ESPN Men's Basketball

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 334 Division I teams. To order the complete 2009-10 edition of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857.

(Information in this team report is as of Oct. 1.)

COACH AND PROGRAM

When Lorenzo Romar was a player he was a point guard. He had the ball in his hands, controlling the tempo and making decisions.

Maybe it explains his affinity for stockpiling guard talent as a coach. Sure, he'll take whatever big men want to come his way. Spencer Hawes spent a year in the program and went on to become a lottery pick.

Jon Brockman spent the last four years under Romar and ended up as the school's second-leading scorer and all-time leading rebounder.

But as best as Romar can recall, about the only season his team hasn't been perimeter-oriented in his seven years was the year he had Hawes and Brockman together. Otherwise, the Huskies are sending a lot of solid-handling, quick, strong, deep-shooting guards at their opposition, often in waves.

Players such as Nate Robinson and Brandon Roy have been tutored by Romar before they made a splash in the pros.

"We want to play fast, get out in transition and not pass up good shots," said Romar, the Pac-10 Coach of the Year last season after guiding the Huskies to a surprise regular-season league title. "It absolutely hurts to lose Jon, but it won't be much of a transition for us to be more perimeter-oriented. We've played that way almost the whole time I've been here.

Romar's team led the Pac-10 in scoring (78.6 ppg) last season. It also led the league in rebounding. It didn't shoot particularly well (.457, eighth in the Pac-10), but it generated so many possessions that it attempted and made more field goals than anybody else in the league.

That's what happens when you play fast and take open shots, even if they're early in the shot clock. And it doesn't hurt to have a player like Brockman to crash the boards and get you second chances.

Romar's second chance as a player came after his pro career, when he hooked up with Athletes in Action, the athletic division of Campus Crusade for Christ. He still was lightning quick with the ball, a handful for the college teams testing themselves against AIA. Eventually Romar became the player-coach of AIA. It was a perfect setup: No one could argue when he said he wanted the ball in the hands of his point guard.

Now he'll unleash a squad deep in guards but largely devoid of senior leadership. The roster features only one fourth-year player, but Romar isn't overly concerned.

"We have players on this team who are capable of leading," Romar said. "When you lose a couple of seniors who handled that role, other players have to pick up the slack. I see a lot of guys on this team who could fit that role. Now they have to step up and embrace it.

"If we get great leadership and the players who are projected to raise their games are able to do that then we'll be right where we want to be."

And right where they want to be is playing in the NCAA tournament again, for the fifth time in Romar's eight seasons.

PLAYERS

PG-ISAIAH THOMAS (5-8, 185 lbs., SO, #2, 15.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 28.4 mpg, .418 FG, .291 3PT, .686 FT, Curtis HS/Tacoma, Wash./South Kent School/South Kent, Conn.). The long wait for freshman Isaiah Thomas finally came to an end last season, and when he burst on the scene for the Huskies, he never looked back.

He had committed to UW early out of Curtis High School in University Place, Wash., just outside of Tacoma, but his academic standing was going to prevent him from qualifying. So he transferred to South Kent Prep School in Connecticut, where he played for two years and then gained admittance.

All the while Romar said he knew what he'd be getting. He insists nothing about Thomas' stunning freshman season surprised him. "No surprise at all. Zero," Romar said. "He doesn't fit the mold of a one or a two. He's just a guard who makes plays."

He made a ton of them last year, so many that he was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and a consensus freshman All-American. He had seven games in which he scored at least 20 points. He scored in double fig-ures in his first 11 Pac-10 games, including 24 in a home win against UCLA and 25 in a big win at Arizona State.

Thomas averaged 16.3 points in three games against Stanford. He impressed Cardinal coach Johnny Dawkins every time out. "He's a tough competitor," Dawkins said. "He never gets rattled. I haven't seen many freshmen at any level that come in and play with such an air about them. He was very, very good."

Romar was skeptical about Thomas' defense, and there are times when you can be exploited at only 5-8. "He at least made an effort to play defense," Romar said. "He became a functional defender."

SG-ABDUL GADDY (6-3, 190 lbs., FR, #10, 25.3 ppg, Bellarmine Prep/Tacoma, Wash.). Gaddy had com-mitted to Arizona but uncertainty about the Wildcats' coaching situation brought him back around to Romar and the Huskies program.

Gaddy is as highly ranked coming out of high school as any prospect UW has signed in recent memory other than Hawes. Like Hawes, he was a McDonald's All-American.

That should give you some idea about the ability of and the expectations on Gaddy. "He's as pure a point guard as we've ever had, maybe as pure as the program has ever had," Romar said. "He's a pass-first point guard, but he's capable of scoring 25. He can really deliver the basketball. He has a high basketball IQ, he's very likable, a good leader. And he's 6-3. "He's a guard who can make the pass and make good decisions. He can free up Isaiah to just roam more offensively."

Romar stopped short of saying Gaddy would be a starter from day one, but he didn't rule it out either. He also hasn't arrived at a decision about starting three guards or three frontcourt players.

SF-QUINCY PONDEXTER (6-6, 215 lbs., SR, #20, 12.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 28.1 mpg, .511 FG, .214 3PT, .742 FT, San Joaquin Memorial/Fresno, Calif.). Pondexter is running out of time to have the breakout season everyone has been waiting for from him since he arrived on campus out of Fresno (Calif.) San Joaquin Memorial High School, where he played with the Lopez twins.

It cuts both ways that he has been chosen UW's Most Improved Player the last two seasons. Yes, it shows he's making progress, but it also means he has reached his final season and hasn't realized his full potential.

"Quincy, I think, could have a phenomenal year," Romar said. "I think if you look at our last 10-12-14 games he was our leading scorer. I felt like in our two NCAA tournament games he was as good as anyone on the floor for either team."

Pondexter did, in fact, play the best basketball of his career down the stretch last season. Once the calendar hit February he turned up his game. He averaged 14.7 points over the final 14 games, including six games of 20 or more.

In the Huskies' first-round NCAA win over Mississippi State he posted 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. In the second-round loss to Purdue he went for a double-double, just his third of the season, with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

He continued his excellent play in the summer, making the U.S team for the World University Games. The team included such other top college players as Craig Brackins of Iowa State, James Anderson of Oklahoma State, Jarvis Varnado of Mississippi State, Trevor Booker of Clemson and Robbie Hummel of Purdue.

"Making that team was a great experience for him," Romar said. "I see him having a great senior year. He could lead us in scoring and rebounding. We need him to play like a senior. He has to do it statistically and in terms of leadership. He's a veteran. I think he's ready."

PF-DARNELL GANT (6-8, 225 lbs., SO, #44, 3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, 18.3 mpg, .366 FG, .704 FT, Crenshaw HS/Los Angeles, Calif.). Last year as a red-shirt freshman, Gant started 34-of-35 games. He's a coaches' favorite because of his attitude and work ethic.

He ranked fourth on the team in rebounding, and he provided a physical presence to go along with Brockman. "Darnell played a great role last year," Romar said. "He's a good defender, and he can hit open shots."

Gant didn't shoot it particularly well last season, but at least he didn't shoot it very often either (3.5 attempts per game). He'll need to take more shots this season and dramatically improve his shooting percentage. "With his freshman year under his belt, he can assume an even bigger role," Romar said. "He can do what he did but at a higher level now."

PF-MATTHEW BRYAN-AMANING (6-9, 240 lbs., JR, #11, 6.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.0 bpg, 16.7 mpg, .451 FG, .597 FT, South Kent School/South Kent, Conn.). The time has come for Bryan-Amaning to arrive. Another heralded recruit, he hasn't quite lived up to the billing, though he has shown flashes. He was third on the team in rebounding, and his average projected over 40 minutes would be 9.6 rebounds per game, an im-pressive number.

He has excellent size and is a highly skilled player. "We seem to have guys like Isaiah and Quincy and a couple of others who proved themselves last year," Ro-mar said. "He needs to take the next step. Matthew needs to play up to expectations. He's probably our most talented frontcourt player. He's a skilled inside guy. He can step out at times and drive the ball."

Bryan-Amaning scored in double figures six times last season and even had a pair of double-doubles. But his playing time dwindled down the stretch. In games in which he played at least 20 minutes, he averaged 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Those are the kind of numbers Romar would love to see from Bryan-Amaning or Gant because they would go a long way toward offsetting the loss of Brockman.

G-VENOY OVERTON (5-11, 185 lbs., JR, #1, 5.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.3 spg, 20.5 mpg, .425 FG, .250 3PT, .767 FT, Franklin HS/Seattle, Wash.). Overton appeared in all 35 games and even made one start.

He could break into the starting lineup this season if Romar is comfortable going small, with Overton and Thomas both shorter than 6-0. Both of them can play plenty big, though. Overton was third on the team in assists and sixth in scoring. He reached double figures five times, including 14 points against Washington State.

But his real value is in his defense. He was honorable mention on the All-Pac-10 defensive team, but Romar wouldn't trade him on that end of the floor for anybody. "I think he's one of the top defensive guards in the country," Romar said. "He does a great job when we're up trying to pressure the basketball. He does a fantastic job of setting up the defense, and he applies tremendous pressure. He's very tough, very feisty. He's our best on-ball defender."

His offensive game is still a work in progress. He's extremely fast with the ball, but his outside shot needs work. "Taking threes is not his strong suit," Romar said. "He has worked on it, but he's such a great slasher."

F-TYREESE BRESHERS (6-7, 255 lbs., FR, #33, 17.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 6.0 bpg, Price HS/Los Angeles, Calif.). Breshers is an intriguing prospect.

He missed last season with a broken shin, and he has had surgery and been cleared to return for the start of practice. His conditioning may take a little while, but once he's in shape, ex-pect him to work his way into a significant role. "He's bouncy and he has a 7-foot wingspan," Romar said. "He's got a Charles Barkley, DeJuan Blair-type frame. He's got tremendous size but he maintains that athleticism. He's probably one of the four or five fastest guys on the team. He's 'football-combine deluxe.' "

If Breshers is everything Romar believes, he either will provide quality depth in the frontcourt or work his way into the starting lineup.

G-ELSTON TURNER (6-4, 205 lbs., SO, #31, 3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.5 spg, 13.4 mpg, .381 FG, .368 3PT, .750 FT, Elkins HS/Missouri City, Texas). Turner had some nice moments in his first season. He posted 11 points against Kansas and 11 at Arizona.

Romar turned to Turner quite a bit in Washington's two NCAA tournament games. He played 18 minutes against Mississippi State and 22 minutes against Purdue, and he averaged five points and two assists. "He's a guy that could step up," Romar said. "He's a very good shooter. He's the son of a coach, too. He knows how to play. He has a high basketball IQ. "He's another guy in the backcourt. It will be some healthy competition every day among our guards."

F-JUSTIN HOLIDAY (6-6, 180 lbs., JR, #22, 2.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.4 spg, 15.6 mpg, .441 FG, .250 3PT, .619 FT, Campbell Hall/Chatsworth, Calif.). The brother of UCLA first-round pick Jrue Holiday, Justin Holiday is another good-sized, quick, athletic wing.

He appeared in all 35 games and showed promise, including a pair of double-digit rebound games (11 Cleveland State, 10 Arizona State).

Last season when Holiday and his brother squared off in a regular-season Pac-10 game, it was the first time he'd faced his brother.

G-SCOTT SUGGS (6-6, 185 lbs., SO, #15, 1.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.1 apg, 0.1 spg, Washington HS/Washington, Mo.). Suggs was a consensus top-100 player out of high school with a reputation for perimeter shooting. "Don't forget about him," Romar said. "He's talented, but he just hasn't found his way yet."

Suggs found his way in high school. As a senior he won the Mr. Show-Me Basketball award give to the state's top player, and was also chosen Mr. Basketball by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association.

Last season he played in just 18 games.

F-CLARENCE TRENT (6-5, 225 lbs., FR, #12. 11.7 ppg, Gig Harbor HS/Gig Harbor, Wash./The Patterson School/Lenoir, N.C./Findlay Prep/Las Vegas, Nev.). The well-traveled Trent has played at two of the top prep-school programs in the country, Patterson and Findlay Prep in Las Vegas. He was a consensus top-150 player nationally with a nice upside.

"He's a jumping jack, really strong, plays hard," Romar said. When Romar says jumping jack, well, Trent can sky. He collects slam-dunk contest trophies, including the 2009 HoopHall Classic Dunk Contest.

G-C.J. WILCOX (6-5, 180 lbs., FR, #23, 22.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.0 bpg, Pleasant Grove HS/Pleasant Grove, Utah). Wilcox is a consensus top-150 player nationally who could see some minutes if his perimeter game is as good as advertised.

"Without having a practice he's our best jump shooter," Romar said of Wilcox, who led the state of Utah in scoring as a junior [23.7 ppg]. "If he catches on quickly he could make his way onto the court. He's talented enough to."

Wilcox was highly regarded in his home state. He was a first-team all-state pick by the Salt Lake Tribune and Desert News. The Tribune chose him the No. 2 player in Utah. He was selected to play in the Utah Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game and scored 22 points.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: B+

BENCH/DEPTH: B

FRONTCOURT: B-

INTANGIBLES: B+

After a two-year absence from the postseason, Romar got the Huskies back on track last year with a surprising run to the Pac-10 regular-season title. The talent level is there not only for another run to the NCAA tournament, but perhaps a deeper one than last year.

"If we have great leadership and we're as good as we've been defensively, and those that were projected to step up and improve do so, things will turn out well," Romar said.

The coach is pinning his hopes on a couple of frontcourt players taking major steps. "Matthew and Darnell, those guys need to take the next step, be more featured players," Romar said. "That would be a key for us."

For the most comprehensive previews available on all 334 Division I teams, order the "Bible" of college basketball, the 2009-10 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or call 1-877-807-4857.