For a team that was seemingly under water before the season even began, the Washington men's basketball team sure is, ahem, Dawg-paddling toward legitimacy now.

You're not quite sure what to think of this team, but the Huskies are winning, either because they're in a wobbly conference or they're growing into their talent. Or both. But even though the Huskies have won 11 of their last 13 games to improve to 16-7 (and a Pac-12-leading 9-2 in conference), they enter tonight's game at Oregon still needing to make a stronger impression.

OK, I have a bad habit of throwing out poll questions and not showing you the results after you've had a few days to vote.

That ends tonight.

Over the past week, I've asked a couple of things of you -- one on the arena issue yesterday and the other about the Washington men's basketball team. Let's take a look at some results.

As you know, this is the story of the hour in Seattle sports.

We're trying to get the best feedback possible, so that we consider the average citizen's side here. So, please vote in the poll below. And if you have any arena thoughts you'd like me to consider, offer them up. Steve Kelley has already chimed in, but I'm going to think things out a little more before offering a huge take, even though I know I'm predisposed to root for this new arena because I desperately want to have as many pro sports in the city as possible because that's great for a sportswriter.

Anyway, this is definitely the time to get in my ear.

The floor's yours.

This is the 34th Super Bowl of my lifetime. In the previous 33, I probably have a 10-23 record (I'm guessing, so I could be wrong, as usual) in predicting the winner. I'd bet I had more luck as a baby if my parents asked me who'd win and I babbled like Bamm-Bamm Rubble from "The Flintstones."

But I continue to throw a prediction out there because, well, that's what people do before the Super Bowl. This year, I'm picking the New England Patriots. And that's quite interesting because, for most of the past two weeks, I've been high on the New York Giants. I even hyped the Giants during a radio interview early in the week. So if I'm wrong, it'll be because I didn't trust my instincts and thought about it too much.

Why New England?

The Washington men's basketball team won its fifth straight game tonight, capturing an ugly but dominant 69-41 victory over USC at Edmundson Pavilion.

The Huskies have now won 11 of their last 13 games. Their record is now 16-7, including a 9-2 mark in the Pac-12 conference. This is as good as the Huskies have been all season, which, I know, isn't saying a lot considering this team stumbled to a 5-5 start.

They're making progress, but how much? I think the improvement is substantial, even though the Pac-12 is full of mediocre-to-lousy teams this season.

But let me direct a question to you. I want to know what you're feeling about the turnaround this team has made since mid December. Do you believe in these Huskies? Do you need to see more? Is this surge a sign that the Huskies will be formidable in March, or is it merely the good fortune of being in a bad conference this year?

Vote in the poll below. And if you have something to say, the floor is yours.

I'm listening.

Photo credit: Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times
Terrence Ross and the Huskies look good enough to win a mediocre Pac-12. Can they finish?

Lorenzo Romar has preached one of his trademark sermons over the past week: Don't get bored with success.

During his 500-game head coaching career, the Washington men's basketball coach has perfected the message to try to get mercurial college kids to understand the discipline of winning. The gist is simple -- once you've found the winning formula, don't stray from it.

"Don't get bored with success," Romar said. "Make sure you understand why we're playing better. And don't experiment at this point."

It was another night to gush over Terrence Ross, the smoothest streaky player in college basketball.

Down 10 with 6:02 remaining, the Washington men's basketball team closed even more impressively than Steve Sarkisian on the eve of football signing day. The Huskies thrilled a raucous crowd with extraordinary defensive pressure late in the game, as well as great composure and the kind of team cohesion and offensive efficiency they lacked for the first 34 minutes. But the most credit for closing goes to Ross, the sophomore guard with bottomless talent.

Photo credit: Cliff Despeaux/The Seattle Times (file photo)

I went to Lorenzo Romar, the Washington men's basketball coach, for a perspective on college football signing day. I figured Romar could offer a passionate take on recruiting and insight into what football coach Steve Sarkisian is experiencing today. And the fact that Romar isn't talking about his own team gives him the freedom to speak more freely about some of the general issues I wanted to discuss.

As usual, Romar didn't disappoint.

I'll use a lot of what Romar said in my Thursday column, but I wanted to share some of this interview with you right now as the letters of intent trickle in this morning.