Huskies crank up pressure

  • By Mike Allende / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, March 16, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

SAN DIEGO – Washington pressured the perimeter and caused all sorts of problems for Utah State’s guards. The Huskies shot the ball well from the outside and kept the game at a relatively high pace.

But when it came to Washington’s play in the post in its 75-61 victory over Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday, the Huskies were severely lacking.

Outside of Jamaal Williams, the Huskies got no offense inside, and only Brandon Roy seemed comfortable driving to the basket against Utah State’s zone defense. More of a problem was the fact that Washington did a poor job of defending the post, and an even worse job of rebounding against a team that was no bigger and was far less athletic.

Utah State had 38 points in the paint and outrebounded the Huskies 35-22. However Washington coach Lorenzo Romar says it was more a matter of the style it played against the Aggies than any breakdowns.

“Because we were applying so much pressure out front, it’s going to open something up, something’s got to give,” Romar said. “We felt if we could pressure as best we could, maybe on the inside they might get a little bit, that’s going to happen. They got some back doors but maybe they get four or five back doors, if you compare that to the 22 turnovers, we’ll take that trade off.”

Indeed, Washington was so aggressive on the perimeter, it forced a school NCAA Tournament-record 11 steals and forced 22 turnovers, leading to 24 points. It did leave the Huskies out of position to rebound or defend inside, but that’s something the Huskies were willing to give up. Washington felt it had to focus on stopping Utah State’s outside shooters, who had helped the Aggies rank fourth in the nation in 3-point shooting at 40.5 percent. Against Washington, Utah State was 3-for-13 on threes.

“That’s a team that lives and dies by the threes,” UW senior Mike Jensen said. “They’re the fourth-best 3-point shooting team in the nation. You can’t take everything away. We didn’t want to give up threes all night.”

On offense, Washington got little in the post beyond Jamaal Williams and Brandon Roy. Jon Brockman had no points and just one shot to go with four rebounds, and Jensen, though more of a perimeter player anyway, had seven points and three rebounds.

But Romar said that was more a matter of Roy and Williams being so hot and that the team just kept going to them.

Washington will have to get better rebounding and will have to defend more aggressively on Saturday against a much bigger and more athletic Illinois team. But the players believe that they will adjust the game plan to fit that, just as they did against Utah State.

“Any time you pressure the way we pressure, you’ve got to give something up,” Jensen said. “Sometimes teams are going to make runs on us, sometimes the pressure doesn’t work, but over the course of the game we rely on the fact that they’re going to turn the ball over more and we’re going to get easy baskets out of it.”

“They’re a talented group down low,” Brockman said of Utah State. “They’ve got some good players. But we pressured them and of course we’re going to give a few things up. Overall we did a good job of taking them out of what they wanted to do.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

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.