Hoops: A Fine Holiday Welcome for the Big - 12

UW Huskies 108 - Texas Tech Red Raiders 79

Saturday afternoon, December 4, at 1 pm the Huskies played Texas Tech at Hec Edmunsen Pavilion. Justin Holiday set the tone for the game by scoring 13 of the Huskies first 14 points. He was hot and the team was smart enough to keep feeding him the ball. He finished the game with 20 points in all and contributed some massive defense.

Isaiah Thomas seems to be struggling. He plays like the whole game depends on him scoring all the time. What ends up happening, it seems to me, is that he drives in to the lane and either gets stripped or blocked or ends up with nobody to pass to. Frustrating to watch. He's so talented and quick and is capable of making the most amazing shots. It still never ceases to amaze me that defenses seem to forget that he is a lefty. When he goes up with the ball in his right, switches over and finishes from the left, it looks like they weren't even guarding him. He scored 16 and was perfect from the foul line (6 for 6).

Matthew Bryan-Amaning had another solid game; 18 points, many rebounds and some tough interior defense. Aziz N'Diaye has been getting the starting spot with MBA coming off the bench. When he does, not only do we not lose anything, we actually gain solidity and competence at the center. I'm sure in time that Aziz will be a great asset; right now, he's a work in progress. He scored 4.

The Huskies thumped Texas Tech by 29. They were ahead by 19 at the half (61-42) and extended that lead during the second half. Venoy Overton put the cap on the first half by disrupting a play (I forgot whether he stole the ball or just forced a turnover) and then taking the ball at the other end and scoring a very pretty layup during the last minute of the half. After that the scoreboard posted a message saying, "Feeling Venoyed?" I would imagine that TT was felling pretty Venoyed as he was in their shirts all day. I intend to appreciate all of the time VO is on the court. He's a senior this year and I, for one, will certainly miss him when he is gone. He never scores too many points (he had 9) but he is sooo responsible for the other team not scoring so many points either.

Got to see Terrence Ross play for the first time. He's pretty exciting. I hope he's not a "one and done" player (I don't see how he can be, he's not getting that much playing time. If he were a true 'one and done' he'd be in the lineup and making much more of a contribution) because what I saw on Saturday was pretty awesome. He scored 6 and had a spectacular dunk in the second half.

Scott Suggs and Darnell Gant played well, both scoring 8. Abdul Gaddy is turning into a really competent point guard. Not very flashy, but really competent. He's also got a pretty shot. He made his 6 points on 2 three pointers. Brendan "The Human Victory Cigar" Sherrer got to play and filled up the box score for himself. He played the final 3:42 minutes and scored a bucket, got a rebound and a block, and fouled someone. Good job Brendan. The student section went nuts when he got put in so early and even more nuts when he scored.

Good game.