The 2007 Comcast Battle in Seattle set the attendance record for a college basketball game in the State of Washington. That record may not last for long. Following five great years of the popular neutral site contest, Northwest Sports & Entertainment is excited to announce the game is back for what will be its most anticipated matchup to date. Entering the KeyArena for the sixth annual Comcast Battle in Seattle will be two of the most successful programs in the last fifteen years as the Gonzaga University Bulldogs go up against the University of Connecticut Huskies. The event will take place on Saturday December 20th, 2008.

The upcoming season will mark the first time a Hall of Fame inductee and National Championship winning coach will be on the sidelines for the Comcast Battle in Seattle. Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun will bring over 700 wins, a NIT Championship, and two NCAA Championships into the KeyArena, with the hopes of adding to his already impressive win total. But that is not all Coach Calhoun will be bringing to Seattle. He will also have with him what could be one of his best teams in his 24 years at the University.

Led by reining NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Hasheem Thabeet, the 2008-2009 version of the UCONN Huskies will look to add to their success of a year ago during which they won 24 games and earned a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The seven foot three inch center from Tanzania would have likely been a lottery pick in the NBA Draft this offseason, but chose to return to school with the hopes of winning a National Championship. Joined by nearly every key contributor from last year’s team, that goal is not out of the question.

The team returns all five starters and their top six scorers, all of whom scored at least 7.5 points per game. Leading the Huskies with 14.8 points per game was forward Jeff Adrien. The powerful Adrien also led the team with 9.1 rebounds per game and has scored over 1000 points in his UCONN career. The 6’7” forward will enter his senior year as one of the top players in the country.

Finishing second on the team in scoring was point guard A.J. Price. Price, a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, finally lived up to his potential as he averaged 14.5 points per game, 5.8 assists per game and was named an All-American Honorable Mention. The senior will be coming off knee surgery, but is expected to be at full strength when the Huskies open the season.

Other key returners include Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Craig Austrie. Connecticut will likely enter the season as a top five team and the #1 team in the BIG EAST Conference.

The opposite bench in the 2008 Comcast Battle in Seattle will also feature a University with a Hall of Fame quality coach and a team loaded with experienced returners. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are coming off of a season during which they won more than 20 games for the 11th straight year.

The 2008-2009 Zags could be the deepest team in school history as six of their top seven scorers return from the team that won 25 games and captured the West Coast Conference regular season championship for the 8th year in a row.

Directing the Bulldogs will be senior guard Jeremy Pargo. The Chicago native was named the 2007 West Coast Conference player of the year and was an All-American Honorable Mention. After scoring 12.1 points per game and leading the team with 6.0 assists per game a season ago, Pargo will look to get the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive time.

Assisting Pargo will be junior guard Matt Bouldin and sophomore forward Austin Daye. Bouldin led the Zags in scoring last season, averaging 12.6 points per game. He also tallied an impressive 2.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Daye broke into the college basketball scene scoring in double figures in six of his first seven games, including a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds) against Montana in this college debut. The son of former NBA player Darren Daye, Austin finished third on the team in scoring (10.5) and second on the team in rebounding (4.7).
Other key Gonzaga returnees include senior Josh Heytvelt, sophomore Steven Gray, sophomore Robert Sacre, and senior Micah Downs.

The Bulldogs and the Huskies last met on December 1, 2007 in Boston with the Zags prevailing by the score of 85 to 82. Connecticut holds a 2-1 all-time series lead over Gonzaga.

After winning the first three years of the Comcast Battle in Seattle, Gonzaga has run into some tough luck losing the last two contests at Seattle’s KeyArena. Last season the Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 82-72 behind 18 points from guard JuJuan Smith. Matt Bouldin led Gonzaga with 21 points in an exciting game where the outcome was uncertain until the final seconds. The Bulldog’s three victories in the history of the Comcast Battle in Seattle have come over Missouri (2003), UMass (2004), and Oklahoma State (2005).

For updated information and additional details of this event, visit the official website: www.battleinseattle.com.

WHAT: Men’s NCAA Division 1 basketball, 2008 Comcast Battle in Seattle

WHO: Gonzaga University Bulldogs vs. University of Connecticut Huskies

WHEN: December 20th, 2008 @ 1:00 PM

WHERE: KeyArena
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109

CONTACT: Adam Baker, NW Sports
Cell: 480-695-2731, E-mail: adam@northwestsports.org

TICKETS: Ticketmaster general on-sale date is scheduled for September 13th. Spokane only pre-sale is scheduled for September 6th.