BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

This is not a team of singular reliance.

Sure, the school put together propaganda to provoke thought of Jon Brockman as an All-American candidate. But he is not the individual force that drives this Husky team.

There simply isn't one. Washington is tied at the top of the Pac-10 standings because of a tidy confluence of versatility.

You want to run? The Huskies would love that.

You want to slow it down? That works, too. We'll just pound the post, thank you.

You want to go big? You better find someone who can handle the ball, because we are going to pressure you.

Someone on your team getting off? Meet Justin Holiday.

You want to foul us all night? Go ahead because we're money from the line. Well, at least against USC.

Coach Lorenzo Romar is working with a stacked bullpen of distinct talents.

USC's DeMar DeRozan scored 12 points in the first half Thursday night, then opened the second half with a basket. Holiday checked in to chase the the Trojans' short-timer.

Holiday denied DeRozan on the wing. USC ran plays for the freshman, but he often looked like he didn't understand how to use a pick when he didn't have the ball.

Holiday continued his overplay, leaving an exasperated DeRozan standing in the corner wondering what's going on. DeRozan scored again, but it was 16 minutes after his first basket of the second half. It would also be the last time. He eventually fouled out.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning left the bench to provide a more liquid approach in the post. With Brockman facing level strength he could not push through nor rise above, it was Bryan-Amaning's pivoting and wheeling which proved effective. It was more London Balling from the Brit.

Venoy Overton is still playing like the other guy stole his lunch money then kicked his cat. Overton's defense irritated USC's Daniel Hackett, but it was Overton's shooting, two 3-pointers while the teams grappled in the first half, that surprised and invigorated Thursday.

Justin Dentmon has become a shooter on a team that largely eschews the 3-pointer, an oddity in current college basketball.

Darnell Gant, an undeserving whipping boy for some fans, defends the high post, interior or wherever else he is asked to be. Let's remember he is a freshman, and someone needs to do something other than score.

Elston Turner will find his way back to efficiency. Isaiah Thomas will continue to be the largest difference maker for the Huskies from 12 months ago to now.

As for Brockman, his evening long o-for is both a concern and confidence enhancer. Brockman was swallowed up inside by the brutish USC defense, leading to his first game without a field goal since his freshman season. Brockman went 0-for-1 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Illinois.

But despite suffering the ignominy of another missed dunk as part of the field-goal free evening, Washington's ability to fend off USC without Brockman's converting is indicative of something special happening with this group.

They don't quite move in lockstep. Thomas and Bryan-Amaning are an off-court team; Overton and Gant the same; Brockman rooms with Joe Wolfinger and Artem Wallace; Dentmon, well, if his postgame gear is any indication, he's listening to his own drummer.

What their reflective summation will be is still in question. Will they be like Brandon Roy was Thursday, looking back and talking of brotherhood?

Is this a group that can progress a round or two in the NCAA Tournament like Roy's teams?

"(We're) heading in that direction," Romar said of the comparison.

For now, they'll have to settle for playing the most important game around these parts in more than a year. The Pac-10 lead will be on the line Saturday when 13th-ranked UCLA comes to town.

It will be the biggest test to date for Romar's accumulation of parts.

Notes: Roy's No. 3 was retired Thursday night, making Roy just the second player to have his jersey retired by the school. Bob Houbreg's 25 is the other. ... Former Husky Spencer Hawes visited the premises and watched from a tunnel entrance. Jamaal Williams was also in attendance... New football coach Steve Sarkisian made an appearance on the JumboTron, then received an enormous cheer when he was shown to actually be in attendance. Sarkisian was excited enough to wave, stand and clap with the fans, though not engaged enough to stay for the second half. ... USC was without leading scorer Dwight Lewis who was out with a sprained ankle. ... The sellout was the first of the season at Bank of America Arena.

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