HUSKY BASKETBALL 2008-2009 Quick Facts Location / Zip Code....................................................... Seattle, Wash. / 98195 Population... 582,174 (city), 3,263,497 (metro) Founded... November 4, 1861 Enrollment... 42,000 (31,400 undergraduates) Nickname............................................................................ Huskies Mascot.................................................................... Alaskan Malamute School Colors... Purple & Gold School Song... Bow Down To Washington Arena (capacity)........................ Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion (10,000) Affiliation... NCAA Division I Conference... Pacific-10 Conference President... Dr. Mark Emmert (Washington 75) Acting Director of Athletics... Scott Woodward (LSU 85) Athletic Department Phone... 206 / 543-2210 History First Year of Basketball.... 1896 All-Time Record... 1564-1038 (.601) All-Time NCAA Tournament Record (Appearances)... 14-14 (13) Radio & TV Information Radio Rights Holder...Washington ISP Sports Network General Manager.......................................................... Chris Bloomfield Office Phone................................................................ 206 / 616-6842 Play-By-Play...Bob Rondeau Color Analyst... Jason Hamilton Local Television Rights Holder................................................... FSN Northwest General Manager............................................................. Mark Shuken Office Phone................................................................ 425 / 641-0104 Athletic Communications Associate Athletic Director, Communications (BKB Contact)...Richard Kilwien Email........................................................... rkilwien@u.washington.edu Office Phone................................................................ 206 / 543-2230 Director of Athletic Communications....Jeff Bechthold Athletic Communications Primary Phone........................................... 206 / 543-2230 Athletic Communications Fax..................................................... 206 / 543-5000 Mailing Address... Box 354070, Seattle, WA 98195-4070 Overnight Address... 227 Graves Hall, Seattle, WA 98195 Coaching Staff Basketball Office Primary Phone.................................................. 206 / 543-5260 Head Coach (Alma Mater, Yr.)...Lorenzo Romar (Cincinnati 92) Record at Washington (Yrs.)..................................................... 119-72 (6 years) Career Record (Yrs.).......................................................... 212-160 (12 years) Best time to reach coach....pac-10 Teleconferences / Contact SID Assistant Coaches (Alma Mater, Yr.) Cameron Dollar (UCLA 97) Paul Fortier (Washington 03) Jim Shaw (Western Oregon 85) Director of Basketball Operations................................................ Lance LaVetter Director of Video Operations.... Darren Talley Athletic Trainer (Basketball)..................................................... Patrick Jenkins 2008-09 Preseason Team Information Letterwinners Returning / Lost............................................................. 8 / 3 Starters Returning / Lost.................................................................. 3 / 2 Class Breakdown... Seniors (3), Juniors (2), Sophomores (3), Freshmen (5) TABLE OF CONTENTS This is Husky Basketball...1 Huskies in the Pros... 2-3 The Dawg Pack... 4-5 Husky Tradition... 6-7 Huskies in the NCAA Tournament... 8-9 The University of Washington... 10-11 Famous Husky Alumni... 12-13 Diversity on Campus... 14-15 Seattle: The Emerald City... 16-17 Bank of America Arena... 18-19 Locker Room... 20-21 Sports Performance... 22-23 Sports Medicine... 24-25 Academic Support... 26-27 Life as a Student-Athlete... 28-29 Foreign Tours... 30-31 UW Athletic Excellence... 32-33 The Pac-10 Conference... 34-35 Quick Facts and Table of Contents...36 2008-09 Rosters and Pronuciation Guide...37 2008-09 Season Outlook... 38-39 2008-09 Schedule...40 Meet the Huskies...41 Jon Brockman... 42-44 Tyreese Breshers...45 Matthew Bryan-Amaning... 46-47 Justin Dentmon... 48-50 Darnell Gant...51 Justin Holiday... 52-53 Venoy Overton... 54-55 Quincy Pondexter... 56-57 Scott Suggs...58 Isaiah Thomas...59 Elston Turner...60 Artem Wallace... 61-62 Joe Wolfinger... 63-64 Husky Coaches...65 Head Coach Lorenzo Romar... 66-70 Assistant Coaches... 71-73 Basketball Support Staff...74 University Administration...75 Athletic Department Staff... 76-78 Opponents... 79-102 2007-08 in Review...103 2007-08 Season Results...104 Overall/Pac-10 Statistics...105 Points-Rebounds-Assists...106 Season Highs&Lows...107 UW Game-By-Game Statistics...108 Opponent Game-By-Game Statistics...109 Graduated Players...110 Final Pac-10 Statistics...111 Pac-10 Conference Recap...112 Boxscores and Recaps... 113-122 Husky Records... 123-156 Husky History... 157-188 CREDITS: Washington Huskies Basketball 2008-09 was written and produced by the UW Athletic Communications Office. Graphic design and layout by Jonathan Soriano, with assistance from Evelyn Rice. Photography by Dale Garvey, Joanie Komura, Brian Spurlock, Bruce Terami and Max Waugh. Additional thanks and gratitude to all contributors to previous years media guides. 36
2008-09 NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Exp. Hometown 1 Venoy Overton G 5-11 185 So. 1V Seattle, Wash. 2 Isaiah Thomas G 5-9 180 Fr. HS Tacoma, Wash. 5 Justin Dentmon G 5-11 185 Sr. 3V Carbondale, Ill. 11 Matthew Bryan-Amaning F 6-9 235 So. 1V London, England 15 Scott Suggs G 6-6 190 Fr. HS Washington, Mo. 20 Quincy Pondexter F 6-6 215 Jr. 2V Fresno, Calif. 21 Artem Wallace C 6-8 250 Sr. 3V Toledo, Wash. 22 Justin Holiday F 6-6 178 So. 1V Chatsworth, Calif. 31 Elston Turner G 6-4 205 Fr. HS Missouri City, Texas 32 Joe Wolfinger# C 7-0 255 Jr. 1V Portland, Ore. 33 Tyreese Breshers F 6-7 255 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. 40 Jon Brockman F 6-7 255 Sr. 3V Snohomish. Wash. 44 Darnell Gant# F 6-8 215 Fr. RS Los Angeles, Calif. #utilized redshirt season 2008-09 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Exp. Hometown 33 Tyreese Breshers F 6-7 255 Fr. HS Los Angeles, Calif. 40 Jon Brockman F 6-7 255 Sr. 3V Snohomish. Wash. 11 Matthew Bryan-Amaning F 6-9 235 So. 1V London, England 5 Justin Dentmon G 5-11 185 Sr. 3V Carbondale, Ill. 44 Darnell Gant# F 6-8 215 Fr. RS Los Angeles, Calif. 22 Justin Holiday F 6-6 178 So. 1V Chatsworth, Calif. 1 Venoy Overton G 5-11 185 So. 1V Seattle, Wash. 20 Quincy Pondexter F 6-6 215 Jr. 2V Fresno, Calif. 15 Scott Suggs G 6-6 190 Fr. HS Washington, Mo. 2 Isaiah Thomas G 5-9 180 Fr. HS Tacoma, Wash. 31 Elston Turner G 6-4 205 Fr. HS Missouri City, Texas 21 Artem Wallace C 6-8 250 Sr. 3V Toledo, Wash. 32 Joe Wolfinger# C 7-0 255 Jr. 1V Portland, Ore. #utilized redshirt season Head Coach: Lorenzo Romar (Cincinnati 92) Assistant Coaches: Cameron Dollar (UCLA 97), Paul Fortier (Washington 03), Jim Shaw (Western Oregon 85) Director of Basketball Operations: Lance LaVetter Director of Video Operations: Darren Talley Athletic Trainer: Patrick Jenkins Managers: Trevor Wade, Seyi Oshinowo, Drew Curry, Ryan Warbis, Jordan En Wezoh By Class Seniors (3)...Brockman, Dentmon, Wallace Juniors (2)...Pondexter, Wolfinger Sophomores (3)...Bryan-Amaning, Holiday, Overton Redshirt Freshmen (1)...Gant Freshmen (4)...Breshers, Suggs, Thomas, Turner Pronunciation Guide Venoy Overton...vuh-NOY OVER-tun Tyreese Breshers....bruh-SHEARS Matthew Bryan-Amaning...AM (like ham)-uhn-ing Quincy Pondexter.................... PAWN-dexter Artem Wallace...R-tuhm Paul Fortier...FOUR-tee-ay 37
At first glance, it might appear as though the University of Washington men s basketball team is a one-man show. Even though All-America candidate Jon Brockman leads the way, a talented, deep and experienced squad returns to help recapture the program s recent NCAA Tournament glory. A total of 72 percent of the team s scoring and 83 percent of its rebounding return from last year s team that advanced to the inaugural CBI postseason tournament. Six players return who averaged at least 14 minutes of playing time per game, while five returning players started at least eight games. Early in head coach Lorenzo Romar s tenure at Washington, the Huskies were characterized as hard-nosed, athletic team that possessed players who would do whatever it took to win. Despite a rough stretch the last couple of seasons, it appears as though this year s team is ready to return to the style that has typified Romar s UW program. GUARDS Observers are quick to point out that the biggest question mark heading into this season for Washington is the team s outside shooting. With just two players returning at the guard position, that s a valid question. Due primarily to the loss of the school s all-time leading three-point shooter Ryan Appleby, Washington returns just 38 percent of its three-point offense from a year ago. However, the duo of Justin Dentmon (Carbondale, Ill.) and Venoy Overton (Seattle, Wash.) enter the season as two of the top guards in school history Dentmon is listed among the UW s top-five in career assists and steals and Overton is one of the top freshmen steals leaders. Dentmon has started 67 of his 98 appearances in three seasons and is UW s most experienced player in the backcourt. Overton started 26 games as a true freshman last year and finished seventh in the league in assist/ turnover ratio. A talented trio of freshmen are expected to make a significant impact this season for the Huskies. Scott Suggs (Washington, Mo.), Isaiah Thomas (Tacoma, Wash.) and Elston Turner (Missouri City, Texas) all bring outstanding prep credentials to the program and showed during the preseason that they will play a major role right away. Suggs was Mr. Basketball in the hoops-rich state of Missouri, while Turner is the son of the former NBA guard and current pro assistant by the same name. He played most of his high school career at Roseville (Calif.) High School before leading Ft. Bend Elkins in Texas to a 31-4 record as a senior. Thomas is a much-heralded local product who set several Washington state high school tournament scoring records and poured-in 51 points against Overton s Franklin High School in 2006. He spent the last two seasons at South Kent School in Connecticut. Returning (stats are from 2007-08 season) Justin Dentmon 5-11 185 Sr. 3V 9.4 3.3 3.2 Venoy Overton 5-11 185 So. 1V 4.9 1.9 3.2 Scott Suggs 6-6 190 Fr. HS Isaiah Thomas 5-9 180 Fr. HS Elston Turner 6-4 205 Fr. HS Lost Ryan Appleby 6-3 170 3V 11.2 1.2 1.4 Tim Morris 6-4 210 1V 7.2 3.6 1.9 Joel Smith 6-4 210 3V 4.1 2.0 1.2 FORWARDS With four players back who saw significant action last season and a player termed by ESPN.com as the nation s best rebounder, it might seem that the forward position could be a team strength for the Huskies. National player of the year candidate Brockman (Snohomish, Wash.) is the nation s leading returning rebounder and the Pac-10 s top active career scorer. He has started 95 of his 97 appearances as a Husky and could end his career as one of the top five scorers in school history. It is a fairly safe prediction to say that he will finish his time at the UW as the top rebounder in the school s history. In addition to Brockman, junior Quincy Pondexter (Fresno, Calif.) has quietly moved to within striking distance of 1,000 career points in his first two seasons. He showed his potential during the final five games of last season when he averaged 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and shot.518 from the field. Pondexter has 31 starts in his 63 career appearances and could be ready for a breakout season. Athletic sophomore Justin Holiday (Chatsworth, Calif.) proved his capabilities on the defensive end last season, while redshirt freshman Darnell Gant (Los Angeles, Calif.) enters the season expecting to compete for a starting position. 38
Returning Jon Brockman 6-7 255 Sr. 3V 13.4 9.2 1.0 Quincy Pondexter 6-6 215 Jr. 2V 10.3 4.4 1.7 Matthew Bryan-Amaning 6-9 235 So. 1V 4.2 3.2 0.4 Justin Holiday 6-6 178 So. 1V 0.7 1.3 0.4 Darnell Gant 6-8 215 Fr. RS Lost None CENTERS Not only do both of Washington s experienced big men return for 2008-09, they each have shown tremendous character to overcome major obstacles in order to make a contribution to the program. Senior Artem Wallace (Toldeo, Wash.) started 25 games last season, but suffered a major knee injury in the first minute of the team s final game of the season against Valparaiso in the CBI. He worked hard during the offseason and returned to 100 percent in time for the start of preseason workouts. Wolfinger has suffered from foot injuries throughout his career, but enters the season injury-free and is one of the team s better outside shooters. Despite his 7-0 frame, Wolfinger connected on 19-of-47 three-point attempts as a sophomore. Returning Joe Wolfinger 7-0 255 Jr. 1V 4.2 1.7 0.2 Artem Wallace 6-8 250 Sr. 3V 2.7 2.4 0.5 Lost None SCHEDULE Washington plays a total of 13 non-conference games during the preseason that are expected to prepare the team for the rigors of Pac-10 competition. A rare road opener, a matchup against the defending national champion and games against teams from power conferences such as the SEC, Big East and Big 12 highlight the UW s non-league schedule. I think we have a tougher schedule than people might think, said Romar. We open on the road in a difficult situation against a team that really gave us a tough time last season. We play several teams that are picked to either win their league or at least advance to post season. And, we have some higher-profile games against Kansas, Syracuse, Florida and Oklahoma State in the early part of the schedule. I d say that if we can successfully navigate that seven-game strech to start the season, we ll be in pretty good shape. For the first time in the Romar era, the Huskies open the season away from the friendly confines of Bank of America Arena. Washington travels approximately 180 miles south on Interstate-5 to play the University of Portland Pilots in its both teams opener on Nov. 15. The Huskies then return home for a pair of games that are part of the annual O Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic against Horizon League favorite Cleveland State and Florida International. Regardless of the outcome of those two games, Washington will travel to Kansas City, Mo. to play defending national champion Kansas in the semifinals and either Florida or Syracuse in the final round. Following the CBE Classic, the Huskies return home for an eight-game homestand beginning with Pacific on Nov. 29. On Dec. 4, the UW hosts Oklahoma State in the Big 12 / Pacific-10 Hardwood Series. The remaining part of the non-league schedule sees Washington host Texas Southern, Portland State, Eastern Washington, Lehigh, Montana and Morgan State. The Pac-10 sent nine of its teams to postseason in 2008 and, even though the perception is that the league won t be quite as strong as it was, most insiders believe that conference parity will lead to a more competitive race for the title. The Pac-10 will be tough this year, just as it is every year, said Romar. The league might not be as deep with All-Americans as it was last year, but I think that year-in and year-out it is arguably one of the top two or three leagues in the country. Washington open the Pac-10 season on Jan. 3 on the road at rival Washington State before hosting Stanford and California, each debuting new coaches, the following weekend. The Huskies will travel to Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State during the first half of the conference schedule. The regular-season ends with the Huskies hosting Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State in its final three games before heading to Los Angeles for the annual Pac-10 Tournament. 39
2008-09 SCHEDULE Date Opponent TV Site Time Nov. 6 Western Washington Seattle 7:00 Nov. 15 at Portland CSN NW Portland 8:00 Nov. 18 Cleveland State# Seattle 7:00 Nov. 20 Florida International# Seattle 7:00 Nov. 24 Kansas# ESPN2 Kansas City, Mo. 7:00 Nov. 25 Florida or Syracuse# TBD Kansas City, Mo. tba Nov. 29 Pacific FSN NW Seattle 1:00 Dec. 4 Oklahoma State% FSN Seattle 8:00 Dec. 6 Texas Southern FSN NW Seattle 6:30 Dec. 14 Portland State FSN NW Seattle 5:00 Dec. 20 Eastern Washington FSN NW Seattle 7:00 Dec. 23 Lehigh FSN NW Seattle 3:00 Dec. 28 Montana FSN NW Seattle 12:00 Dec. 30 Morgan State FSN NW Seattle 7:30 Jan. 3 at Washington State* FSN NW Pullman, Wash. 3:00 Jan. 8 Stanford* FSN NW Seattle 7:30 Jan. 10 California* FSN NW Seattle 3:00 Jan. 15 at Oregon* Eugene, Ore. 7:00 Jan. 17 at Oregon State* FSN NW Corvallis, Ore. 7:00 Jan. 22 USC* FSN Seattle 8:00 Jan. 24 UCLA* FSN Seattle 1:00 Jan. 29 at Arizona* FSN NW Tucson, Ariz. 5:30 Jan. 31 at Arizona State* FSN NW Tempe, Ariz. 2:30 Feb. 5 at California* FSN NW Berkeley, Calif. 7:30 Feb. 8 at Stanford* FSN Palo Alto, Calif. 2:30 Feb. 12 Oregon State FSN NW Seattle 8:00 Feb. 14 Oregon* FSN Seattle 12:00 Feb. 19 at UCLA* FSN Los Angeles 8:00 Feb. 21 at USC* FSN NW Los Angeles 4:00 Feb. 26 Arizona State* FSN NW Seattle 8:00 Feb. 28 Arizona* tba Seattle tba Mar. 7 Washington State* tba Seattle tba Postseason Schedule March 11-14 Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament, Staples Center, Los Angeles March 19-22 NCAA First & Second Rounds March 26-29 NCAA Regional Semis and Finals April 4-6 NCAA Final Four, Ford Field, Detroit, Mich. Key: # - O Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, Seattle/Kansas City; %Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series; *Pac-10 Conference opponent. All times listed are Pacific and subject to change. 40