Warm Up with Hot Washington Huskies Basketball Action on ESPN Tonight

Isaiah Thomas

Lucky Dawgs. Instead of suffering through #snOMG, they're in Maui (today's high, 81 F) playing in the elite Maui Invitational. Today at 6:30 p.m. PST they'll play against a nationally-televised game against one of college basketball's legendary programs, the University of Kentucky.

So, in a sense, lucky us. With a night that's almost guaranteed to be spent indoors, your entertainment options aren't limited to whichever CSI is on tonight. Instead you can watch what I expect to be one of the most thrilling games in Washington basketball history.

If you read any article about this game, you will no doubt encounter the fact that star Kentucky freshman Terrence Jones originally committed to Washington, then changed his mind and went to the Wildcats. This has been anointed a "Story Line" by rabid fans and media, but "Story Lines" rarely make for compelling sports.

What makes this game so compelling is the battle between talent and teamwork. The Huskies have humiliated all three of their opponents this season. Not just offensively (the Dawgs are averaging 107.3 points/game, best in the nation), but on defense, where the Huskies have forced 68 opponent turnovers.

The Dawgs aren't just talented, they are playing with a team focus that I've never seen from them before.

The 'Cats, meanwhile, have two of the most talented freshman in the world in point guard Brandon Knight and do-everything forward Jones. Both are likely to be lottery picks in the 2011 NBA Draft.

The Huskies don't have anyone with Knight and Jones' talent. It's possible that not a single current Husky will get a minute in the NBA. But what the Dawgs do have is a core of talented players entering their second or third seasons together.

This will be a thriller. Don't miss it--I know you don't have anything better to do.