The Huskies are coming off of their first outright Pac-10 title since 1953, and I don’t think it will take another 56 years before they win their next one. Pac-10 Coach of the Year Lorenzo Romar has assembled another tremendous squad this season, and there is no question that the Dawgs are capable of repeating as conference champions.

Having said that, two key members of the 26-9 (14-4 in Pac-10) title team are gone, and neither will be easy to replace. F Jon Brockman and G Justin Dentmon were two of the biggest reasons the Dawgs won the Pac-10 last season. Not only was Brockman a double-double machine (averaged 14.9 points, 11.5 rebounds last season) during his celebrated career, but he was also the heart and soul of the program. As for Dentmon, he was the Pac-10’s Most Improved Player last year, and his scoring ability (14.4 PPG), leadership, and penchant for hitting clutch shots will be sorely missed.

I credit Lorenzo Romar for being able to reload every season even as the program loses one “irreplaceable” player after another (Nate Robinson, Brandon Roy, Jon Brockman etc.). As long as Romar is at the helm, the state of this program will always be strong.

Impact Superstar: G Isaiah Thomas

Speaking of irreplaceable players, I expect this sensational sophomore to join the likes of Robinson, Roy, and Brockman soon enough. Thomas is a truly phenomenal talent, capable of breaking down any defense in America like its nothing. Last season, he led the Huskies with 15.5 PPG on his way to being named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

Thomas is generously listed at 5-8, and he uses his small frame and lightning-quick feet to get to the basket whenever he desires. The Tacoma (WA) native will almost certainly lead the team in scoring again this season, but he must improve his free throw shooting (68% last season).

Thomas is one of the conference’s most exciting stars, and I expect even more out of the sophomore this season. When I watch him play, I almost feel like I’m watching OSU RB Jacquizz Rodgers playing basketball. Thomas can get to the basket so easily that only three outcomes are possible, 1.) He scores 2.) He draws a foul 3.) He does both (which is usually the case). Look for all-conference honors to be a certainty in 2009-10.

Needs To Have A Big Year: F Quincy Pondexter

We know that guard play will be exceptional for Washington this season, but if the Huskies want to repeat as conference champions they must get consistent frontcourt production. Few forwards in the country are as gifted as Quincy Pondexter, and he will be a key contributor for UW again this season. The 6-6 senior from Fresno (CA) is a natural fit for the three spot, but he will likely see time at power forward as well.

Last season, Pondexter finished fourth on the team with 12.1 PPG and second with 5.9 RPG. Jon Brockman and his 11.5 rebounds per game are gone, and it will probably take a group effort on the boards this year. Nevertheless, Pondexter is capable of producing double-doubles on a regular basis, and I expect to see his rebounding numbers increase this season. Quite simply, I believe if Pondexter has a huge year, so will the Huskies.

Potential Impact Newcomer: PG Abdul Gaddy

If you are a fan of Pac-10 basketball, familiarize yourself with Abdul Gaddy as soon as possible. Gaddy is one of the nation’s most talented incoming freshmen, and he will probably be in a starting role for U-Dub sooner rather than later. While Isaiah Thomas is capable of playing point guard, he is probably best suited to play shooting guard in the UW offense. Gaddy, on the other hand, is a natural PG and already looks like the best option on the roster at the one spot.

The 6-3 freshman from Tacoma (WA) plays with a pass-first mentality, but he is more than capable of scoring in a variety of ways. He has an incredible feel for the game, and he uses his long frame to his advantage against smaller point guards. Some experts have compared Gaddy to a young Mike Bibby, and Rivals, Scout and ESPN all ranked him as either the first or second best PG in the 2009 class.

Like many, I am eagerly anticipating Gaddy’s debut season at Washington.

My Take

Is there a team in the country that is deeper in the backcourt than the Huskies? Thomas and Gaddy will be a lethal one-two punch, while the pesky and defensive-minded Venoy Overton will rotate in as well. If some of the secondary guards can play well (Turner, Wilcox, Suggs), this UW backcourt will overwhelm opponents in 2009-10.

But the key to another special season in Seattle is the frontcourt. Pondexter must have a monster year, and players like F Darnell Gant and F Matthew Bryan-Amaning also need to be strong on the boards.

Something tells me everything is going to come together for UW again this season. I believe the Huskies have more quality depth than any other team in the conference, and in a long season, that depth can be the difference between first and second in the Pac-10. Washington only has one marquee non-conference game on the schedule (Georgetown) so their focus will be squarely on the conference slate. Ultimately, I think Coach Romar’s team will be celebrating their second straight Pac-10 title.

Projected Pac-10 Finish: 1st Place

Coach Lorenzo Romar has done a nice job putting this team together. Isaiah Thomas was the team’s leading scorer in his freshman campaign last season, averaging 15.5 PPG. He will look to build on his experience and should continue to be a scoring threat this season. Quincy Pondexter took a big step forward in translating his potential into on-court success for the Huskies last season, as he averaged over 12 PPG and almost 6 rebounds per contest and had some of his strongest games down the stretch.

Quincy Pondexter gets his props

One of the most important keys to Washington’s success last year was the depth of their bench. Coach Romar was able to rotate players at will, and could count on players like Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Venoy Overton, and Elston Turner to provide quality minutes whenever called upon.

Last season’s heartbreaking loss to Purdue in the second round of the tournament left a bad taste in the team’s mouth, but if the 2008-2009 season was any indication, this isn’t the type of team that backs down from a challenge.

The upcoming season will give the Huskies a chance to take the next step, and with super-prospect Abdul Gaddy and a healthy Tyreese Breshers joining the fold this season, the Huskies just might be deep enough to take the loss of two of their top three scorers in stride.

Looking forward to the 2009-2010 season:

Departures

Senior Forward Jon Brockman (NBA Draft) – Was one of the team’s leaders in both points and rebounds per game with 14.9 and 11.5 respectively. He was a freshman on the 2006 team led by Brandon Roy to the Sweet 16 and has been a leader on the floor ever since. His size and toughness inside will be missed by the Huskies in the upcoming season.

Senior Guard Justin Dentmon (Eligibility) – Dentmon really benefited from Thomas’ ability to stretch the floor and the defense. Dentmon was able to roam and float to spots that suited his game. He along with Brockman started their careers as freshmen in 2006. As one of the team’s leading scorers with 14.4 PPG, his scoring ability will be missed as well.

Senior Center Artem Wallace (Eligibility) – Played in 18 games off of the bench, averaging 4.5 minutes in those games as well as 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds.

Arrivals

Freshman Point Guard Abdul Gaddy, 6-3 170 pounds (Recruit) – A five star recruit and the 2nd ranked player at his position according to Rivals.com, Gaddy has the ability to create off the dribble for either himself or a teammate. He has a good understanding of the game and makes great decisions with the basketball. He has incredible touch, making outstanding passes and contested threes look effortless. While he is considered a pass-first point guard, he does have the ability to score from anywhere, and can take over a game if need be. Gaddy looks to have all of the tools to become an immediate star in Washington.

Freshman Forward Clarence Trent, 6-7 230 pounds (Recruit) – A local three star recruit out of Seattle, Trent is a gifted athlete with tremendous upside. He has a fairly good parimeter shot to complement his strong play down low. Trent’s biggest problem has been keeping his emotions in check on the floor; he can get rattled and make some bad decisions with the ball. If Coach Romar can teach him to control his emotions and help him maximize his potential, he could be an immediate contributor off the bench.

Freshman Guard C.J. Wilcox, 6-5 180 pounds (Recruit) – A three point specialist from Pleasant Grove, UT, he has the ability to put up points in bunches. Rivals.com ranked him in the top 25 shooting guards in the class of 2009. He will be a nice addition to the backcourt of Thomas and Gaddy.

My Take

With an impressively deep bench, returning stars in Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter, and potential stars in Abdul Gaddy and Tyreese Breshers, there is plenty of reason to believe that this Huskies team can build on last year’s success. As a young team, Washington will undoubtedly go through some growing pains, but as long as they continue to work as hard as they did in 2008-2009, they should be a threat to win the Pac-10 title and do some damage come March.