Will Conroy is a free man today.
After serving a one-game suspension for taking part in a non-sanctioned basketball game last May, the Washington Huskies’ starting point guard pronounced himself more than ready for today’s Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage.
“I’m outta jail,” Conroy said, smiling. “Unleash the Dawg.”
Conroy, Bobby Jones, Tre Simmons and Jamaal Williams were suspended from the Huskies’ season opener, an 89-71 victory over Seattle Pacific on Friday. Simmons, who participated in two ill-conceived games last spring, also will miss today’s tournament opener against Utah. Simmons will be eligible for the Huskies’ second-round game on Friday against either High Point or Oklahoma.
“It was very, very hard,” Conroy said about sitting out. “I was so into the game, my teammates had to hold me back during the game so I’d keep my feet off the court. I kept wanting to run onto the court. Now I know why coaches get technicals.”
Conroy won’t have to worry about that anymore. The 22nd-ranked Huskies, riding a wave of popularity following a season in which they unexpectedly crashed the NCAA tournament, face an unranked Utah team coached by former Washington assistant and ex-Eastern Washington coach Ray Giacoletti. The winner likely plays Oklahoma.
Of more interest to this media-loving bunch is that the high-profile tournament will be telecast nationally on ESPN2. Make no mistake – the Huskies believe they’ve arrived by getting exposure on the all-sports network.
“I’m not too thrilled about being away for Thanksgiving, but to look at the bright side, we get a chance to be on ESPN and get a chance to play against some good teams. We can show the nation that we deserve to be in the national spotlight,” said the Huskies’ Brandon Roy.
Bright lights for television cameras simply turn this team on. Never bashful last season about appearing nationwide in beating undefeated Stanford, traveling to North Carolina State and playing against Alabama-Birmingham in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the players see the immediate rewards.
UW coach Lorenzo Romar, however, sees the big picture in playing in the Great Alaska Shootout. He sees potential recruits watching a Washington team that loves to run, play pressure defense and execute the occasional acrobatic dunk.
“For us to be involved is a pretty special opportunity,” Romar said.
Romar said the program is getting feelers from even more prestigious tournaments. Though not yet nailed down, expect Washington, should it continue its upswing, to receive future invitations from Hawaii tournaments and perhaps even the Preseason NIT.
“Number one, you get extra games, and that’s what you want, because they don’t count against the schedule,” he said. “Right now, you’ve got games on all day from Maui. All of those games generate a lot of exposure.
“It also puts you in a position where you can play a high-level program on a neutral court. Scheduling is hard with some of these programs because you have to go to their place and play just one game.”
Right now, playing one game is enough for Conroy. At least the officials won’t slap a technical on him for stepping onto the court.
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