Head Coach: Lorenzo Romar
2008-09 Record (Pac-10): 26–9 (14–4)
2008-09 Postseason: NCAA: Defeated Mississippi State 71–58, lost to Purdue 76–74 in the second round
Key Losses: F Jon Brockman (14.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg), G Justin Dentmon (14.4 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg)

2009-10 Pac-10 Prediction: 2nd

Everything Isaiah Thomas promised as a freshman came true. The little guard with the heavyweight basketball name said his Huskies would demonstrate more backbone coming off a losing season, return to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence and be more exciting with him in the lineup.

In his first trip around the Pac-10, Thomas proved to be correct on all counts. Washington captured its first outright conference championship in 56 seasons. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament. And its 5'8" floor leader not only led the Huskies in scoring (15.5 ppg), but he was also named league Freshman of the Year.

So what does Thomas have in mind for his sophomore season?

“I believe we’re going to be better,” he says. “We might be more up-tempo.”

No one is arguing. This means the lefthander with the fearless manner and all the offensive moves probably will score a lot more points and keep Lorenzo Romar’s team firmly planted in the Pac-10’s upper division. Thomas headlines an experienced group that has three starters back and seven players who appeared in 30 games or more last season.

Thomas will have to forge ahead without the services of All-Pac-10 forward Jon Brockman, who graduated as the fourth most prolific rebounder in conference history. However, Thomas should find more backcourt freedom while teamed with point guard Abdul Gaddy, an elite recruit who shares the same hometown of Tacoma.

Frontcourt

Brockman and his 1,283 career rebounds have moved on, but the Huskies still have plenty of talent up front. Returning starters are senior swingman Quincy Pondexter, who comes off a solid and sometimes sensational season (12.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and 6'8" sophomore Darnell Gant, who proved to be particularly adept defensively, even guarding opposing guards at times.

These guys shouldn’t get too comfortable, though. They could lose considerable playing time to 6'9" junior Matthew Bryan-Amaning, an explosive dunker and shot-blocker who made great improvement last season, and redshirt freshman forward Tyreese Breshers, who carries a Charles Barkley physique. Breshers was forced to sit out his first season because he was slow to recover from shin surgery to correct a high school injury. “Tyreese will surprise people,” Thomas predicts. “He’s a big body.”

Backcourt

Thomas is the showcase piece of a Washington guard corps that could offer as much quickness as any team in the nation, allowing the Huskies to score at will and create havoc on defense. Opponents often tried to clog the inside and force Thomas to rely on his outside shot. He now has a better answer to that ploy.

Gaddy, who committed to Arizona before Lute Olson retired, is so gifted he might not stick around the college game as long as Thomas. A 6'3" playmaker, Gaddy has skills that will open up the offensive end for his teammates. “He makes the game look so easy,” Thomas says. “He can pass so well. Like Brandon Roy, he makes it look effortless.”

The Huskies are well stocked behind those two guards. Junior Venoy Overton, who was a starter as a freshman, might be the Pac-10’s most effective defensive player after a season of momentum-changing steals. Another lefty, Overton can drive to the basket but is held back by a suspect outside shot. In two seasons at UW, Overton has hit a total of 20 3-pointers, including only nine in 36 attempts last year.

Another defensive specialist is Justin Holiday, a 6'6" junior who appeared in every game and is an invaluable sub. Sophomore Elston Turner provides a potent 3-point shot. Sophomore Scott Suggs, another 6'6" backcourt player, can score but has been held back by defensive liabilities. Collectively, this group will dictate how the Huskies play.

“We don’t have to always feed it inside like last year,” Thomas says. “We can be more outside-in.”

Final Analysis

The Huskies have a guard-oriented team — reminiscent of the days of Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson — that should entertain their fans. Count on lots of fast breaks, points and steals.

This team’s primary concern is rebounding. Last year, thanks largely to Brockman, Washington led the Pac-10 in rebounds (41.1 per game) and rebounding margin (+8.2) by a significant amount. If the ’09-10 Huskies can do a merely adequate job on the boards, a second consecutive Pac-10 championship isn’t out of the question.