It’s only an exhibition game, but it’s still going to be special for guard Isaiah Thomas and forward Darnell Gant, whose Washington Husky careers are about to rev up one season later than expected.
Both players will be in uniform at 7 tonight when the Huskies meet Western Washington at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
“We’re anxious to play a real game,” coach Lorenzo Romar said. “Even though it’s an exhibition game, it’s a real game to us: against somebody else, fans in the stands.”
Gant has actually played in a UW uniform once before – in the exhibition that proceeded last season. After that, he decided to redshirt.
“I took the year off to do what I had to do school-wise and weight-wise and just learning the defensive principles and getting down the offense and stuff like that,” Gant said this week. “… My defense has gotten better since last year. I’m getting older and working in the weight room. … I’m just stronger, bigger, whatever. I’ve put on 10 or 15 pounds, and I think that helps a lot in knocking down open jumpers and crashing the offensive glass.”
Gant has progressed to the point where he is listed as a potential starter alongside Thomas, Jon Brockman, Quincy Pondexter and Justin Dentmon.
For Thomas, this will mark his first Puget Sound-area game since his Curtis High Vikings lost to South Kitsap in the 2006 state playoffs in the Tacoma Dome.
Thomas, who scored 33 points in that game, thought he was one season away from starting his college career. However, he took a two-season detour to South Kent (Conn.) prep school, where he worked on his grades and game.
Now, his wait is about to end.
“I can’t wait to get the tipoff, get that first pass, get everything out,” Thomas said. “It’s going to be exciting. My family and friends are going to be watching. I just can’t wait to get there.”
Romar, who sometimes uses the exhibition starting lineup to reward players who have been his best rebounders or defenders in practice, wants to try out a lineup he is considering for the Nov. 15 regular-season opener at the University of Portland.
As the week began, Romar was leaning toward Brockman, Pondexter, Dentmon, Thomas and either Gant or Mathew Bryan-Amaning.
Sophomore Justin Holiday, whose freshman season was limited by illness and injury, is in the mix for a starting spot. Depth will come from Venoy Overton, Joe Wolfinger and Artem Wallace along with true freshmen guards Elston Turner and Scott Suggs.
Freshman center/forward Tyreese Breshers will sit out while recovering from offseason shin surgery. Brockman suffered back spasms after a fall on Monday, but is expected to play.
Western Washington, an NCAA Division II school, went 15-12 last season. The Vikings roster includes former South Sound players Morris Anderson of Federal Way, Matt Sheppard of Puyallup, Derrick Webb of Port Orchard and Anthony Wiederkehr of Lakewood.
Tickets for the exhibition will be available at the door for $10.
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808
thenewstribune.com/uwsports
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.