Romar, Huskies reap bushel of Pac-10 awards

The Pacific-10 Conference champion Washington Huskies dominated the league’s major honors announced Monday, yet they emerged wanting more.

Coaches voted Lorenzo Romar as Pac-10 coach of the year, guard Isaiah Thomas of Tacoma freshman of the year and senior guard Justin Dentmon the league’s most improved player.

Dentmon and senior forward Jon Brockman were named to the all-conference first team. Thomas was named to the all-freshman first team and the all-conference second team. And sophomore guard Venoy Overton was an all-defensive team honorable mention.

Also Monday, both major polls elevated Washington to its highest position of this men’s basketball season: 10th in the ESPN/USA Today poll of coaches and 13th in The Associated Press poll of sportswriters.

So it must say something about the Huskies’ competitive streak that they seemed somewhat disappointed, even though the only major Pac-10 honors that got away were player of the year, which went to Arizona State guard James Harden; and defensive player of the year, which went to USC forward Taj Gibson.

“The first thing I looked for was the all-conference and the player of the year,” Romar said. “And I saw Jon wasn’t player of the year, and I felt bad – although it’s hard to argue with James Harden because he means so much to Arizona State. But I was hoping Jon could be at least co-player of the year. But the other thing I looked for was Justin Dentmon’s name on all-conference. When I saw that, that right there hit me: ‘Justin is all-conference.’ ”

Brockman shook off Harden’s selection and took satisfaction in his teammates’ honors.

“People had told me that they thought I would get (player of the year),” Brockman said. “But James is deserving of it – every single way he deserves it. He’s definitely the best player in this league in my mind. … Coach Romar, obviously he’s deserving of it. He works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen at anything. … Justin and Isaiah, I’m just proud of them. They’re well-deserving of those awards, and they worked extremely hard to be in that position.”

Dentmon had been honored at the start of his career as a member of the Pac-10 all-freshman team, then followed up with disappointing sophomore and junior seasons.

So, his teammates seemed especially happy that the hard work of his senior season was rewarded. In turn, he shared the honor with them.

“I knew that our team would do well only if we played together,” Dentmon said. “As far as individual goals, it just came with the team winning. If we were losing, you probably wouldn’t see me on the all-conference team. It felt good. It felt (like) a blessing. I just give all credit to my teammates.”

Those teammates expressed disappointment that sophomore guard Overton wasn’t named to the all-defense first team. Romar also hoped that Quincy Pondexter’s late-season charge would earn him all-conference honorable mention.

Meanwhile, the freshman award seemed so sure that Thomas admitted disappointment at not making the 10-member all-conference first team.

One of those first-team guard spots went to Washington State senior Taylor Rochestie. Other Cougars honored were forward DeAngelo Casto and guard Klay Thompson, both named to the all-freshman team.

“All along I was thinking (freshman of the year) was going to be me,” Thomas said. “Not to sound cocky or whatnot; but just the hard work I put in, I think it’s paid off. (Making all-league first team) was in the back of my head. It wasn’t something big, so I’m not really tripping off of it. It was just something that I’ve worked hard and they put me on the second team, so it’s all right. We won the Pac-10: That’s the biggest one I cared about.”

The Pac-10 tournament runs Wednesday through Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Oregon State and Stanford will play the first game at 6 p.m., and Washington State and Oregon meet in the nightcap.

Washington plays at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against the OSU-Stanford winner.

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All-Pac-10 first team

F Jon BrockmanseniorWashington

F Chase BudingerjuniorArizona

G Patrick ChristopherjuniorCalifornia

G Darren CollisonseniorUCLA

G Justin DentmonseniorWashington

G James HardensophomoreArizona State

F Jordan HilljuniorArizona

F Jeff PendergraphseniorArizona State

G Jerome RandlejuniorCalifornia

G Taylor RochestieseniorWashington State

Second team: F Taj Gibson, USC; G Daniel Hackett, USC; F Josh Shipp, UCLA; G Isaiah Thomas, Washington; G Nic Wise, Arizona.

Player of year: Harden, ASU

Freshman of year: Thomas, UW

Most improved: Dentmon, UW

Coach of year: Lorenzo Romar, Washington

Awards voted by coaches, who are not permitted to vote for themselves or their players.