Husky men taking pride in defense

  • By Tim Booth Associated Press
  • Friday, January 18, 2013 11:35pm
  • SportsSports

SEATTLE — Even in the past when the Washington Huskies were pretty good defensively, their fast-paced offense always seemed to get the attention.

It’s easy to overlook the defense when future NBA players such as Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Quincy Pondexter, Spencer Hawes, Isaiah Thomas and Terrence Ross are cycling through your program.

But the reason Washington has turned around a stumbling start this season — and won 10 of its past 12 games — is because of the effort and improvement being made on the defensive end. After Wednesday night’s 64-54 victory over Colorado, the Huskies are 4-0 in the Pac-12 and are allowing just 56 points per game in conference play.

It’s early and the Huskies have yet to see any of the Pac-12 squads ranked in the AP Top 25 — Arizona (No. 7), Oregon (21) and UCLA (24) — but UW coach Lorenzo Romar has his team on pace to be the finest defensive squad in his tenure.

“It’s both our attitude and us figuring things out,” Washington point guard Abdul Gaddy said. “We take pride in our defense, we don’t like when people score on us. We’re really starting to jell, which is the main thing.”

Romar has preached defense since coming to Washington and it has often been a struggle. Yet this group has figured out the principles needed to be successful.

For the season, the Huskies are giving up 64.9 points per game, which would be the lowest in Romar’s tenure by nearly five points. Teams are shooting just 41 percent from the floor this season and just 37 percent in Washington’s four conference games. The Huskies have held seven of their past nine opponents under 40 percent shooting. They’ve accomplished that in each of their first four conference games, only the second time under Romar that the Huskies have held four straight opponents under the 40-percent mark.

Now in his 11th season, Romar has never had a team that has allowed less than 66 points per game in Pac-12 play or lower than 42 percent shooting. Even in their best seasons, when Washington reached the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament — 2005, 2006 and 2010 — the Huskies allowed around 70 points per game.

The Huskies’ current style of play might be a little ugly when compared to Washington teams of the past, but Romar doesn’t mind.

“You can color it any way you want to color it,” Romar said. “I just know that when you go out and you play two games in a row and you have single-digit turnovers, you hold four teams to under 40 percent from the field, you out-rebound three out of the four, you’re beginning to do things right.”

The defensive improvement this year has many layers, and it starts at the other end of the floor. Washington made the switch in the offseason to a high-post offense. It was a choppy transition at the beginning of the season, so much so that Romar reverted to the motion offense for stretches. But it’s become more efficient of late. The net result of running an offense that requires more passing, more precision, is that the Huskies put up fewer shots and run more time off the clock.

Washington is attempting seven fewer shots per game compared to last season. In turn, games are played at a slower pace and Washington is defending for fewer possessions.

Additionally, the Huskies have figured out how to use their length to cause defensive headaches. The Huskies are not a team filled with towering bodies, but guards C.J. Wilcox and Scott Suggs are 6-foot-5 and 6-6, respectively, with long arms and the ability to make passing lanes shrink.

Then there is 7-footer center Aziz N’Diaye.

N’Diaye has improved his lateral speed and has become very good at coming from the opposite side of the lane to alter shots. N’Diaye has 10 blocks in the past four games and he’s stayed out of foul trouble.

“We always knew we could play good defense, and we came into the season saying that that is what we needed to do,” Wilcox said. “It just took some time to get through our heads that that is what we needed to do and we’re starting to learn that, and get better game by game.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

NHL players, owners vote to ratify 4-year CBA

Notable changes include an 84-game season starting in 2026, shorter contract terms.

Paolo Banchero, Orlando agree to max contract extension

The former O’Dea star could earn up to $287 million over five years.

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.