This was a bit of a slow week for Husky news, but things are about to start hopping as football and basketball begin to overlap.

I'll have an early hoops story in the paper soon. Then more will follow after Wednesday, when UW holds its prepractice media day. Here are some other key days to remember:

Friday: Team reports for practice.
Nov. 6: Exhibition vs. Western Washington at Hec Ed.
Nov. 15: Season opens at Portland.
Nov. 18: Home opener vs. Cleveland State.
Nov. 24: Meets defending national champion Kansas in semifinal of CBE tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Dec. 4: Hosts Oklahoma State in Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
Jan. 3: Pac-10 opener at Washington State.
March 7: Regular season ends vs. WSU at Hec Ed.
March 11-14: Pac-10 tournament at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
March 15: Selection Sunday for postseason tournaments.

Meanwhile, here are a few early thoughts on the coming season from three key figures of the coming season:

COACH LORENZO ROMAR on his expectations for Jon Brockman's senior season:
"Let’s say a minimum of what he did last year. A minimum of what he did last year. In Jon’s case I don’t totally know what to expect, because he has really been focused. So I don’t want to over-predict and I don’t want to cheat him. I don’t know. I just know that he has been on a mission this summer and this fall. He has worked really hard. If you would see him… you would not guess he weighs 250 pounds – you’d think he’s probably 225, 230 because he looks so sleek. But he is every bit of 250 pound. Our guy mattludwig – our strength and conditioning coach – has done a phenomenal job with our guys during the summer. If you look at them, you can see there are some different looking bodies out there. Our guys are in better condition and Jon is one of those guys that has benefitted from it."

BROCKMAN on whether things feel different heading into his final season as a Husky:
"Yeah it does. It gives a whole different perspective to things. The little stuff, you just start thinking, ‘This is the last time I’m going to do that, the last time I’m going to be doing this.’ I wish I would have known what this felt like when I was a freshman, sophomore, junior, just because I would have had a better understanding for what those other guys were feeling. Because it definitely means a lot more knowing this is the last time you’re going to do it."

And freshman ISAIAH THOMAS on surprising some of his teammates with his passing ability:
"I think I’ve always had it. It’s just the teams I’ve been on, I needed to score for us to win. This team, we’ve got a lot of talent around us, so you guys are going to see my other skills, and passing is one of them. Everybody is a little surprised that I can pass as good as I can. You guys will see once the season starts."