DOWN WITH PANTS!

Nate Robinson throws it down over the Wildcats...

I've for the most part avoided making this blog about sports. I don't know why considering a huge part of me is all about sports. It just hasn't seemed appropriate. However it's time to get those sports nerd tendencies out. Starting today I will be making at least one post a week about the Washington Husky men's basketball team. I'm a partial season ticket holder and am absolutely geeked for the upcoming season. It's going to be a big part of my life starting in a couple of weeks and it's time to bring it to this blog.

ESPN just released their first poll for the season and the Huskies are ranked 23rd. Pac-10 rival Arizona is ranked sixth while Stanford is ranked 25th. The Huskies were 19-12 last season made the NCAA tournament losing to UAB 102-100 in the first round. They knocked off Arizona twice and beat Stanford at home in the last game of the regular season in one of the most exciting sporting events I have ever been to.

They return all of the main cogs from last season losing only guard Curtis Allen who graduated and center Anthony Washington who transfered to Portland State. Guard Nate Robinson declared for the NBA Draft and was a huge hit at pre-draft workouts but decided to return for his junior year as a Husky. He is arguably the most exciting player in the nation and should become the team's leader. They also add forward Jamaal Williams, a transfer from New Mexico who averaged 11.3 points per game for the Lobos in 2003 before sitting out last season.

The Huskies last year snuck up on alot of teams. They started the season poorly and turned it on in the end upsetting team after team in an improbable run to the NCAA tournament. This season however they are a known commodity and will be the hunted. Season tickets for the season are almost sold out and Hec Ed will be packed to the rafters for just about every game. Expectations are dauntingly high. With the football team stinking up the joint they will have the weight of the entire University on their backs. Can they stand up to this pressure? We'll find out soon. The Huskies open the season against Seattle Pacific on November 19th. Their first test will be in the Great Alaska Shootout against Utah on November 25th.