The Details: UW's Men And Women Push Toward Head Of The Pac(k)
December 31, 2014 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
At the end of the nonconference schedule, the Washington men's basketball team is 11-1. The women are 11-1. Before the season, the Huskies were picked to finish in the middle of the Pac(k)-12 – eighth and fifth, respectively.
The men have knocked off ranked teams in San Diego State and Oklahoma. The women are fresh off of a 21-point victory over No. 5 Texas A&M
To say the seasons so far have surprised those outside the program would be an understatement. But to the players and coaches, success is the byproduct of embracing internal goals.
Washington's basketball teams have combined to lose just two games, because they bought into the way coaches Lorenzo Romar and Mike Neighbors want to play.
The men's program changed its defensive system last season. The Huskies learned on the fly. Then they added Robert Upshaw, a healthy Jernard Jarreau and the combination of length, athleticism and want-to.
Even after Sunday's surprising loss to Stony Brook, opponents are making less than 34 percent of their shots against the Huskies.
Washington's basketball teams have combined to lose just two games, because they bought into the way coaches Lorenzo Romar and Mike Neighbors want to play.
The program heads into conference play as the No. 19 team in the nation. With the ranking comes a shift in expectations. Washington is trending toward the top of the conference, but the Seawolves provided a reminder that winning on a consistent basis requires a fierce focus.
The Huskies have shown the ability to dial in on defense. Their commitment to a gritty style of play has set a foundation that can produce wins in March. Wins against San Diego State and Oklahoma proved to Washington's players they can play with the best in the nation.
They now have an opportunity to carry that mentality into Pac-12 play.
Like the men, Washington's women are winning because they understand that team success requires individual sacrifice. Each player on the roster has embraced a role.
Kelsey Plum pours in points. So does Jazmine Davis. Aminah Williams crashes the glass. Talia Walton blocks shots.
This is an unselfish group that plays with something to prove. The Huskies sent a message against Texas A&M that the program is capable of making a tournament run in March.
Neighbors compared beating the Aggies to acing a final exam. The victory was the byproduct of preparation and execution.
It is one thing to beat a ranked team. It is quite another to blow out a top-five opponent.
Talk to both of Washington's basketball coaches and they will say there is still a lot of basketball to be played. An exemplary non-conference performance does not ensure Pac-12 success.
No longer expected to finish in the middle of the Pac(k), the Huskies have shifted their attention toward conference play.
The rest of the season hinges on the ability of both programs to push forward, to maintain their focus while keeping their edge. There is still plenty to prove.
An 11-1 start is nice, but Washington's basketball programs want to win in the postseason. The Huskies want victories in March. For the men and women, the non-conference records are impressive. But that is only one piece of the season.
No longer expected to finish in the middle of the Pac(k), the Huskies have shifted their attention toward conference play.
The next step begins this week. The new expectation for the men and women is to start 2015 in a fashion similar to the way they ended the previous year.
After 24 games, the Huskies have endured just two losses. That a great start. Time to finish.
