Huskies try to rebound against the Devils

Washington didn't do very well against the early season gauntlet they faced to start the Pac Ten season. After three games the young Dawg's find themselves in the basement with an 0-3 record. Things however do get easier today when the Huskies face Arizona St at Hec Ed Pavillion. Under their first-year coach Herb Sendek, the Sun Devils have replaced Washington State as the least offensive team in the Pac-10, averaging just 63.9 points. Washington has won seven in a row against Arizona State dating to a 79-77 overtime loss on Feb. 8, 2003, its longest current winning streak against any conference team.

Washington has dug itself a serious hole, and they need to get on track with a win before they hit the road for its next three games at Stanford, California, and Washington State, before returning home to face the Oregon school's to finish out the first half of the Pac Ten schedule. The Huskies have the talent and ability to be 6-3 in league at the end of that stretch even though none of the games are going to be gimmee's.

Up front Washington is as formidable on paper as any team in the nation. Brockman Hawes and Pondexter are really as good as it gets. What Washington lacks is the emergence of a true point guard, and also the tenacious defense out on the perimeter. Joel Smith is a missing piece who could really add a lot of what Bobby Jones did when, and if he gets back this season. Word is he could be back before the end of the month. Dentmon needs to step up and be the man or this team won't get far in March.