Disastrous finish

By Bob Condotta

The News Tribune

LOS ANGELES – The University of Washington’s season died Thursday as it had lived for the previous three months – with a quick start that held such promise followed by a disastrous finish that called everything into question.

Mirroring the 6-2 beginning to their season that raised so much hope, the Huskies jumped out to a 13-point first-half lead against Oregon in the first round of the Pacific-10 Conference tournament at the Staples Center.

But just as the season then turned sour in stunning fashion, so did this game, as the Ducks roared back to outscore the Huskies 51-22 in the second half and take an easy 86-64 victory to advance to the semifinals.

The Huskies ended the year with an 11-18 overall record, making them 31-58 since Todd MacCulloch and Donald Watts departed after the 1999 season, and now head into an off-season filled with uncertainty.

Foremost is the question of whether coach Bob Bender, who is 116-142 in nine years at the UW, will be back for a 10th season.

Conventional wisdom has held that the UW’s late-season rally to qualify for this tournament will be enough to give Bender at least one more year. He has three years left on his contract that includes a buyout of roughly $290,000.

But neither Bender nor UW athletic director Barbara Hedges gave any definitive answers afterward.

“I want to be back as coach,” Bender said in a voice left horse from the emotion of the day. “But I haven’t even thought about it. I can’t give you an answer for it. It’s too soon to have any other feeling.”

Hedges said only that she and Bender will meet soon to discuss the state of the program, though she said she holds such meetings with all of her coaches following every season.

“This is business as usual,” Hedges said. “We will sit down as we always do and talk about the basketball program.”

But asked outright if Bender will be back next season, Hedges wouldn’t answer, repeating that she would have no further comment until her post-season meeting with Bender.

Most of the players, such as Doug Wrenn and Erroll Knight, said they expect Bender to be back.

“I love that guy,” Knight said. “He’s helped me come a long way this season.”

But point guard Curtis Allen of Wilson High, who has been unhappy about being benched the last few weeks, said “I don’t know, I really don’t know,” when asked if he expects Bender back.

Also in question is the future of Wrenn, who led the Huskies with 14 points but had just two in the second half as the UW melted down.

Wrenn said he will keep his options open concerning entering the NBA Draft, but that “right now I’m planning on coming back.”

“I have to talk to my coach and my family,” he added. “They have their own opinions about it and I have mine so I’m just going to wait and see what happens. Another year of college wouldn’t do me bad but I understand that people at the next level are looking at me.”

Wrenn appeared ready for the NBA in the first half when he hit fove of nine shots, including two 3-pointers, and helped hold Oregon’s Freddie Jones to two points and two turnovers in 18 minutes as the UW led 42-35. Oregon stayed in the game in the first half thanks mostly to a 22-13 rebounding edge, including 10 offensive boards.

But Oregon came out with renewed energy in the second half, particularly after a 10-minute delay 34 seconds into the second half due to a malfunctioning clock that seemed to sap the last of Washington’s momentum.

UW shot just 7-for-27 (25.9 percent) and had 16 turnovers in the second half as the Ducks quickly pulled away.

“As they increased the lead more we fell apart,’ ” said Knight, who had 10 points, all in the first half.

Afterward, Bender talked hopefully of the future and wistfully of the past.

All this team needs, he said, is to stay together, grow up and mature. But this season, he admitted, could have been better.

“This is a team that could have won more games and there is no one more accountable for that than me,” he said.

Just how accountable will soon be determined.