Touted Huskies debut with share-the-wealth win

Huskies Hoops: Veterans lead, younger players follow in 77-48 UW victory over CWU

DON RUIZ; The News Tribune | • Published November 05, 2009

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Sporting their highest preseason ranking in almost a quarter century, the new-look Washington Huskies showed some of the reasons why in their season debut Wednesday.

The 14th-ranked Huskies led wire-to-wire in a 77-48 exhibition victory over Division II Central Washington before an announced crowd of 8,570 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Veterans led the way: 18 points from Isaiah Thomas, 15 from Quincy Pondexter, 11 from Venoy Overton.

Guard Noble’D Shelton of Auburn led the Wildcats with 10 points.

But Washington’s newcomers got a long look from coach Lorenzo Romar. Top recruit Abdul Gaddy had a game-high six assists. Clarence Trent threw down a late thunderous dunk on a lob from fellow-freshman C.J. Wilcox. And Tyreese Breshers had six points and three rebounds after sitting out last season with leg injuries.

Together, they showed some of the potential that has the Huskies ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press preseason poll. That’s UW’s highest preseason ranking since 1985, when they opened at No. 8. That team went on to win the conference title.

Last season, the Huskies peaked at No. 13 in the AP poll.

Washington begins its regular season Nov. 13 against Wright State in the first game of the Athletes in Action Classic at Hec Ed.

Early in Wednesday’s game, Thomas looked rushed and antsy.

He air-balled his first jump shot, a 3-point attempt. He missed a layup. He and fellow starting guard Overton missed open men ahead of them on fast breaks.

Yet Thomas hit consecutive 3-pointers to close the half. He swished the latter at the halftime buzzer then strutted back across halfcourt and patted Pondexter on the head for the pass.

When Gaddy entered for the first time 4 minutes into the game, a home crowd eager to see him roared. His first pass was a smooth entry feed inside to Breshers for a 3-point play. In the second half, Gaddy wowed the crowd with a windmill-like pass to classmate Wilcox for a layup on a baseline cut. That put Washington up 66-30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com

UW MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wednesday: UW 77, Central Washington 48 (exhibition)

Nov. 13: UW vs. Wright State, 7 p.m. at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, FSN

Nov. 14: UW vs. Belmont, 7 p.m. at Hec Edmundson Pavilion