To get you ready for the start of the regular season, which begins Friday against Wright State, we've taken a look at the 11 non-conference games. Last season, UW posted a 9-3 record before Pac-10 play and this season, the Huskies should take a similar record into the conference.

The Gimme Games
Fri. Nov. 13 Wright State 7 p.m
Sat. Nov. 14 Belmont 7:00 pm
Sun. Nov. 15 Portland State 7:00 pm
Nov. 20 San Jose State 8:00 pm
Nov. 29 Montana 6 p.m.

I was going to call these the Gaddy Games believing the first portion of the season would be vital for Washington to get comfortable with its 17-year-old freshman point guard Abdul Gaddy. However, it looks as if Venoy Overton is going to begin the season in the starting lineup, which should allow UW to get off to a fast start to the season. Conditioning will be tested in this weekend's three-games-in-three-days format of the Athletes in Action Basketball Classic, but the only team that poses any real threat is Portland State, which lost 84-83 to the Huskies last season. UW faces two former Huskies in Portland State's Phil Nelson and Adrian Oliver who plays for San Jose State. Washington waits nine days off - their longest layoff of the season m- before facing Montana, a team it smoked 73-53 last season. Prediction: 5-0

The fun begins
Dec. 3 Texas Tech (ESPN2) Lubbock, Texas 4:00 pm
Dec. 6 Cal St. Northridge (FSN-NW) Seattle, Wash. 7:00 pm
Dec. 12 Georgetown (FSN) Anaheim, Calif. 11:00 am

Washington's first and only "true" non-conference road game is against Texas Tech, which many predict near the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Flying to Lubbock, Texas and getting adjusted to the hostile environment should be the toughest part of this trip. The Huskies return for a potential trap-game against Cal St. Northridge. The Matadors made the NCAA tournament last season and they return three senior starters. Then its off to the John Wooden Classic for what looks to be the toughest non-conference matchup against No. 20 Georgetown. A win should push the Huskies into the top 10 rankings. The Hoyas boast one of the best big men in the country in C Greg Monroe. And checkout the start of the Georgetown game. Eleven in the morning. Ouch! Prediction: 2-1

The final tune-ups
Dec. 19 Portland (FSN-NW) Seattle, Wash. 7:00 pm
Dec. 22 Texas A&M (FSN) Seattle, Wash. 8:00 pm
Dec. 27 San Francisco (FSN-NW) Seattle, Wash. 12:00 pm

It's a little crazy to call a game against Portland a tune-up considering the Pilots stunned UW with an 80-74 upset last season, return four of their top five scorers, including Jack Sikma's son Luke and should be Gonzaga's toughest competitor in the WCC. But in essence, the final three games before conference play gives the Huskies a chance to perhaps tweak the rotation before the Pac-10 season. Texas A&M will be a stiff test for UW. The Aggies return three starters and seven of its top nine starters from last season's 24-10 team that earned a fourth straight trip to the NCAA tournament. San Francisco is a veteran team led by senior F Dior Lowhorn, who averaged 20.1 points per game last season. Prediction: 2-1

Non-conference prediction: 9-2

AND SOME LINKS:

--- With all of the recruiting stuff going on last night, I forgot to post our UW preview, which takes a look at the three Tacoma guys and five keys to the season.

--- Sandy Ringer caught up with Kentwood High's Josh Smith who chose UCLA over Washington.

--- California needed a strong second half to beat Murray State 75-70 in its regular-season opener.

--- The Spokesman.com gives a brief preview of Washington State's 73-51 exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State. Here's the game story on WSU's website.

--- Scout.com's Evan Daniels, who has been on top of the Terrence Jones story, said the Jefferson High star was still undecided last night. Jones has UW among his top five schools.

--- Examiner.com picks UW to finish second in the Pac-10.