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When UW returns to the floor at Alaska Airlines Arena today against Stanford, there should be a noticeable increase in focus and intensity, and a clear sense of urgency.
Because coach Lorenzo Romar simply isn’t going to stand for a third consecutive game where his team comes out and plays uninspired basketball.
In the Huskies’ last two home games, they came out sluggish and sloppy and found themselves trailing at halftime.
It started last Sunday against Washington State. Against an arch-rival and with a sold out crowd watching, UW (11-7 overall, 4-2 Pacific-12 Conference) still came out flat. The Huskies slogged their way through a first half in which they shot 29 percent from the field, 23 percent from 3-point range and 40 percent from the free-throw line. Washington also turned the ball over eight times and, not surprisingly, was trailing the Cougars 31-25 at halftime.
“We just kind of played like we were in a fog, offensively,” Romar said after the game. “We had some breakdowns defensively based on the (scouting report) and what we were supposed to do. We weren’t playing with a ton of confidence.”
Fortunately for the Huskies, they were able to pull out of their doldrums and rally for 75-65 victory.
Then on Thursday night, in an ultra-important Pac-12 game against California with conference lead at stake, Washington came out stagnant again.
The Huskies shot 34.5 percent from the field (10 of 29), 1-for-8 from 3-point range, and 4-for-8 from the free-throw line, and had just one assist. Not surprisingly, Cal lead at halftime, 35-25.
“My biggest gripe tonight is that we kind of repeated our mistakes (from the Cougars game),” Romar said afterward. “We didn’t come out with the type of fire, and I shouldn’t say fire because I thought we played hard, but not with the type of concentration we needed.”
Terrence Ross wasn’t quite as kind about the Huskies’ effort.
“We came out really lethargic, dead and slow,” Ross said. “Everything that could go wrong in the first half, kind of did.”
And this time there would be no comeback. Cal was too disciplined, too good to let Washington produce another comeback win.
“It picked up more in the second half but against a team like that it wasn’t good enough to overcome the deficit,” Romar said.
In conference play, it’s tough to continually get behind and be forced to battle back. The games are that much more competitive, and teams are much better scouted.
“It’s very difficult,” Romar said. “When a team gets down like we did, it’s tough to come all the way back.”
Ross knows they can’t continue to play like they have been – particularly with C.J. Wilcox out with a stress fracture.
“We have to make sure we don’t come out like this,” Ross said after the Cal loss. “We know that if we come out the way we did in the last two games, it’s probably going to be similar outcome. We have to make sure we come out with (an aggressive) mindset early and be ready to go to take care of things in the first half.”
The competition doesn’t get any easier for the Huskies against Stanford.
The Cardinal (15-4, 5-2) slipped up against Washington State on Thursday night in Pullman, losing 81-69, but Romar knows the visitors present some serious problems.
“Stanford is long and athletic,” Romar said, drawing out the word “long.” “It can really bother you when you are on drives to the basket and closing out on jumpshots.”
The Cardinal has six players 6-foot-8 or taller and all of them can and will play on most nights. The toughest of those is 6-8 senior forward Josh Owens. He is one of the best players in the conference, averaging 14.1 points and 6.1 rebounds a game, while shooting more than 60 percent from the field.
“He’s playing like a senior,” Romar said.
But Stanford isn’t just a big. The Cardinal also is capable of shooting from 3-point range. Sophomore Aaron Bright and freshman Chasson Randle are the keys to Stanford’s success. They need to knock down shots from the outside to keep teams off of Owens inside. Thus far, with the exception of the game against the Cougars, the Cardinal has done that.
“Bright is having a phenomenal year,” Romar said of the Bellevue High graduate. “He could be the most improved player in the conference.”
How good is Stanford?
The Cardinal lost to top-ranked and undefeated Syracuse, 69-63 in Madison Square Garden earlier in the year. Stanford led late but couldn’t close out the Orange. No team has played Syracuse tougher.
It’s not a team Washington can afford to come out flat against.
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
TODAY
Washington vs. Stanford, 3 p.m., Root Sports, 950-AM, 102.9-FM
Preview capsule, B3 HUSKIES GAMEDAY
STANFORD (15-4, 5-2 PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCE) AT WASHINGTON (11-7, 4-2)
3 p.m., Alaska Airlines Arena, SEATTLE.
TV: Root Sports. Radio: 950-AM, 102.9-FM.
Series: The teams first met in 1916, and over the years Stanford leads the all-time series 70-66. But during the past few seasons, Washington has dominated, winning seven out of the last eight games since the 2009 season. The last time the Cardinal picked up a victory in Seattle was Jan. 31, 2008 behind towering twin brothers Brooke and Robin Lopez.
PROBABLE STARTERS
STANFORD
NamePos.PPGRPGAPGFG%FT%
Aaron BrightG12.11.53.544.778.3
Chasson RandleG12.33.32.342.974.1
Josh OwensF14.16.10.862.261.1
Anthony BrownF7.63.41.136.169.0
Andrew ZimmermanC3.11.51.051.146.2
Washington
NamePos.PPGRPGAPGFG%FT%
Abdul GaddyG8.72.74.742.165.9
Terrence RossG15.16.51.845.272.3
Tony WrotenG16.64.53.347.455.5
Desmond SimmonsF5.96.21.145.562.9
Aziz N’DiayeC8.68.20.354.242.9
Scouting report: Both teams are coming off of frustrating and disappointing losses, but it’s tough to say which team should be more upset. Washington lost to the best team in the conference in Cal, and had a chance to tie the game late. The Huskies somehow came out a little flat and managed to fall behind for the second straight game at Alaska Airlines Arena. That just can’t happen for the Huskies, not at home. Stanford struggled on the Palouse and lost to an enigmatic Washington State team that had also lost to Utah this season. The Cardinal seemed content to shoot 3-pointers – 33 total, making just eight – against the Cougars’ 2-3 zone instead of using its distinct height advantage. The Cardinal has five players 6-foot-8 or taller, and forward Josh Owens has turned himself into one of the best players in the Pac-12. Guards Chasson Randle and Aaron Bright are capable of making the 3-point shot. But Stanford wants to play inside out with Owens being the focal point. Washington will still be without C.J. Wilcox, who is out with a stress fracture in his thigh bone. His absence not only means that a 15-point scorer is missing, but it also forces UW coach Lorenzo Romar to play 2-3 zone more often in the first half in order to save his players’ legs for the pressure defense. Because of the lack of depth and possible foul trouble, the Huskies simply cannot play their normal pressure man-to-man defense the entire game.
Next: Thursday at Arizona State, 5:30 p.m., Tempe, Ariz.
Ryan Divish, staff writer
