Washington Huskies: Robert Upshaw’s Block Party Results in National Ranking

By Daniel Tran | Dec 10, 2014

When the Washington Huskies received Robert Upshaw via transfer from Fresno State in 2013, they were hoping the 6’11 center could help them anchor their defense that lacked size. What they got was a troubled young man they were forced to ban from team activities when he needed to attend to “personal matters” after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for the 2013-14 season. There was doubt that he would even play basketball ever again.

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After coming to grips with the possibility that basketball may be taken from him forever, Upshaw is becoming the player that Washington believed he could be. The Huskies are 7-0 and return to the AP Poll top 25 since February 2011, ranked No. 17. Washington is also ranked at No. 20 in the Busting Brackets Poll on the broad shoulders of their maturing center.

“Last year, we were so small, you get near the rim, we wouldn’t make you pay for it,” Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar said. “This year, we make you pay for it.”

Though the Washington Huskies have been easing Upshaw back onto the court, Upshaw has been downright dominating in the minutes he has been playing. On the season, Upshaw is averaging 8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks in 17.7 minutes. That means if Upshaw were to play 40 minutes, he would be averaging nearly a triple double with 20.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 9.0 blocks a game.

For reference, Michale Kyser of Louisiana Tech who is just above Upshaw in the blocks per game stat averages 4.1 blocks per game in 29.9 minutes. Upshaw plays about 12 minutes less and still produces nearly the same number blocks. His defensive presence is one of the reasons the Washington Huskies are on the national radar.

With Upshaw protecting the rim, the Huskies lead the Pac-12 in blocks per game at seven blocks a game and are sixth in the nation in field goal percentage allowed at 33.6% percent. The Huskies are only giving up 57.6 points per game and rank third in the Pac-12 in defensive rating adjusted for strength of opponent at 86.6 estimated points allowed per 100 possessions.

“It’s just about being in the right spot, being in the right places, and I think I’ve made some mistakes. But I feel like I can get better with them and learn from them, and be a lot better than I am now.” – Washington Huskies center Robert Upshaw

Without Upshaw last season, Washington averaged an embarrassing 2.9 blocks per game and gave up 74.7 points per game. The Huskies defensive rating reflected her their deficiencies on that end of the court giving up an estimated 108.0 points per 100 possessions. Upshaw’s impact on the court is tangibly invaluable to Washington.

Scarily enough, Upshaw believes that he can be an even better shot blocker. “I expected to be a lot better,” Upshaw explained in the week before facing San Diego State. “It’s just about being in the right spot, being in the right places, and I think I’ve made some mistakes. But I feel like I can get better with them and learn from them, and be a lot better than I am now.”

With Upshaw improving and showing that he can be the presence that Washington needs to stop teams on defense, the Pac-12 conference and the rest of the nation needs to tread lightly in the paint when they face the Huskies or they could find the ball labeled “send back to sender” courtesy of Robert Upshaw.

All statistics provided by Sports-Reference.com/cbb.