Matthew Bryan-Amaning

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PurpleDawgs Crush GoldDawgs at UW Basketball’s Midnight Madness Event

October 17, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 5 comments

MMadness on ESPNIn the fan’s first look at this season’s UW Husky Basketball Team, the PurpleDawgs defeated the GoldDawgs, 35-20, at Bank of America Arena on Friday night.

The Basics:

The PurpleDawgs team consisted of Abdul Gaddy, Quincy Pondexter, Darnell Gant, Tyreese Breshers, Elston Turner, and C.J. Wilcox.

The GoldDawgs Team consisted of Scott Suggs, Venoy Overton, Isaiah Thomas, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, and Clarence Trent.

Hec Ed was crowded, but not full. Our women’s volleyball team is very, very talented. Anytime you have the opportunity to see the 3rd-ranked team in any sport, it’s worth the time.

The scrimmage was only 10 minutes long, played with a running clock that only stopped for free throws.

Here’s an (unofficial) box score I put together based on my notes, and consulting a couple of other stories, all which seem to disagree on the scoring:

MMadness Boxscore copy

Impressions and Extras:

Poised Purple and Go-go-Gold: Not sure how the teams were chosen, but there was a clear contrast in styles between the PurpleDawgs poised, structured attack, and the run-and-gun effort by the GoldDawgs. The more controlled team won, but the lopsided-ness was due mostly to the best guy on the court playing for the PurpleDawgs.

Elston Turner: Sure, it was only a scrimmage, but Elston Turner looks good. Real good. Turner, Gaddy and Pondexter kept the ball moving at midseason form, finding the open man and taking advantage of Elston’s hot shooting (he went either 5-6 or 5-7 from the field, with three three-pointers). Based on the small hints Coach Romar gave during his Media Day press conference, I have to believe Elston Turner may contend for a starting role on this team (likely with two smaller guards, Quincy Pondexter, and one traditional big man).

The Venoy/Gaddy Matchup: This was the marquee one-on-one battle of the evening, and, if only for the final score, the slight edge goes to Abdul Gaddy tonight. Venoy had one nice steal which started a fast break, ending with a redonkulous dunk by Clarence Trent. Otherwise, though, Abdul controlled the tempo and was able to run the offense despite Venoy’s pesky D.

Gaddy had one jaw-dropping, thread-the-needle pass out of traffic from right under the basket to a wide-open Quincy Pondexter.

Clarence Trent: Trent is very active, but doesn’t look as big as I’d expected. Maybe it’s seeing him next to Breshers, Gant and MBA that’s throwing me off. Time will tell, but his frame, and his game, are reading more to me like a small forward’s than a big man’s.

Scott Suggs: I’m hoping we’ll get early evidence that Scott Suggs is going to be more aggressive and take control of whatever minutes he’s given on the court. It didn’t happen tonight, but hopefully tomorrow when real practices begin, a terrific sophomore year will start to take shape for Suggs.

Justin Holiday: Justin didn’t compete in the scrimmage, the dunk contest, or the three-point shootout, as he’s still recovering from hernia surgery. However, I did see him warming up in the gym before the event, and he’s moving pretty well.

Overheard after Tyreese Breshers missed two free throws: “Maybe he’s taking those Jon Brockman comparisons too far.”

The Dunk Contest: Isaiah took the slam dunk event, despite some tough competition from MBA and Venoy. According to Assistant Coach, Raphael Chillious, this was the first time he’d ever seen Clarence Trent lose a dunk contest.

The Three-Point Shootout: C.J. Wilcox defeated Elston Turner, but each was paired with a UW student as a teammate. I watched C.J. shoot for a bit in the gym beforehand, and his form is just so consistent. It’ll be interesting to see whether he can create his own shot this season though, or whether he’ll need some seasoning before he can show off his stellar form consistently in games.

ESPN2′s coverage: ESPN2 did a couple of minutes on the program as part of their 30-minute Midnight Madness show. They highlighted Coach Romar, (calling him a “rising star”) and the Huskies perimeter players. ESPNU isn’t available in my area, so I have no idea how much of the two-hour show was devoted to the Dawgs.

Coach Chillious on what ESPN choosing UW for its Midnight Madness program means to the team: “I think what it does is validate the successful season we had last year. And, hopefully, it gives us momentum moving forward. We know that’s not what’s going to make us a good team. And, y’know, the rest of the nation doesn’t get to see the teams in the Pacific Northwest that often, so this is just a jumpstart.”

Terrence Jones and Tony Wroten: Both stud recruits were there. Jones was on his official visit and sat on the Husky bench. He didn’t look too enthused, but I’m not going to read much into the facial expressions of a 17-year-old kid.

Real Practice Starts Saturday at 1 PM: With 31 days until the regular season opener at home against Wright State, the Huskies get back to full practices tomorrow afternoon.

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Sunday Video Blitz: We Check Out “The Dawg Dish,” J-Brock’s First Highlights, and More…

October 11, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | No comments

DawgDishIt’s Sunday, and I’m still coming down from the ceiling. By now, most all of us have seen the FSN footage of the biggest play in Husky football to come in a very long time, but here’s some raw footage from The Daily that shows the “Immaculate Interception” from a different angle and the ensuing celebration from an on-field perspective.

I checked out a new program from the UW Athlethic Department called, The Dawg Dish, hosted by former UW QB, Johnny Durocher. In the show’s first segment (the one devoted to hoops), Johnny goes one-on-one against Matthew Bryan-Amaning. I could’ve stood to hear a little more interviewing during the game, but, other than some questionable use of the black-and-white effect in the video editing, the segment is fun, as is the whole show (which goes on to cover softball and women’s soccer). Worth checking out.

You can see (what I believe to be) Jon Brockman’s first points in a pro uniform at :45 seconds of this clip.

And, at about 1:45 of this video, Jon grabs a rebound and throws an outlet which results in a dunkalicious finish by fellow rookie Omri Casspi. You can see another board by Jon at about 2:07 of the same clip.

Here’s a Nate Robinson video interview from Dime Magazine. Talks a bunch about the local basketball scene, and some of the Seattle-area basketball names who haven’t made it to the NBA, but still earn Nate’s respect. And, of course, Nate devotes a good chunk of the interview to talking about the merits of Twitter.

And, in case you didn’t realize how close we’re getting to Husky basketball, take a look at the left of the screen — barely more than a month away. Check this out!

Thanks for coming!

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Montlake Madness Conjectures on the Starting Lineup and Nine-Man Rotation

September 29, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 12 comments

In recent days, Coach Romar has begun to reveal what his lineup may look like during the upcoming season. Here are some of the clues he’s given through interviews:

  • He said that Isaiah Thomas, Quincy Pondexter, and Darnell Gant would all start for the Huskies at the beginning of the upcoming season, as each did on last year’s Pac-10 championship squad.
  • Coach LoRo has also said that whichever point guard (between Abdul Gaddy and Venoy Overton) does not start will be “like a starter,” since he’ll often opt to finish games with a three-guard lineup.
  • Finally, coach has said before that it’s likely he’ll exercise a nine-man rotation again this year, which will leave three Huskies scrapping for extra minutes during blowouts, and times of foul trouble or injury.

Here’s the lineup I think Coach will use to start the season, along with the role players coming off the bench, and our explanations for each pick. You’ll notice that we’re not listing the guys in order of playing time, since there are too many unknowable factors that will go into that. We’re picking starters, role-players, and reserves.

The Starters:

aa starters copy

F/C – Matthew Bryan-Amaning

Why he should start: No one’s been a victim of higher expectations than MBA during the first two seasons of his college career, and it seems like he’s just now prepared to start making those flashes of brilliance a more regular occurrence at Hec Ed.

Why he shouldn’t: We’re being a little unfair here, given his injuries last year, but if MBA couldn’t consistently maintain a high level of intensity in about 17 minutes-per-game last year, what makes us think he can do it now for 25-30 mpg?

F – Darnell Gant

Why he should start: Because he plays solid defense, shares the ball, and hustles whenever he’s on the court. And, word out of Montlake is that Gant put on a bunch of muscle and is ready to be more of a presence near the rim on both sides of the ball this year.

Why he shouldn’t start: Because he had the worst assist-to-turnover ratio (1/2.2) of any regular player last season and shot just under 37% from the field, meaning defenders could sag off of him and clog the lane.

F – Quincy Pondexter

Why he should start: We finally saw the Quincy Pondexter we’d been waiting for during the last part of 2008/09, when Q-Pon developed into a scorer by forcing himself into the lane and getting high percentage looks at the basket, or getting himself fouled. An underrated rebounder, there’s an outside chance he could challenge for the Pac-10 lead in boards.

Why he shouldn’t start: It’s not worth struggling to come up with a reason just for the sake of writing something here.

G – Isaiah Thomas

Why he should start: I.T. is going to be the most exciting player on the court this year wherever he goes, and if he doesn’t lead the team in scoring, it will mean something’s gone horribly wrong. He’s the Husky capable of throwing a 50-spot up on the scoreboard, or laying the ball in despite a lane filled with a guy like Jarvis Varnado, or Hakeem Olajuwon, or Shaq. . . or all three.

Why he shouldn’t start: Again, he should and he will. Not much more to offer here.

G – Abdul Gaddy

Why he should start: Because the word on Gaddy is that he’s one of the best pure point guards in the world right now, and that he’s a guy who makes the game come more easily to everyone around him. Unless he gets some form of the freshman yips, and isn’t as poised or polished in reality as by reputation, the Huskies will benefit from having a true quarterback on the floor.

Why he shouldn’t start: Because for a team with aspirations of a run through the NCAA Tournament, any growing pains at all for Gaddy could result in loses that would severely hamper our seeding come March.

The Role Players:

aa reserves copy

Venoy Overton – Sixth Man

Why this role is right for him: Because Venoy was our game-changer last season, and there’s no way to quantify the energy boost he gave the team every time he stepped on the floor. It’s valid to wonder whether fouls and turnovers would go up, and the manic energy would go down, if Venoy saw 7-8 more minutes per game (last year he averaged about 20).

Dissenting opinion: Venoy is the team’s nerve center — at times, our heart and soul. Is there ever a time we don’t want his energy on the court? And, are we selling short the idea that Overton can grow as a playmaker too, using his two years of Pac-10 experience to make the battle for the starting point guard spot an absolute dawgfight?

Justin Holiday – Defensive Stopper

Why this role is right for him: Because we need someone we can bring onto the floor to ice the other team’s hot hand. With his length and speed, smaller point guards (common in the Pac-10) and huge post men (not so common in the Pac-10) are the only players Holiday will have difficulty shutting down.

Dissenting opinion: We’re a defensive-minded team, and that should be a strength regardless of the mix on the floor. Additional minutes for a shooter (like Wilcox) or a post player (Trent) may be more critical for the team than another defensive-minded sub.

Elston Turner – Marksman

Why this role is right for him: With some consistent playing time (after last season’s ankle injury Turner’s minutes-per-game dropped from 19 to 11), and a year under his belt, I’d be very surprised if Turner didn’t raise his three-point accuracy into the 40% range (from about 37% last season). He does everything well enough not to hurt us when he’s on the floor, and until someone proves differently in real game action, Turner is the option here.

Dissenting opinion: It’s hard to ignore the early whispers out of practice: that C.J. Wilcox is the team’s best shooter. If Turner doesn’t make the most out of his minutes early, Wilcox could begin to eat into his court time.

Tyreese Breshers – Reserve Big Man

Why this role is right for him: Because there are going to be games when (gasp) the Huskies are getting out-rebounded and the ghost of Jon Brockman looms large over this club. When the gameplan isn’t going our way, or our bigs are in foul trouble, Big Ty is going to be the man who gets the call.

Dissenting Opinion: Breshers was a medical redshirt last season and is just getting back to full-speed workouts. With Breshers off of a year-long injury, it’s entirely possible that Clarence Trent, who has impressed with his hustle thus far, could sneak into this role as well.

The Reserves:

aa bench copyScott Suggs, Clarence Trent, C.J. Wilcox – Bench Guys

Why this role is right for them: Trent and Wilcox are freshmen, and provided neither of them cracks the regular rotation, they’ll have the chance next year. Trent can set his sights on earning minutes vacated when Quincy Pondexter graduates, and Wilcox can bulk up and keep working on his sweet shot. Suggs is the odd man out here, still struggling in a crowded backcourt to distinguish himself.

Dissenting Opinion: It may be impossible to keep Wilcox off the court if he turns out to be a more athletic version of Ryan Appleby and truly is the team’s best shooter. The tools are there, and Trent could easily step into the backup big man role, or even a starting spot, if he can rebound well, play defense, and add an offensive element to the team that Darnell Gant doesn’t. It’s starting to sound like a familiar refrain, but Scott Suggs was Missouri’s best high school baller before he came to UW. I wouldn’t be shocked if Suggs shocks us and improves by leaps and bounds, forcing himself into the discussion.

So, that’s the lineup I think we will go with, and should go with. What do you think? Please do offer up your opinions in our comments section. We love to hear from you!

***

Finally, an announcement came yesterday from UW that a “Midnight Madness” style preseason event will be taking place on October 16th, at about 7:30 PM. A dunk contest and scrimmage are on tap, and you can bet we’ll be there soaking in every second of it.

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The Sporting News Names MBA As “One Who Could Emerge” This Year

September 18, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 2 comments

mba sport news copyThe Sporting News listed eight players it thinks could emerge as pivotal players during the upcoming season, and chose Matthew Bryan-Amaning as one of them.

MBA was the only Pac-10 guy on the list, with the most familiar other name being Robbie Hummel from the Purdue team that ended the Huskies’ season in the NCAA Tournament.

I know we’re contributing to some of it, but doesn’t there seem to be a buzz around MBA this year? I’m getting the feeling we’re in for a breakout season if he stays healthy. I really am.

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Matthew Bryan-Amaning Interview, Part II

September 14, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 3 comments

mb int pic part 2 copyIn case you missed part I of the Montlake Madness interview with MBA, check it out here before moving on to Part II below.

My impression after speaking to him was that MBA internalized much of the criticism he received last year, and comes into this season with a true desire to prove doubters wrong and show that he can be a major contributor in the Husky frontcourt.

I’d have been concerned if MBA had seemed oblivious to the fact that most people watching the team the past two seasons feel that there’s a lot of unrealized potential in his 6’9″ frame. My gut is that he feels the same way.

Here’s part II of the interview:

MM: What part of your game have you worked on the most during this off-season?

MBA: In the off-season, I’ve been working on a lot. Coach doesn’t want his players to be one-dimensional, so I was working on my post moves and footwork around the basket, and also getting a lot of shots up from as far as 18 feet, and making moves facing up from the mid-range.

MM: What kind of numbers would you consider to be a statistical success for you next season?

MBA: The numbers will speak for themselves. There will be a lot of banging and hard work going on. If I keep a high motor, and the rest of our bigs do too, then I believe that we shouldn’t have a problem producing and keeping our intensity up the whole time we’re on the floor.

MM: If the season started tomorrow, who do you see as the starting five for the Huskies on opening night?

MBA: You never know whats going on in Coach Romar’s head. That’s what keeps you working hard daily in practice, but if i HAD to give you a starting five, I guess it would be: PG-Gaddy (only slightly over Venoy Overton), SG-Thomas, SF-Pondexter, PF-Gant, and C-MBA.

MM: Describe the intensity that goes on behind the scenes when guys battle for starting jobs?

MBA: Ridiculous from the number one guy to the 12th or 13th guy. Everyone wants to make a good impression, and we are a very deep team, so more often than not, the second team is playing harder, and or even better, than the first team. We are very competitive in everything we do which only makes us better in the long run. That’s why I believe Coach Romar has teams that are 8, 9, or 10 men deep in the rotation.

MM: Tell me a little bit about MBA off the court? What’s your family like? What do you do with your spare time? Who’s your best friend on the team?

MBA: Off the court, I’m very laid back, chilled, always up for having a good time, and just hanging out with friends and teammates. But that’s just how the whole team is off the court. We may be the goofiest team in America, always making one another laugh and just having fun.

My family is like me — sort of just really chilled. We speak a lot with one another. My parents retired and moved to Ghana, in Africa. And, my brother still lives in London. We all get along very well.

During my freshman year, my closest teammate would probably have been Justin Holiday, because we lived together. But, honestly, now it’s wide open. We are all the same, and we all hang out together, so it’s not like I see some teammates more than others. I’ve just grown to love these guys like a family and it shows in how we are on and off the court.

MM: What does your nickname “Numbers” mean?

MBA: (laughs) “Numbers” came from London, because I was always young, playing up, and I’d be trying to do a piece of everything on the court: score, rebound, block shots, get a couple of steals, and throw some dimes, so i was always filling up the stat book, in one way or another. So, they started calling me “Numbers.”

MM: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

MBA: Playing somewhere for money. (laughs) Nah, but just to be playing the sport i love, and hopefully to my highest potential and getting rewarded for it, I guess. Most people don’t understand how time consuming it is, and see the games and the walking around campus. That’s just the icing on the cake. They don’t see the hours of prep on and off the court. Baking takes a lot of time to produce the cake — there’s a lot of ingredients. (laughs)

MM: Tell me about your relationship to Coach Romar? What’s it like to play for him?

MBA: Romar’s a good, stand-up guy. He never breaks a rule, and doesn’t expect anything from someone that he wouldn’t do himself. And, he pushes players to reach the best of their abilities. He also has a good sense of humor, and pretty much has to with guys he’s brought in and has had in the program in the past. (laughs)

Thanks for coming! Class of 2011 recruiting column, (probably) another PAC-10 opponent interview, and much more to come this week.

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MBA: Best. Haircut. Ever.

September 14, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 1 comment

Tell me this is not a man possessed.

Tell me this is not a man possessed. I just hope Matthew does this again before the season starts. Part II of the MBA interview coming this afternoon.

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A Discussion with Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Part I

September 11, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 15 comments

mba lebron copyI had the chance to catch up with Matthew Bryan-Amaning recently and we had a really good, in-depth conversation about his past two seasons as a Husky, and his upcoming junior year. Matthew put a lot of thought into his answers (therefore, you’ll see part I of the interview today, and part II very soon), and he took a lot of time with us, but asked one thing in return:

In order to win a bet with Isaiah Thomas, he asked me to mention his Twitter page. The first of them to 500 followers wins, and the other has to shave his head. You can find MBA’s Twitter and become a follower here.

Here’s what Matthew had to say when we spoke:

Montlake Madness: Tell me a little about what you’ve been up to this summer?

Matthew Bryan-Amaning: Well most of my summer, I was back on campus at UW, taking a Swahili class and working out with the guys. Since I’ve been home (in the UK) I’ve been working out with old teammates that are either in college in the states or playing overseas in Europe.

I also played in a basketball tournament called “Midnight Madness” which has been one of my favorite events to play in since I was young. I also got to go to Lebron’s preview of his new movie “More Than a Game” and talk to him, and hang out with him a little.

MM: Did Lebron give you any advice?

MBA: He saw me play a little and just said “the sky’s the limit,” and to keep working hard, because I’m in a good situation. And, he said that he will be watching and following my progress. I also got to talk to LeBron’s high school coach, Dru Joyce, who remembered me from high school and the Nike All-American camp, and he said the same sorta thing, and said that he would be in touch when i get back over to the states.

MM: Can you give me your impression of your play last season? What do you feel good about? What do you wish you had done differently?

MBA: Last season, when i was hurt, being a cheerleading type was different for me, since I’ve never been hurt to the point where I HAD to sit out a game. When I slowly got better, I could see that the team atmosphere was just a bunch of guys that didn’t really care about points as long as we got the W at the end of the day.

This was evident when teammates were happy with my production towards the end of non-conference and the beginning of conference. (Note: MBA had his best stretch of the season during this time.) I was just happy that we were still winning and that I was on my way to being part of a special team.

People don’t see everything we do on a daily basis, and because we were so deep, that just made practices so much more intense. And, if it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have been where we were at the end of the Pac-10 season.

Obviously, I wish my numbers stayed the same as they were early, but I had little injuries that I’m not using as excuses, but definitely affected some of my production. I’m just planning on using it as a learning experience and trying to build on my strides forward for next year.

I’m just trying to stay consistent throughout the year. People don’t understand how difficult it is, and knowing I have the abilty to score on most bigs in the country, I’m staying positive toward myself and self-confident.

MM: What was the high point for you last year, as far as self-confidence? And what was low point?

MBA: The low point was when I was coming back off injury, because everyone had seen a change in practice and stuff since my freshman year, and it was hard not being at full health through the whole season. I had the main injury at the beginning of the year, then sprained my foot during conference play, which didn’t help.

The high point was midway through the non-conference games, I guess, where i was averaging around 15 points and 10 rebounds through about five or six games. I didn’t even know I was averaging that much until I saw it on a playback of a game on FSN. Also, some of the conference games, such as Arizona at our place, where i only had around 9 points or so with about 6 boards and a couple of assists, but i only played something like twelve or fifteen minutes. It’s good knowing that I can produce against bigs as high as Jordan Hill’s caliber on any given night.

MM: So, this season, there are a lot of expectations that you’ll be a huge part in replacing the production of Jon Brockman. How does it feel to have fans and media debating whether you’ll be able to anchor the team’s frontcourt, which some have called the team’s weakness coming into the season?

MBA: I think it’s good to have fans believing that i have the ability to help fill Jon’s shoes, but me and Jon are two very different players, so it’s not like now that Jon’s gone, I have to change my game to substitute for what we’re missing with him leaving.  I’m just going to keep doing the things I do but with better production.

Obviously, when you have guys that can score like Isaiah, or pass like Abdul, or even play D like Venoy, you’re going to be seen as one of the weaker parts, but I’m not going in there thinking that way. I’m going into the season as an underdog, and me and my teammates in the frontcourt have been working hard to not only prove people wrong, but not to let everyone write us off just yet.

***

We’ll publish part II of the interview very soon, and hear from MBA about what parts of his game he’s been working on, who he thinks would start for the Dawgs if the season started today, and what he sees for his future after UW.

Thanks for coming!

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Labor Day UW Hoops Clips

September 6, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | No comments

labor day clips copyIf you’re wondering about the lack of super-cool stuff this weekend, I apologize. About half of our readers (according to my traffic stats) are away on vacation, and while I’m not, I am enjoying a quiet weekend at home (read: quality time) with Mrs. Madness, and the Montlake Mutt.

That said, I really do appreciate that so many of you check in regularly, since we do aim to post something new at least once every day. So, here are four videos I dug up that I thought were interesting:

Here’s an interview clip from an outfit called “Illinois HS basketball” with soundbites from Isaiah Thomas and Nate Robinson. Neither guy seems particularly interested in talking to the camera, but cool to hear them speak about Tony Wroten, Josh Smith, and Nate’s future with the Knicks.

These are some highlights of Tony Wroten playing at the Center Stage Classic in Las Vegas in late July. As many of you know, Tony will be a high school junior this year, and is rated by most as the top or second-best point guard in his class. His father, Tony Wroten Sr., played tight end for UW in the early 1980s, so we should have the inside track if Tony Jr. opts to stay close to home. (Should being the critical word there.)

Here’s a clip of Justin Dentmon playing in a Carbondale, Illinois, tournament that he put together. He talks a bit about what’s next for him, and says he’ll know in the next week or so whether he’ll be playing in Europe or the D-League this season.

And, here’s Matthew Bryan-Amaning with a wicked move during a tournament game in the UK this summer. I have to say that the guy guarding him looks about as lively as a coma patient, but good to see MBA taking it strong to the hole. We’ll need to see some of that from him this year.

Hey, thanks for coming! And, see you this week with a Husky player interview, the big “State of Husky Hoops Recruiting” post I’ve been working on, and all sorts of other fun stuff…

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What if Husky Hoops Hit the Gridiron?

September 3, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 2 comments

football basketball pic copyIn honor of college football kicking off this weekend, I thought it would be fun to do a football-themed Husky basketball post, and to get your thoughts also. Here’s the scenario:

It’s Saturday afternoon, a few hours before kickoff of the LSU game, and the Husky football team is nowhere to be found. Nothing particularly bad has happened, but the entire team is missing. Game time comes, but there’s nothing UW can do except forfeit, starting this season where they finished off last year: with a loss.

But wait. Coach Lorenzo Romar has invited every one of his players from this year’s Husky basketball team, and the last four UW hoops teams as well, to be his guests at the game. Just as Coach Sark heads toward the referee to tell him that the Dawgs will need to forfeit, Coach Romar runs onto the field and whispers an idea into his ear.

“Let my boys play,” says Coach Romar.

“You’re boys?” says Sark.

“Yes, let the basketball players suit up and play some football. They can do it. They can do anything,” Romar answers.

“You crazy, LoRo,” Sark says. “But, we’ve got no choice. Get your team of too-talls out here and let’s see what they can do.”

The only thing left then would be to take the Husky basketballers from the last five seasons and play them in the best positions on the field to produce. Sure, we’re probably looking at a losing battle against LSU. But, at least we’re not forfeiting.

If I’m Coach Sark, the following is my starting lineup. What’s yours? Send me an email to MontlakeMadness@gmail.com, and we’ll publish some of the best lineups in a future column, and name a Montlake Madness “Honorary Sark” award for the best reader-submitted lineup.

The rules are simple: only Huskies from the 2005-06 season on are eligible, players can’t start on both offense and defense. And, feel free to suggest a lineup with a 4-3 defense instead, or an additional tight end, etc.

Offense:

Abdul Gaddy – Quarterback: I know. He’s a freshman. But, if he’s going to be the QB of our hoops team, let’s give him a shot on the gridiron as well.

Isaiah Thomas – Halfback: You can barely see him moving up and down the court. Can you imagine trying to tackle him?

Clarence Trent – Fullback: Big body opens up holes and picks up blockers as necessary. Can also give us a different look ball carrier a few times during the game.

Brandon Roy – Wide Receiver: Big-time scorer does what it takes to get open and put points on the board.

Joel Smith – Wide Receiver: Under-achieving baller never lacked for athleticism. A good third option in the passing game behind Roy and J-Brock.

Jon Brockman – Tight End: I was tempted to play Jon at Center to anchor up the O-Line, which would need to quickly learn to function as a unit. But, it’s too appealing to think of him going all Tony Gonzalez on the Tiger linebackers and picking up key third-down conversions at will.

Artem Wallace and Tyreese Breshers – Offensive Tackle: Breshers was my original choice at TE, but I love the wingspans on these two keeping out rushing defensive ends.

Jamaal Williams and Phil Nelson – Offensive Guard: I like our athleticism here, although I wish we had some more size. Saving some big bodies for the defensive end, though, to give us a chance for scoring opportunities on the other side of the ball.

Joe Wolfinger – Center: Big body. Never quite looked engaged enough on the court, so a bit of a risk to have him at such a key spot on the line. That said, I think Wolfinger was under-utilized on the basketball team, and I want to rectify that on the football field.

Defense:

Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Darnell Gant – Defensive End: I like the power coming from MBA and the slick speed from Darnell coming off the line. Husky forwards teaming at DE forms maybe my favorite unit on the team.

Spencer Hawes – Nose Tackle: Big Body who looks to be tougher now than he ever looked during one season with the Huskies. And Spence is healthy now, which was never the case when he played at Hec Ed.

Scott Suggs and Elston Turner – Outside Linebacker: I like these two in here using their speed and athleticism for containment, coverage and on blitzes. A bit of a concern with their smallish frames considering the 3-4 defense we’re running.

Quincy Pondexter and Bobby Jones – Middle Linebacker: I love this unit too with Quincy’s getter-done grit and Bobby Jones’ shut-down defensive pedigree. Anything that gets past our line is getting thrashed by our MLB’s.

Justin Dentmon and C.J. Wilcox – Cornerbacks: Headiness of these two makes up for the athleticism edge they’ll give up to top flight receiving groups. But, we could count of these two not to make too many mistakes.

Justin Holiday – Strong Safety: Although stopping a tight end with a full head of steam behind him would be a challenge given Justin’s slight build, I like his combination of speed, brains and hands at the strong safety spot.

Venoy Overton – Free Safety: The biggest no-brainer on the field. He’d be on the ball before it even left the QB’s hand. I see Venoy breaking up as many passes on the gridiron as he does on the court.

Ryan Appleby – Kicker: Would (hopefully) convert his understanding of the angles into long-range marksmanship on the football field as well.

Tim Morris – Punter: Non-descript journeyman fits perfect mold for the position, and you’ve got to like his better-than-average (for a punter) speed for the occasional fake punt as well.

Your turn. Don’t use the comments section for your entry — keep your brilliant lineups to yourselves and try to win the “Honorary Sark” award without giving any ideas to your competition. (But, feel free to comment otherwise, of course, as usual…)

Thanks for coming!

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MBA’s Blog Entry from the UK

September 2, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | No comments

mba blog copyThis is a kind of random link to pass along, but here’s a blog post by Matthew Bryan-Amaning on the site of a UK tournament he’s been playing in called “Midnight Madness.”

MBA has overwhelmingly been the guy readers point to as a key to the upcoming Husky season, so I thought I’d pass along. His ascent to elite status would likely mean HUGE things for the team so let’s hope he comes back this year with a vengeance.

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