UW beats LSU 88-72

On the rainy shores of Lake Washington this evening, the University of Washington Men's Basketball team beat LSU 88-72. In their most important win of the season, Jon Brockman and Spencer Hawes combined for 42 points and 26 rebounds. It was the zealous activity by Jon Brockman in the games first 10 minutes on the offensive and defensive end that set the tone for the successful Huskies.

Jon Brockman was the Most Valuable Player this evening for his work on the glass, and his blanket D on Glenn "Big Baby" Davis. Brockman was the catalyst for the energetic Huskies as they really never were challenged by the Tigers.

This is the type of play that Husky fans were looking forward to since the beginning of the season. Brockman looked to match his billing as a Wooden Award candidate and Spencer Hawes looks like he is more and more ready for the NBA after every game.

Do these Huskies have what it takes to win the Pac-10? After watching Arizona vs. Memphis before the Husky game came on, maybe. Arizona looked really aggressive, and Mustafa Shukar looks like after 4 year in the Lute Olson program to be maturing into a very valuable basketball player.

The Huskies now enter the Pac-10 season on the heels of perhaps their most important non-conference victory in several years (one could argue Gonzaga last season, but because of the age of this team, and the potential for a deep run in the NCAA Tourney, this has to be near the top of non-conference wins in Lorenzo Romar's coaching career), which won its 26th consecutive non-conference home game.