With first place and a direct path to the Pac-10 title on the line, there's no doubt that Washington's game Thursday against Arizona State is a big one. But how big?

To my figuring -- considering its a pair of ranked teams, and the winner will emerge atop the Pac-10 standings -- it's the biggest since March 24, 2006, when UW was denied entry to the Elite Eight with an overtime loss to Connecticut.

On Tuesday, I ran that past three of the Huskies who were there in 2006, and none could come up with a bigger game since.

UW coach Lorenzo Romar:
"I would say so. … I would have to say yeah. … It’s fun to be involved in these types of contests. I know that’s what any competitor really plays for: to play against the best and play at the highest level."

UW senior guard Justin Dentmon:
"The UConn game, man, that’s a sad game to think about; but yeah, you could put it with that game. I think this is going to be another tournament-like game for us, for our guys to get a feel for how a tournament game is."

UW senior forward Jon Brockman:
"In terms of league play, it's probably the biggest game since I've been a Husky. ... It makes it real exciting. I know what the environment is going to be like: It's going to be wild and crazy. They're coming in with a lot of energy, a lot of focus; and really I'm sure Arizona State is thinking they deserve to be in first place. They're coming in here and I know they've been thinking that the entire year: From when the season started they though they were the best team in this league, and they're going to come in here and expect to take it."

Meanwhile, folks in Tempe say this could be considered an even bigger game for Arizona State -- perhaps the biggest basketball game in school history.

As you would figure, the game is sold out.

A quick scouting report:

NO. 14 ARIZONA STATE (21-5, 10-4)
AT NO. 21 WASHINGTON (20-7, 11-4)
8 p.m. Thursday, Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
TV: FSN.
Radio: 950-AM

Series: Arizona State leads 34-32 overall. UW leads 17-14 at home. The teams split two meetings last season, each winning on the road. The Huskies won the earlier meeting this season, 84-71, at ASU.

Statistical leaders: For ASU, G James Harden, 21.2 ppg; F Jeff Pendergraph, 8.2 rpg; G Derek Glasser, 4.8 apg. For UW, G Isaiah Thomas, 15.9 ppg and 2.7 apg; F Jon Brockman, 11.3 rpg.

Scouting report: The Sun Devils are on a five-game Pac-10 winning streak, their longest since 1994-95. They also have won four straight Pac-10 road games, most since 1980-81. … UW leads the league in scoring and rebounding. ASU leads in 3-point field goals made, 3-point field goal defense, assists and assist/turnover ratio. … Individually, Harden leads the Pac-10 and is 16th nationally in scoring. Pendergraph leads the nation in field goal percentage (66.8). Rihards Kuksiks is fourth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (47.6). Brockman leads the Pac-10 in rebounding. Senior guard Justin Dentmon has moved to within a tenth of a point of Thomas for the UW scoring lead. UW junior forward Quincy Pondexter has scored in double figures in six straight games. Over that span he is averaging 17.7 points, shooting 60.6 percent and averaging 6.2 rebounds. He needs nine points to reach the 1,000-point career mark. … The Sun Devils are 2-1 this season against ranked teams -- the two wins coming against UCLA and the loss to Washington.

Next: Noon Saturday, vs. Arizona, Hec Edmundson Pavilion; FSN.

UW freshman Isaiah Thomas said today that he can't remember the last time a coach chose to have him on the bench at crunch time in a close game.

But that's where he was Saturday, as the Huskies gutted out their 60-51 win over USC.

"It was weird," Thomas said. "We won so I can’t complain about it. We won, and that’s all that matters. But it was something different. I’ve never had that."

Coach Lorenzo Romar said Thomas sat because Venoy Overton was impacting the game by playing energetic defense and driving USC's Dwight Lewis to distraction.

"That was a game situation where Venoy’s defensive pressure had changed the game around and we just decided to go with that," Romar explained. "And then Justin Dentmon, down the stretch, he was guarding well too."

Thomas ended up with four points in 27 minutes. Dentmon had eight points in 32 minutes. Overton had seven points -- and three steals -- in 21 minutes.

Romar said the decision isn't expected to become a trend.

And Thomas took the attitude that all's well that ends well.

"I was ready, but our teammates got the victory for us," he said. "It was something that had never happened to me, and I hope it never happens again. But we won."

Technology -- well, at least FaceBook and Twitter -- came up today at our meeting with the Huskies.

First Jon Brockman noted that he is already at his FaceBook maximum of 5,000 friends, but that he now also has a Twitter account -- JBrock40 -- and he'd be happy to have some followers there.

Here, btw, is Brockman's post from today: "Good practice today for the team, getting ready for the ASU game, hope we will have all of your support!"

(Meanwhile, I've also opened a Twitter account: donruiztnt. Mostly, I've just opened it to keep track of football coach Steve Sarkisian's -- CoachSark -- tweets. And, of course, now JBrock40. However, I could also use it as a source for breaking news -- short breaking news, tweets are limited to 140 characters -- if any of you think that would be useful.)

In any case, don't be expecting any tweets from Lorenzo Romar Twitter anytime soon.

Asked something today about Twitter, he answered: "I could tell you if I knew what that was.''

Given a sort of sketchy description, Romar concluded: "I'm not that advanced at this point.''

UW senior forward Jon Brockman today was named among the 30 finalists for the Naismith award -- awarded annually to the college game's best player.

"Awesome," coach Lorenzo Romar said. "He deserves it, that’s for sure. Whatever accolades Jon Brockman gets, he’s much deserving of it."

"It’s an honor," Brockman said. "Looking at the list, there’s a lot of great players on there. A lot of guys I know, so I’ll be able to call them and congratulate them. But it’s just an honor to be on the list, and a pretty cool thing."

Here's the full release from GoHuskies.com.

California coach Mike Montgomery has a lot of Pac-10 history, so he was asked today who he thinks rates at the league favorite this season.

His response: "Washington, with three home games, would certainly be in the driver's seat given the fact that they are in first place as we speak."

Arizona State's visit to Washington on Thursday has sold out. The game between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the Pac-10 will be shown on FSN.

For those with tickets -- and only those with tickets -- the UW Alumni Association is hosting its final Jump Start party before the 8 p.m. tipoff.

Here is the info provided by the Alumni Association:

Husky Hoops Jump Start
UW vs. Arizona State
Thursday, February 26, 2009
5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Don James Center at Husky Stadium

Hear from Husky head coach Lorenzo Romar and enjoy an all-you-can-eat dinner buffet with beer, wine and soft drinks.

Enjoy a live performance by the Husky Marching Band and Cheer Squad, then walk over to Hec Ed for the UW’s biggest game of the year.

Cost is $25 for UWAA members and current UW students; $30 for non-members.

To register, go to UWalum.com or call 1-800-AUW-ALUM.