Looking past the Pac-10 Tournament

The Pac-10 Tournament starts today and I what I think is important for every Washington Huskies fan to do is this: Look past what’s happening the next couple days and focus on the Big Dance. I don’t want to say the Pac-10 tournament is irrelevant, but the Pac-10 tournament is irrelevant.

It’ll change little-or-nothing on the Dawgs’ March Madness dance card. If you must spend any time hand wringing over the Pac-10 tournament, pray that nobody gets hurt and feel good about a nice tune up before the NCAA tournament.

So, now that we’re looking past the Pac-10 tournament, not taking it one game at a time nor focusing on what the Dawgs can do today to get better, it’s worth sizing up Washington’s chances at a deep run in the NCAAs. And after watching this team all season, checking out the latest predictions and bracketology, and just plain making some stuff up, here are my top reasons the Huskies should make it to the Sweet 16 in no particular order.

1. Geography – According to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi (the Nostradamus of college basketball) Washington will capture the No. 3 seed in the West quadrant and their first two games will be played in Portland, Ore. Obviously, these are home games. Sure, it’s in another state, but if people can ride their bikes from Seattle to Portland … well, just try not to hit any drunken frat boys riding their 10 speeds on I-5.

2. Annoying – The Huskies Pac-10 title clinching 67-60 victory over Washington State was a nice snapshot of how the Dawgs can make their opponent go totally bat shit with defense and rebounding. Leading Husky defender Venoy Overton took Wazzu star Taylor Rochestie completely out of his game. Rochestie was 2-for-8 with three airballs in the first half. At one point, Rochestie lost his composure after tangling with Overton and the Wazzu guard stopped what he was doing mid-play to get in Overton’s face. Mid-play. Game’s still going. Clock is ticking. Anyone home?

3. Diversity – The Huskies are able to play an up tempo game or a grinder. They’ve shown they can slug it out and play physical, again with the WSU game, or run it (Arizona, Oregon), which is more their style. If they meet up with a lower seeded, less athletic team that wants to slow things down to a half-court, the Huskies have shown they can adapt. Having Jon Brockman in the post helps, which brings me to …

4. Big dude plays hard – About 10 years ago, when I was a younger lad freelancing for a national publication, an out-of-town sports writer sat down next to me on press row before tipoff of a Husky basketball game. The first thing he asks me is “What are Washington’s keys to the game.” I paused for about two seconds and said, “Give Todd MacCullough the ball and get the hell out of the way.” It’s a wonder why ESPN hasn’t come calling, but that approach could work for the Huskies with Jon Brockman if they find their backs against the wall. The Dawgs aren’t completely relying on Brockman to carry the team through the tournament, but he has the ability to put the team on his back in a pinch. He does it all – rebound, score, defend – and he’s a senior, which is probably the most important attribute.