Defense of Doug

Before Doug Wrenn became the first Parade high-school all-American from the city of Seattle out of O'Dea, before he was heralded as the next big player out of the Big East conference at Connecticut and before he came back to his hometown to play for the Huskies, Wrenn did something he doesn't talk about too much.

He played junior varsity (JV) at Seattle's Franklin High School.

Playing JV is like riding in the backseat, like Saturday against Oregon State when Wrenn came off the bench for only the third time in his Washington career.

"I have been a starter ever since I came to this school, but I guess roles change," said Wrenn. "Coming off the bench is not the role I am looking for, but if that is what I have to do, then that is what I will do."

What is scary is what he will do when put in these types of situations. I have seen it before; Wrenn stays on the move if things do not go the way he wants them to.

After his freshman year at Franklin, Wrenn left for a better fit at O'Dea, partly because there was a freshman at Franklin named Anthony Lewis who was starting on varsity at the time, even though Wrenn had more potential.

Lewis now plays at division-II Central Washington.

"That was just plain robbery," said Wrenn, referring to his Franklin days. "But that's just how it is; different coaches have different philosophies, you just have to try and learn to adapt to their style; or, when it's time to move on, you move on."

When in doubt, Wrenn did what he had to do -- he left and went somewhere else.

Coming out of O'Dea, Doug signed with the Connecticut Huskies, who at that time were the defending NCAA champions. But after just one season of limited minutes at Connecticut, Wrenn found himself in coach Jim Calhoun's doghouse, and ended up getting booted from the team.

He found his way back to his hometown and a different Dawg house -- Hec Ed Pavilion.

After averaging 19.5 points per game last year en route to earning the Pac-10 newcomer-of-the-year award, Wrenn's 13.2 points per game this season are significantly lower, even though he is tied with Will Conroy for leading scorer.

Now as a Washington Husky, Wrenn is faced with a situation he knows plenty about -- not receiving what he feels he deserves.

Granted, Wrenn is playing with a new coach and a new system, not to mention that Wrenn gets no love from the officials as teams double-, sometimes triple-team him. It's no wonder his production has slipped a little.

But should he be taken out of the starting lineup after starting 42 of 45 games in his career? I don't think so.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Taking your oldest, most experienced potential pro out of the starting lineup is the only criticism I have for new coach Lorenzo Romar.

I give Romar all due respect for being disciplined and gaining two Pac-10 wins the Huskies did not get even close to last season by defeating Southern Cal and Stanford midway through the season.

But, to me, the best five need to start the game; and, right now, Wrenn is one of the best five players, if not the best. He should be a starter until his career at Washington is over.

If this trend continues, it may end with Wrenn taking his game elsewhere.

This time it won't be a new school -- he will be earning money for his services either in the NBA or another pro league.

He is not indecisive; good or bad, Wrenn is a decisionmaker and I respect him for that. I know because I went to Franklin and have been watching him play hoop since the recreational-basketball days when Wrenn was the only 10-year-old player that could slap the backboard at High Point Community Center.

I know coaches look ahead, but Romar needs to utilize the talent he has now. He needs to recognize that Wrenn is a local legend and get him out there.

Romar does call the shots, but so does Wrenn when it comes to where he plays.