BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

We're seeing an awful lot to like about Lorenzo Romar's crew this year.

They've been through a variety of challenges at the midway point of the season.

The Huskies were asleep for the opener at Portland. Then they were blasted by Kansas on national television.

Then the adjustment came the next game against Florida, when Washington started playing together. That's been plattered as the turning point in the season. As much as that change was pertinent, the response following the triple-overtime loss to California will be rear-viewed as the defining time of the season.

Let's clarify with simplicity. Washington outplayed California, yet did not win. Shoddy defense at the end of regulation, and Cal's Patrick Christopher putting up the biggest brick of the season kept Cal alive. Everyone involved, other than Christopher knows the Huskies should have won. Christopher, in a tone of voice that sounded like he believed it, said afterward he never thought Cal was going to lose.

The Huskies players watched the tape Sunday, Romar early Sunday morning as he extended his Saturday into an overnight affair.

Isaiah Thomas, the fouling culprit caught in the wash of Christopher's misfire, went to the gym to get the game out of his system. Thomas has been well-trained by the Huskies handlers, saying he missed a boxout on the play, it was his fault.

Ideally, yes, Thomas would have boxed Cal's D.J. Seeley out. The problem was Seeley was out by the the 3-point line when the shot went up, Thomas having drifted to the lane when he saw Christopher turn to force the shot. No team will have its point guard turn and stick a behind into a guy out on the 3-point line. Just doesn't happen.

But they worked it out. Monday came, and the team, though a bit tentative, was smiling and having a good time prior to practice, taking a cue from a coaching staff that opted not to pulverize them, instead moved on.

The approach worked. Washington devoured Oregon in the second half of Thursday's 84-67 win. Thomas, in his first visit to McArthur Court, came out with back-to-back 3s and finished with 23 points. Quincy Pondexter re-emerged. Washington was again brutal from the free-throw line (16-for-26), though it didn't matter.

Now Oregon State awaits. This is a necessary road sweep week. After beating Oregon State, Washington will move to 13-4, 4-1 in conference. The Huskies host USC and UCLA next week, making this domination of the state of Oregon a necessity.

Having watched the first five games, no one would have anticipated this would become a Washington team that is poised on the road. One that continued to stick together. A group that gives Romar options the way a baseball manager is blessed with situational players.

It speaks to Romar continuing to be everything Tyrone Willingham was not. Alumni love him. He's affable and accessible. He can also recruit.

While Steve Sarkisian has talked about putting up a wall around the state in order to keep recruits here, Romar has been able to do that.

He can't bring in everyone, of course. Terrence Williams off to Louisville. Abdul Gaddy initially to Arizona. Martell Webster straight to the league.

But you can bet Romar will be in Bank of America Arena Monday for the King Holiday Hoopsfest. The black, leather jacket with the purple W emblazoned on the left chest will be in tow. Possible he'll have a good seat.

When Romar talks to the talent, he'll be able to say, "Look at us. We're a top-tier program in the Pac-10. We're just outside of being ranked. We stumbled, but turned it around."

If the Huskies had pointed fingers, a distinct possibility after players turned the opener into one-on-one displays, they wouldn't be here. If they couldn't be calm on the road, they wouldn't be here. If they couldn't compartmentalize the triple overtime loss, they wouldn't be here. Thomas, referred to by Cal coach Mike Montgomery as, "One hell of an addition," has helped, too.

Now they're 80 minutes and just more than a week away from the biggest game in this town in more than a year.

Todd Dybas is the editor of Seattlesportsonline.com. He can be reached via e-mail at tdybas@seattlesportsonline.com