Huskies' Scott Suggs has forced his way into rotation

Of all the highlights from the weekend, Lorenzo Romar singled out a play in the final seconds of a blowout game that's indicative of how he wants the Washington men's basketball team to play this season.

When he might have pointed to Quincy Pondexter, Isaiah Thomas and Matthew Bryan-Amaning, who each had career-best scoring nights, Romar practically beamed when talking about Scott Suggs.

The sophomore guard, who had been out of the rotation last season, dove on the floor for a loose ball with 15 seconds remaining in Sunday's 111-55 victory, which resulted in a crowd-pleasing alley-oop dunk for the 14th-ranked Huskies.

It's that type of hustle that's garnered Suggs a spot for now — in a deep rotation. He's averaging 17.3 minutes, 6 points and 3 rebounds, which tops the reserves.

Last season, Suggs was at the end of the bench and averaged 1.3 points, 0.4 rebounds and 4.7 minutes.

He said he thought about transferring after the season, but decided against it.

"He made it through, but anyone that doesn't play as much as they would like, it's tough," Romar said. "Quincy Pondexter went through it. Scott is not the only one."

When referring to Suggs, Romar often cites Pondexter, UW's senior captain who considered transferring following a frustrating freshman year.

"I don't think [Suggs] got over it last year," Romar said. "I think maybe you have just a summer to reflect and look back. You get your emotions out of the way."

After the season, Suggs went home to Missouri, where he won the state's player of the year award his senior year at Washington High, and returned to Montlake intent on cracking the rotation.

"I'm more focused on defense and I have a better understanding of the team concept of defense," he said.

Suggs made his season debut midway in the first half of the opener against Wright State on Friday and immediately forced a turnover. Minutes later, he drained a three-pointer in the corner and was on the floor in the decisive final minutes.

"When [Romar] called my name, basically what I was thinking was I got to try and make an impact as quickly as I can," said Suggs, who scored a personal-best nine points against Wright State. "I got in and fortunately I forced a turnover. That's a good thing. I tried to keep it rolling and try to make something happen on offense. As long as you can keep being productive, that's more reason for him to keep me in there."

In a Seattle Times online poll, 34 percent of 2,859 respondents said Suggs was the Husky who surprised them the most after the first three games.

Pondexter drew the second, garnering 26 percent of the votes, and Bryan-Amaning was third at 16 percent.

"Scott is definitely a different player than last year," Romar said. "He's more aggressive on the defensive end. He rebounds better. He's a better shooter than he was last year ... He's being more aggressive."

Notes

• Sports Illustrated placed UW guard Isaiah Thomas on the regional cover of its college basketball preview that's being released Wednesday.

• Redshirt freshman F Tyreese Breshers, who injured a right finger Saturday, practiced Tuesday and is expected to be cleared to play Friday against San Jose State.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com