Huskies rise to stardom

In case you can't recall the doldrums of January, the Husky men's basketball team used to be last place in the Pac-10. Zero conference victories. No wins and five losses.

"Pac-10 Doormats" was the team's nickname.

As time wound down on the fifth loss, the label was drilled through the team's head thanks to the unceasing vocal chords of "The Pit" at Oregon.

But then something changed. Suddenly, the UW conglomeration of athletic stars, pure shooters and individual scorers became a team. It was as if the players unexpectedly began to take heed of coach Lorenzo Romar.

"I just think we've got a team of guys who are committed to buying into the team concept," Romar said before the season had begun. "They're willing to put personal stardom aside for the sake of the team, which is one of the hardest things to do in the game of basketball."

Thank you Oregon fans for making it easy. Nothing brings a team together better than a common foe.

Today, the Huskies are sitting on the NCAA tournament bubble having won 10 of 11 conference games -- a feat never before accomplished in school history. The team swept the hated Arizona Wildcats for the first time since 1984. The Huskies' conference record has swung from 0-5 to 10-6. In the wake of a disappointing football season, the recent hard-court success has been welcomed with open, cheering arms. The team has become the talk of the Husky community.

So who is the MVP of the Huskies? What player should we thank for turning this ship around? Some say Nate Robinson, some say Brandon Roy and others point to Bobby Jones or Will Conroy.

Corny as it sounds, they are all the team's MVPs.

Everyone is pulling sufficient weight on this sled. As teammates, the Huskies have put their quests for individual stardom on the backburner. Nine players are averaging double figures in minutes. Despite the team scoring 82 points per game, individual scoring is spread like butter, with Roy leading at a simple 13.4 per game.

Saturday night was a perfect example. Five players scored in double figures, with each player successfully implementing their appropriate role on the team.

Thirteen players saw action in the game, including individuals who rarely get to see playing time. Zane Potter had an Allen Iverson-esque drive to the hoop, Brandon Burmeister banked home a three-pointer and Hans Gasser snatched rebounds like a madman.

All the while, the usual starters were on the bench roaring in approval and support.

The Huskies should be roaring this week in what may be the most decisive two games in recent Husky basketball history. Can they surge past Cal and undefeated Stanford? Can they actually crack the bubble and slip into the NCAA tournament?

If they do, I know a group of fans one state below who deserve a nice greeting card care of the Husky men's basketball team.