Washington coach Lorenzo Romar expects his team to play solid defense and shoot the ball effectively when the No. 18 Huskies open the season Saturday afternoon at home against McNeese State.
What he is less certain of, however, is how well his team can rebound.
"We've got to do a better job on the boards. That's our biggest concern," Romar said this week. "This is going to be a collective effort all year long but we have to have a group that's committed.
"Poor rebounding is something that will hinder us from being the best team we can be."
The Huskies, picked to win the Pac-10 title this season, return four starters and nearly 70 percent of their offense from last season's NCAA tournament team. Romar said there are more shooters on this team than any other he has had at the school.
But he can't pinpoint how his players will rebound because, as he said, "rebounding is mostly about desire."
The program has tried to improve its rebounding potential by recruiting 7-foot junior college transfer Aziz N'Diaye. Romar would like to see how well N'Diaye and 6-9 senior forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning play on the floor together. That plan fizzled last Saturday in the team's exhibition opener against Division II St. Martin's. N'Diaye played just 11 minutes before fouling out.
"We're gonna watch films and see ourselves and some stuff we going to be working on," N'Diaye said afterward. "We have to figure out ways to play together and figure out how to get better. And we know that."
When the coaches went over the game film with N'Diaye, "every one of those fouls could have been avoided," Romar said. "(Bryan-Amaning) averaged 7 1/2 rebounds over a 14-game stretch last year ... that shows he can get it done. (Freshman guard) Terrence Ross also has that mindset."
The grand design is to have everyone with that mindset.
"He preaches to us all the time that rebounding is about heart and desire," said 6-6 forward Scott Suggs. "It doesn't matter how big or small you are. It's about desire. We have to crash a little harder and get into our positions, rebounding-wise."
Suggs earned a starting spot in last Saturday's game because of his consistent play and scoring ability in practice. Against St. Martin's, he scored 11 points — including hitting three of four 3-pointers — in 22 minutes.
But Romar cautioned Suggs may not be a starter going forward, saying, "I don't know about the future. I don't know if we can go that small."
Romar's preference would be starting 6-8 junior forward Darnell Gant. But Gant has been dealing with a strained left groin and may not be ready for extended play against McNeese.
"Even though (Gant) hasn't shown that he's been a consistent, really good rebounder," Romar said, "his experience, his familiarity with the team, he can help give us something we don't have right now. He's a taller body."
St. Martin's served as a warning for the Huskies, as they were outrebounded 42-32 by a smaller team. UW won 97-76, primarily because the Huskies shot 54 percent, including 10 of 17 from 3-point range.
"Rebounding is nothing you can work on, it's about attitude," guard Isaiah Thomas said. "If five guys in the game have that attitude then you become a good rebounding team. It's about grit and going and getting the ball."
