West is best for UW men

  • By Scott M. Johnson Herald Writer
  • Sunday, March 14, 2010 9:10pm
  • SportsSports

SEATTLE — The University of Washington men’s basketball team will be playing in the East Region but on the West Coast when the NCAA tournament begins Thursday.

And that’s just fine with the Huskies.

UW has an all-time record of 9-4 in NCAA tournament games played in this part of the country, including a 5-2 mark since losing to Kentucky in Salt Lake City in a first-round game of the 1985 tourney. When playing in the Pacific time zone, UW is 9-2 in NCAA games.

“It can’t hurt, that’s for sure,” Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar said of playing on the West Coast in this year’s tournament.

UW (24-9) will play Marquette in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday.

The Huskies were given an 11th seed in the East Region, while Marquette is a No. 6 seed.

Romar and the UW players did not have any complaints about their seeding or the location of this week’s game. The announcement was made by CBS television on Sunday afternoon, when a few hundred UW fans were with the team at a viewing party inside Husky Stadium.

“All that matters is that we got in,” junior guard Venoy Overton said.

The Huskies’ first opponent, Marquette, didn’t sound entirely too happy about having to play a Pac-10 team on the West Coast. Golden Eagles coach Buzz Williams made reference to it several times during a Sunday night conference call with Seattle-area reporters.

“I definitely don’t think it’s an advantage,” he said of having to fly from Milwaukee to the Bay Area to face the Huskies. “… San Jose’s in Northern California, right? I just wanted to make sure it was as close to Washington as possible.”

Williams went on to tell reporters that he was “just joking with you guys” and added that he’s not going to complain about the site of Thursday’s opening-round game of the NCAA tournament.

“I haven’t earned enough equity in our business to do any sort of politicking,” he said. “We’re just thankful to be in the tournament.”

The Huskies were considered a bubble team before last week’s Pac-10 tournament. UW secured a spot in the NCAA field by beating Cal in the Pac-10 title game on Saturday afternoon.

Cal earned a No. 8 seed in the tournament and will face Louisville this week.

Gonzaga, which appeared likely to play its opening game in Spokane before losing to St. Mary’s in the championship game of the West Coast Conference tournament last week, will be headed to Buffalo, N.Y., as a No. 8 seed in the West Region.

The Huskies had a chance to play in Spokane, but they were just fine with their geographical destination of San Jose. It’s the third time UW will play an NCAA tournament game in California, having won two games in San Diego in 2006 and lost to Dayton in a 1984 Western Regional semifinal in Los Angeles.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

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.