Husky Men's Basketball Blog

Do you think that Bank of America Arena has the attention of the Pac-10? Never you mind the fact that the Huskies are unbeaten at home for more than a calendar year. Forget the fact that it is nearly impossible to get in the door on game night. Coaches for other teams are scared. Actually, they are terrified.

While the Huskies were slowly killing the will of the Cougars this weekend, reputable WSU coach Dick Bennett made an obscene gesture to the student section. He immediately was remorseful, so sorry he did it, yadda yadda yadda. Ernie Kent complained that the students were too close to the visitors bench and that “the situation could provoke something similar to what we saw in Detroit in November.”

PUH-LEASE.

I’ve seen the students. They are loud, rowdy and into games. They aren’t violent. They aren’t threatening. They boo the opposing teams. They ride opposing players. But they aren’t dangerous or threatening to visitors. What’s happening here is something we have longed for at Hec Ed. People are making excuses when they come to town. They need a scapegoat for why they played so poorly.

The fact of the matter is, it’s nearly impossible right now to come into Seattle and steal a win. The team is too good, and the fans are too loud. That’s what it is. I’m willing to bet that when Coach K first turned Duke around some 25 years ago people said the same thing about Cameron Indoor Arena. Now, it’s one of the most hallowed grounds in college basketball. I love the fact that some of the best coaches in the land can’t handle coming to Seattle.

The Huskies have to endure it when they go on the road. This weekend at the Arizona schools is going to be brutal. The fans in Tucson will certainly have not forgotten what happened last year, and they will surely be all over Lorenzo Romar and his bunch. So this weekend, when the crowds are rowdy and berating the Huskies, look for Lorenzo Romar to take it all in stride and maybe even smile a little. Do you think opposing coaches and crowds would react this way if they didn’t know just how damn good this Husky team is?