Huskies avoid a trap with complete team effort

I know a trap game when I see one. It's the one right before the big game.

Five days before the most challenging contest of the year, on the road against in-state rival Gonzaga, it wouldn't have been surprising to see the Huskies struggle early against another mid-major team.

It was the team's eighth consecutive game at home. The arena seemed less than half-full and relied on another inspired Dawg Pack effort to muster any home court advantage.

The first moments were plagued with bad fouls, bad shots and bad turnovers. It was looking like you could chalk Washington up as the next upset victim.

Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, Kansas [HTML_REMOVED] they've all lost. Surely a young Husky squad was due a letdown, right?

Wrong.

With the starting lineup committing eight turnovers in five minutes, coach Lorenzo Romar turned to a luxury he is grateful for: a talented bench.

In the first half, sharpshooter Ryan Appleby outscored the entire Washington starting five by himself. Phil Nelson had his best game as a Dawg even with limited offensive opportunities in the second half.

Appleby, a self-proclaimed "hired gun," had a career-high 24 points and was just one three-pointer short of tying the school record.

"You just don't think he is going to miss," said Romar of Appleby's performance.

Off-balance, hand in the face, fading, leaning, it didn't matter. Twenty-four points on just 11 shots seems almost unfair.

If the first half belonged to the subs, the starters, dominated the second half. Of the Huskies first 38 points in the second period, all but five belonged to the first unit.

Spencer Hawes dazzled in the post, featuring an offensive arsenal more assorted than a rapper's shoe collection. Jon Brockman cleaned the glass and gathered some easy put-backs. Justin Dentmon looked like he was going after Courtney Thompson's assist records.

The win was expected, but the manner was impressive, and perfect timing too.

"I thought when a higher level of play was required, we provided that," Romar said.

That's good to know, because 40 minutes of the highest level of play lies a short four days away. So does an arena that Romar called a "frenzied atmosphere," comparable to that of a rock concert.

"You're playing a very good basketball team in a place that they don't lose," said Romar, finally able to look ahead to the Zags.

The Husky coach acknowledged that this won't be the end-all, be-all for the team's success, but said it would help gauge how far the team has progressed.

Romar was admittedly unsure of how his team would respond to its first away game. The players, though, are excited.

"I can't wait," Nelson said. "It's going to be a great game."

The Zags will be the first ranked opponent played by the UW. It'll be the first experience as underdogs. This first time the Huskies are expected to lose. The first time they can actually turn heads with a great performance.

Not to mention end the Bulldogs' over-hyped 44-game home winning streak.

So yes, Dawg fans, it is finally time to officially look ahead. It's time to end this rivalry by showing those pesky Zags who owns this state

Columnist Joshua Mayers: joshuamayers@thedaily.washington.edu