University of Washington
Houston Baptist
Romar Sends Messages, UW Routs Houston Baptist
November 25, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2011
Final Stats
UW-HBU Post Game Quotes 
By Gregg Bell
UW Director of Writing
SEATTLE - Lorenzo Romar was yanking starters off the floor so often, the Huskies' bench area could have used a turnstile to track all the substitutions.
After a week in which Washington coach demanded more movement, stronger fights through ball screens and better help-side defense, C.J. Wilcox and Aziz N'Diaye came out 84 seconds into Friday afternoon's game for poor defense. Soon, Romar was pulling Tony Wroten from the game for a second consecutive, no-look turnover.
"He told us it's about that time we start making strides. We know we have a lot of tough games coming up," Wilcox said, already looking ahead to next Friday's test at Nevada and then the trip to New York for marquee games against Marquette and Duke Dec. 6 and 10 at Madison Square Garden. "We've got to kick it in gear."
Wilcox shook off the hook - plus the concussion he sustained five days earlier in a blowout loss at Saint Louis - to score 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range. Terrence Ross also kicked it in gear with 13 points and a career-best 13 rebounds and four blocks. And the Huskies used a 21-1 run late in the first half to put away Houston Baptist 88-65 Friday afternoon before a somewhat subdued holiday crowd at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Ross' best feat on Friday may have been not getting pulled from the game during coach's pointed messaging and demand for increased accountability.
"I was just trying not to make mistakes," Ross deadpanned.
Romar explained the buck up this way: "It was giving them some rope, giving them some rope. Then, no more.
"We have big games coming up."
Wroten added 14 points, five assists - a couple flashy, no-look ones - and six steals, with six turnovers. Redshirt freshman Desmond Simmons scored a season-high 10 for Washington (4-1), which did much of what Romar demanded after Saint Louis.
The Huskies ran offensive plays with better ball movement to create much better shots for Wilcox (7 for 13 overall on field goals) and Ross (5 for 10). They moved better without the ball to run those plays, instead of forcing up quick shots.
Of course, Houston Baptist (2-4), which is four seasons into a transition from NAIA to Division I, didn't provide nearly as strong resistance defensively as rugged Saint Louis did. And Washington did have 16 turnovers for the second consecutive game.
"We were really playing against ourselves, to see if we could get better," Wilcox said. "We embarrassed everybody the way we came out in St. Louis. We knew we had to come out strong."
Was it strong enough to satisfy Romar?
Not completely.
"We we have to play much better," Romar said. "There were still too many open looks (including on consecutive possessions for 3-pointers by Houston Baptist that made it 14-13 Huskies, just before the decisive run). They were still able to pull down offensive boards, 14. That's just too many.
"We have to reach our potential in all areas, for when we aren't hitting our shots. ... In the next two or three weeks, we're going to be playing games that we'll be comparable for league play."
The father of three grown daughters likened the treatment to those that parents give children they warn repeatedly not to do something before the hammer finally has to fall.
"The severity of some things we take for granted," Romar said. "We've all been there: When you're younger, there are certain things you don't really pay close attention to because you don't think it's that big a deal. There are consequences. When we do enough of those with things that have a negative impact on the game defensively, we don't give ourselves a chance.
"So there was a lot of accountability out there, probably more on the defensive end."
Wroten again wowed the home crowd of 9,273 with fancy passes and daring drives. But the heralded, 6-foot-5 freshman point guard from Seattle also turned the ball over on wild rushes into the lane against multiple defenders.
Romar pulled him after consecutive misplays. Wroten understood why.
"He was sending a message to all of us. You make a mistake, you are coming out," Wroten said. "He is making a statement that we can be a very good team, we just have to cut down on our mistakes."
And there are no hard feelings.
"He loves watching me play, even as a coach," Wroten said, wryly. "He just wants to cut down on our mistakes. He knows what our potential is."
Romar thought Wroten grew exponentially during Friday's game.
After his early benching, Wroten returned and delivered what his coach called a "textbook" bounce pass to Gaddy on another break. Wroten then rushed down court after one of HBU's 21 turnovers. The crowd buzzed with anticipation of what he might try next.
The fans were surprised and a tad disappointed when Wroten saw the Huskies had no advantage and calmly dribbled the ball back outside to set a half-court play -- as if he was the more veteran Gaddy.
Romar loved it.
"Lots of stuff was going on with Tony Wroten in this game. He was all over the place," Romar said, meaning in a good way.
"I think he made a lot of progress today."
Senior Darnell Gant and freshman Martin Breunig led a succession of Huskies that began closing out more on 3-point shooters, something Washington failed to do while falling behind by as many as 29 five days earlier at Saint Louis. The better perimeter defense held Houston Baptist without a field goal for 8 ½ minutes of the decisive opening half.
The 6-foot-8 Breunig also provided instant energy offensively on the boards, again earning Romar's praise for his quickness and overall impact on the game.
Meanwhile, UW began running more complete plays on offense. Gaddy drove inside to draw defenders then passed out to Wilcox for a wide-open 3. Gant drove the baseline then found Ross spotted on the opposite wing with a skip pass and another 3.
Washington's 21-1 run late in the half increased the lead to 40-20. It was 42-26 at halftime.
"When we have any runs, it's usually because of defense," Romar said.
They need far more of that over these next three, telling games.
QUICK SHOT: Gant's only two baskets were whoppers: A soaring put-back, one-handed slam off a miss by N'Diaye and a right-handed, windmill of a jam to end a fast break on consecutive second-half possessions. ... Romar said senior sharpshooter Scott Suggs remains on track to attempt a season debut Dec. 6 in the Marquette game. He had surgery on a broken foot Oct. 14. Romar acknowledges minutes will be at more of a premium when Suggs returns, though with the way Suggs can shoot and with how well he knows Romar's defensive system that could become a good problem to have. ... This was the 31st consecutive non-conference victory for UW at home. ... It was also Romar's 199th victory as Washington's coach. He is 199-103 in 10 seasons here.
