. And yes, I'll try to make note of the defenses.

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Posted by swing a dead cat

6:53 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Go DAWGS! Go Brock and Go Apples. Dentmon has a a great game, gets 18!

Posted by AbeG

6:56 PM, Jan 31, 2008

No way in hell the dawgs get this one. Maybe Cal if Hardin is still sick but not this one. No way.

Posted by MT Husky

7:06 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Thanks Bob!!! MT Husky is standing by.

Posted by AbeG

7:17 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Wolfinger..lol. I thought Wallace was a joke. Why does UW continue to play these nobodies when they have such good players on the bench.

Posted by raindawg

7:19 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Go Dawgs!

Posted by mike

7:20 PM, Jan 31, 2008

lopez twins are blocking machines...sheesh come on guards make those jumpers!

Posted by Dawg Pack!

7:22 PM, Jan 31, 2008

how's the atmosphere?

Posted by MT Husky

7:25 PM, Jan 31, 2008

If I'm following espn.com correctly all of Stanford's field goals have been lay-ups.

Posted by mike

7:30 PM, Jan 31, 2008

yeah basically all easy lay ups except for that one three.

Posted by MT Husky

7:36 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Thanks for the updates Bob. Well, I'm obviously an idiot for thinking Huskies were better off going man. As much as I love Brockman, his biggest weakness is recognizing the double teams coming and getting rid of the ball. Hopefully that improves...along with their defense...and their shooting...and their rebounding...and their turnovers...nevermind, we're pretty much dead.

Posted by mike

7:44 PM, Jan 31, 2008

huskies need to take smarter shots not these quick little oh crap i have the ball pump fake ahhh. play like you belong in this league please. with that said pondexter and appleby need to step their games up here tonight take those open jumpers. brockman can't do it all going up against both 7 footers.

Posted by AbeG

7:44 PM, Jan 31, 2008

You're a little late to the dance MT...you were pretty much dead prior to tip-off.

Posted by Gabe

7:50 PM, Jan 31, 2008

SOUNDS LIKE SAME OLD SHITTY PAC-10 REFS? SOMEONE WANNA TELL THEM TO PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR ASSES?

Posted by Geno

7:52 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Bob...picking UW over Stanford is about the funniest choice you've made so far this year.

UW to win tonight......where is the logic there??

Posted by Geno

7:53 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Forgot to add, when you lose as much as the Huskies all games are 'must wins'.

Posted by AbeG

7:54 PM, Jan 31, 2008

This game thread is a microcosm of the Huskies basketball program. They start out man-to-man and get thumped. So Romar brings in the new savior of the week, Wolginger...no help. So they empty their bench and swith to a zone, frantically trying anything they can to get back into the game. Then, when it becomess clear that they will not be able to compete...the focus changes to the high school recruit in the crowd. This is your season in a nutshell. Romar can't make up his mind who to play or how to play so he just keeps tweeking things hoping to blindly fall into a winning combination...and the focus is all on the next great recruiting class which will quickly become a group of below-average UW pussies. Go Dawgs!!!!

Posted by Geno

7:55 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Gabe...you've starting your usual whinny ways already. Can't the game get A LITTLE OLD first?

Gotta go.....not going to miss anything here.

Posted by LoRoSucksAss

7:59 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Romar is one of the least decisive and consistent coaches I have ever seen. He is soft and that is why this team is soft. He fell into a few naturals that he couldn't ruin likd Bobby Jones, Brandon Roy, and Jon Brockman...other than that he is turning out players and teams that are as soft and clueless as he is.

Posted by LA Husky

8:05 PM, Jan 31, 2008

What was Romar thinking starting out in a man to man?

Posted by AbeG

8:08 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Why do you assume he was thinking?

Posted by Dawgmaster

8:13 PM, Jan 31, 2008

shitrenzo is one of the worst coaches in america. His ass better get fired when tyBLOWs does. they both are fucking incompetant. neither could handle the complexities of mcdonalds, ive met them and they are dumber than most of the football team

Posted by mike

8:24 PM, Jan 31, 2008

wow i was gone for like 25 minutes and the game is out of hand...gonna go watch lost now huskies better come back and win...

Posted by Glendale Dawg

8:25 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Hang in there Hoop Dawg fans. We just need some athletes with better BBall IQ and we'll be okay. I'm already looking forward to next year. It's a shame QPon and Dentmon are not developing like they should be. For some reason I think they are not taking the extra effort to improve and just think the NBA is the next casual step. Those two are going to be some sorry individuals when life reaches up and slaps them upside the head.

Oh well, let's hope next years recruits work their arses off to get better.

Posted by chucky

8:26 PM, Jan 31, 2008

4-14 FT's? Wow... that is just horrendously bad. My 7 yr old nephew can shoot better than the Dawgs.

I can't believe how consistently bad they have been from the stripe.

Posted by Coug4Life

8:26 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Come on Dawgs. At least make these guys break a sweat so they don't come into Pullman COMPLETELY refreshed and rested. It sucks that the Cougs have to share home stands with you pussies. You are an embarrassment to all Washingtonians.

Bow Down....AND KISS MY COUG ASS!

Posted by Corevet

8:35 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Hey Gabe,
You can complain all you want about the refs but when your team is shooting about 35% from the free throw line and your going against the Lopez twins, you have little chance of winning. Lopez has beat on Brockman tonight. The refs are making up for things as they are calling lots of fouls on B. Lopez. Broackman can only do so much. He needs help.

Posted by Dawg Pack!

8:44 PM, Jan 31, 2008

hah looks like you can kiss Cal's ass Coug4Life

Posted by raindawg

8:55 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Ouch. Not much you can say about this one. Huskies are just getting outclassed. Sounds like Pndexter is showing up but we arn't getting the game wee needed from the backcourt.

Isaiah can't get here soon enough.

Posted by LA Husky

8:56 PM, Jan 31, 2008

What was Romar thinking going to a zone defense?

Posted by MT Husky

8:58 PM, Jan 31, 2008

If you really did both of those posts that's pretty funny LA Husky. Thanks for the laugh on a gloomy night.

Posted by thejanitor

9:04 PM, Jan 31, 2008

I used to like Cougar basketball. But with the irritating likes of Geno, I am so happy that they lost, at home.

All of the sudden, I feel good because I know GENO is hurting.

Is that wrong?

thejanitor

Posted by Dave

9:06 PM, Jan 31, 2008

It is annoying how people consistently tout the next year's recruits. This year's recruits were also one of the highest ranked classes in the nation, as was the year's class before that.

The key here is that the players are not developing and not playing as a team. Romar doesn't know what to do with them.

Stop praising the next year, who is to say that Isaiah will come in and be any better.

Posted by TorgDawg

9:11 PM, Jan 31, 2008

THE....WORST....HUSKY GAME I'VE SEEN AT HOME IN 5 YEARS.

Posted by jstevensdawg

9:27 PM, Jan 31, 2008

games like this make me wish we had never fired bender. wow, just WOW

Posted by mUj

9:42 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Terrible night for UW. Geno, maybe Huskies should learn from WSU how to win home games against Northern California team. Whoopps, I forgot WSU also got waxed by nobody at their home tonight.

Posted by Hmm

10:06 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Is wolf allergic to rebounds? 0 rebounds. wow.

Posted by justin

10:21 PM, Jan 31, 2008

that was the worst game i've seen the huskies play under lorenzo. an absolute meltdown, from top to bottom.

Posted by wayupwaydown

10:31 PM, Jan 31, 2008

Got home from the "game" a little while ago. Here are my observations:

I thought Brockman played like crap and then found out after the game he pulled a groin in practice this week. Considering that, he played about as well as expected. He probably should not have played. One bright side is he will now come back next year. No way will hematch up well agains big PF's in the NBA. He needs to shoot 1000 three's a day in the offseason.

Romar can be a stubborn idiot. No way should he have had Wallace start the second half. They needed to establish a run immediately and instead, got torched. Wallace sucked on both ends and the game was over 2 minutes into the second half.

QP played pretty well. He should have started the second half. Might have been a different game if they hadn't given it away at the start of the second half before he got in.

FT shooting is not getting better. It will not get better either.

Wolfinger has about a 4-5 inch vertical. I am not exaggerating. They jumped over him all night getting rebounds. I do not think he will be an effective player no matter how long he is here. He is just not very athletic. He tries hard, I feel sorry for him. I am thinking he is the one to go to make room for a scholarship next year. He can be a decent player in D2 or the Big Sky.

The Huskies full court press is a joke. I have yet to remember a steal in any game that they used it. Maybe they did late tonight, I left with 3 minutes to go. Full court D is about effort and speed. Theirs is about as bad as I have ever witnessed.

Stanford was a total mismatch inside. I think the Huskies will match up better with UCLA than with them. Not that they will beat UCLA.

I wanted to see Da Weed smoke tonight, but he never got lit off the Stanford bench. Who would name their kid that?

Maybe the Huskies can sneak into the NIT.

Posted by Geno

5:45 PM, Feb 01, 2008

thejanitor...the only thing anyone cares about when you are involved is insuring you clean the toilets....and clean they good!

After all, that IS your profession.