SEATTLE — Lorenzo Romar admitted a recruiting violation earlier this week.
That is, he recruited the wrong guy.
After courting La Mirada, Calif., star Derrick Williams to the University of Washington, Romar instead turned to another player _ presumably fellow big man Charles Garc
ia — as the anchor for his 2009 recruiting class.
Williams signed with USC, then backed out when coach Tim Floyd left, and ended up at the University of Arizona. While Garcia didn’t make grades and wound up transferring to Seattle University, Williams has emerged as the top player in the Pac-10.
“I didn’t know Derrick Williams would be doing what he’s doing,” Romar said Tuesday, then threw his hands into the air in mock surrender. “Self-reported.”
Tonight, the cornerstone of Arizona’s quick rebuilding project will bring the Wildcats into Hec Edmundson Pavilion for the first big showdown of the Pac-10 season.
Arizona entered the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ top 25 poll for the first time this season this week, while the 20th-ranked Huskies try to maintain their perch atop the Pac-10.
“I didn’t realize how big a game it was until this week,” UW junior Isaiah Thomas said. “They’re ranked now, and we’re the top two teams in the league. It is a big game. I’m ready for it, I’m going to make sure these guys are ready for it, and it’s at home, so even better.”
It’s way too early to start using the “big game” label, but the Pac-10’s only two one-loss teams will certainly be motivated by the opportunity to take sole possession of first place — for now.
Both the Huskies (13-4 overall, 5-1 in the Pac-10) and Wildcats (15-3, 4-1) had high expectations entering the 2010-11 season despite being in vastly different points on the long-term spectrum.
UW is coming off back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament and three Sweet 16 appearances in the past six years — a proverbial apex for the Huskies’ history.
Arizona is still trying to find its way back after snapping a 25-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances last season. The Wildcats appear to be headed in the right direction, thanks in large part to Williams.
When Sean Miller took over for interim coach Russ Pennell in April 2009, the proverbial cupboard was almost bare. The Wildcats had senior point guard Nic Wise and very little else, yet Miller landed some late recruiting gems in Williams, Solomon Hill, Lamont Jones and Kevin Parrom.
Since then, the Wildcats have gone 31-18 and are one win away from taking over sole possession of first place in the Pac-10.
“We’ve come a long way in a short period of time,” Miller said this week. “Moving forward, I like the progress that we’ve made — we certainly have made some progress — but I hope that a year or two from now we can look back and say that we were at the halfway point of where one day we would want to be.
“By the way, where we want to be is where Arizona has been for a long, long time before I ever came here.”
The Wildcats could take a big step in that direction tonight, but the Huskies aren’t going to give up their spot atop the perch willingly. UW has been the conference’s top team since last March, when the Huskies made an unexpected run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
UW appears on its way back to the postseason, but the first priority is to win the conference.
And today’s game could go a long way in that direction.
“We know what we’re in for,” UW senior Matthew Bryan-Amaning said. “Obviously, it’s another opportunity to play a top-25 team and hopefully have a good showing and get some eyes opened for later on in the year. We know what we’re trying to do.”
It’s still early, but the Huskies realize tonight’s game won’t be just another day at the court.
“We understand the importance of the game,” Romar said.
GRAFIC:
Tonight’s game
No. 20 UW men (13-4, 5-1) vs. Arizona (15-3, 4-1)
Where: Hec Edmundson Pavilion
When: 7:30 p.m.
TV/radio: Fox Sports Northwest/KJR (950 AM)
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