Pac-12’s first-place Huskies take on Arizona

  • By Rich Myhre Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, January 13, 2016 9:55pm
  • SportsSports

SEATTLE — Three games into the Pacific-12 Conference season, the freshman-laden University of Washington men’s basketball team is the league’s surprising leader.

Of course, given that two of those victories came in overtime against UCLA and Washington State, and the third required rallying from a 22-point deficit against USC, the 3-0 Huskies are not all that far from being 0-3. Which is something that UW coach Lorenzo Romar — tickled though he is to be unbeaten in conference play — is quick to point out.

“I feel like we’ve had to constantly remind (the players) about that,” Romar said. “As we told our team (earlier this week), the league is going to get better. And if we don’t get better, these three wins are just fool’s gold.”

As the Huskies prepare for tonight’s game at Arizona, followed by a Saturday afternoon visit to Arizona State, “there are definitely areas of improvement on our end that we have to get better at,” Romar said. “I think we understand that. I think before conference started we had a little bit of a feeling that, ‘We’re playing at home and we’re going to win all these games.’ But I don’t think we have (that feeling) now.”

Moreover, Romar remembers his 2012-13 team that started the Pac-12 schedule with four straight wins, but then lost seven of its next eight games on the way to a final 9-9 league record.

“I’ve just learned from experience that it’s too early to start talking about (expectations based on a strong start),” he said, adding, “We’ve played three (Pac-12) games and we have 15 to go. Today we wouldn’t trade it to be 0-3, but there’s just so much time (left in the season).”

If the Huskies are to continue their winning ways tonight, they will have to do so in one of the league’s most forbidding venues, Tucson’s McKale Center. Certainly it has been troublesome for Washington in recent years, with the Huskies losing seven of their last eight games at Arizona (the two teams did not play in Tucson a year ago).

“The last few years Arizona has been one of the top teams in America,” Romar said. “We’ve just been outclassed. We weren’t at their level the last few years.”

Even though Washington’s freshmen — there are seven, including four in the starting lineup — have never played at the McKale Center, they are expecting a hostile reception.

“It’s a tough place to play,” acknowledged freshman guard Dejounte Murray, the team leader in assists (4.6 per game) who is also the second leading scorer (15.2) and third leading rebounder (5.9).

The game is already a sellout, added freshman center Noah Dickerson, so “it’s going to be crazy.”

As for the Huskies, they are showing continuing growth. Perhaps no player has improved more since the start of the season than Murray, the product of Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School. Though still sometimes prone to ill-advised shots and turnovers, he has become one of the team’s most dependable scorers.

“Right now I think he’s playing as well as any freshman in the conference, and playing better than most in the country,” Romar said. “He’s a very good basketball player.”

But no UW players had made more impact this season than guard Andrew Andrews, the only senior on the team and the only non-freshman starter. Despite being just 6 feet 2 inches, he leads the team in both scoring (21.6) and rebounds (6.5).

“Andrew Andrews is the player of the year, in my opinion, if we had to stop today in conference play,” Romar said. “He’s played a huge part. … He’s having quite a season so far, and I couldn’t be more proud of him, I’ll tell you that.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Snohomish sophomore Deyton Wheat (22) celebrates his go-ahead, three-run home run with senior Brayden Holscher (11) during the Panthers' 4-2 win against Monroe in a District 1 3A consolation game in Woodinville, Washington on May 17, 2025. (Photo Courtesy: Brea Bursch / Snohomish Baseball)
Snohomish, Shorewood earn state baseball tourney berths

Panthers top Monroe 4-2, Stormrays blank Edmonds-Woodway 7-0 in District 1 3A consolation.

File Photo: Stanwood senior Gavin Gehrman delivers a pitch during the Spartans' 8-3 win against Arlington in Stanwood, Washington on March 19, 2025. In Stanwood's 7-4 loss to Mount Vernon in the District 1 3A Championship on May 17, 2025, Gehrman went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood baseball slips in District 1 3A Championship

The Spartans’ early 3-0 lead crumbles as Mount Vernon wins 7-4 in comeback.

The Shorewood boys soccer team celebrates with their trophy after winning the District 1 3A title on May 17, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer storms to district three-peat

An early penalty lifted the Stormrays to a 1-0 win over Monroe in the title game.

Jackson’s Matea Lopez and Allie Thomsen leap in the air and high five during the 4A District 1 game against Lake Stevens on Friday, May 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Weekend prep softball roundup for May 16-17

Jackson takes third in bi-district tournament.

Stanwood players cheer as pitcher Addi Anderson lifts the 3A District 1 Championship trophy in the air after beating Sedro-Woolley for the title on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood softball ekes out District 1 3A title

The Spartans defeat top seed Sedro-Woolley 2-1 in 10 innings thanks to Addi Anderson’s gem.

Snohomish’s Abby Edwards yells after beating Edmonds-Woodway in the 3A District 1 consolation game on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish softball punches state tournament ticket

The Panthers stay hot after slow start to season with 12-2 win against Edmonds-Woodway.

Weekend prep track and field roundup for May 15-17

Weekend prep track & field roundup for May 15-17: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers:… Continue reading

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 4-10

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 4-10. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens shortstop Aspen Alexander nearly makes a sliding play in the field during a playoff loss to Bothell on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Thursday, May 15

Lake Stevens clinches first state berth in eight years.

Monroe’s Hadley Oylear fields the ball during the game against Stanwood on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Thursday, May 15

Monroe, Snohomish and Edmonds-Woodway clinch state spots.

Prep boys soccer roundup for Thursday, May 15

Lake Stevens clinches state berth, Archbishop Murphy avoids elimination

Jackson’s Chanyoung Park putts during the 4A District 1 Golf Tournament at Snohomish Golf Course on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chanyoung Park, Jackson girls golf claim District 1 4A titles

The sophomore headlines the Timberwolves’ underclassmen trio on the road to state.

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.