SEATTLE – University of Washington men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Romar was named the Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year Monday, but said it had less to do with him and more to do with his players.
“I’ve never seen a coach get a Coach of the Year award based on his knowledge,” Romar said. “It’s always based on how his team performs. And these guys came out and performed.”
Indeed, it helps to have a team as talented as the Huskies (24-5), who finished second in the Pac-10, were ranked as high as No. 10 and open the Pac-10 Tournament Thursday against Arizona State. It’s Washington’s best record in 52 years.
Washington guards Nate Robinson and Tre Simmons were named to the All-Pac-10 first team and Will Conroy and Brandon Roy were honorable mention. Joel Smith was an honorable mention choice to the All-Freshman team.
It’s the first time in 18 years that two UW players made the first team.
Romar, 46, returned to his alma matter three years ago and has compiled a 53-34 record with the Huskies. Last season he led Washington to a second-place Pac-10 finish and the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Huskies are considered one of the nation’s best teams, and Romar said it’s the most talented team he’s ever coached.
“The real deal is when you have a staff like we have here that have the vision to do a job and work hard,” Romar said. “And when you have athletes who are willing to work hard. I share this with all of them.”
“That’s big-time,” Robinson said of his coach’s honor. “I know down the line he’s going to get more of them.”
Arizona State’s Ike Diogu was named Pac-10 Player of the Year and UCLA’s Jordan Farmar was Freshman of the Year. The awards and all-star teams were voted on by the league’s coaches.
It was the second appearance on the first team for Robinson, a 5-foot-9 junior. Robinson is in the Pac-10’s top 10 in six categories including scoring (16.3), assists (4.9) and steals (1.83).
Simmons, a 6-5 senior, leads Washington in scoring (16.7) and is third in rebounding (4.9).
Roy overcame a torn anterior cruciate ligament to be named honorable mention, however Romar was disappointed that Conroy, his senior point guard, wasn’t named to the first team. Conroy leads the Pac-10 in assists and became the UW’s all-time leader in that category this season.
“You can’t be greedy, but I’d love to see Will on the team,” Romar said. “He’s come a long ways … I wish we could have more than what we had.”
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