Washington 86, Seattle Pacific 77

Let's be clear about what 2007-08 is for the Husky basketball team. It's a building year toward making a run at the NCAA title in 2008-09. Expect growing pains, like the 22 turnovers they committed against SPU last night, allowing the Falcons to turn a talent mismatch into a competitive game.

Their coach, Jeff Hironaka, told reporters that if the Huskies turn the ball over than much against a D-II team..."It's going to depend on their perimeter guys and how well they can handle the pressure themselves. I know they are going to put pressure on but at the same time, they are going to have to handle teams that are way more athletic than us and probably put a little bit more heat on them."

Rob Diedrichs, a 6-8 sophomore from Shorewood, dropped 36 on the Huskies, most since Adam Morrison's 43-point game in '05. No Falcon has mistreated the Dawgs this badly since Michael Vick. Oh God that's horrible.

In the point guard battle between incumbent Justin Dentmon and true frosh Venoy Overton, Overton seemed to have the better night. He played 33 minutes for the Dawgs, most of anyone, and Romar praised Overton's aggressiveness and speed with the ball. He scored 16 points on 5-11 shooting, had four assists and four turnovers.

Dentmon played 21 minutes, scored 11 points on 3-7 shooting, had three assists and two turnovers.

With Appleby out six weeks, the Dawgs need someone to step up and be a threat from the perimeter. Adrian Oliver is the most likely source, and he was 2-4 from three point range. Overall, the Dawgs were 4-11 from three.

[boxscore]

Image: Venoy Overton drives through traffic in his first collegiate game. Courtesy UW.