Senque Carey, UW's go-to guy, quits team

This one hurts. There is little reason to believe that the transfer of sophomore guard Senque Carey won't be a major setback to the University of Washington basketball program next season and perhaps beyond.

Carey, who averaged 10.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists last season, was the floor leader for the Huskies. His assist total was the fourth-highest single-season mark in Husky history. It came a year after he averaged 8.7 points and was named to the Pac-10 Conference's all-freshman team.

His role would have been even more enlarged this fall, but yesterday he announced that he was leaving.

Carey, 21, could not be reached for comment, but the school issued his statement. "My decision to transfer is for personal reasons," the statement said. "Basically, I would like to play somewhere that allows me to be closer to home (East Palo Alto, Calif.).

"I want to wish my teammates the best. I also want to express my thanks to Coach (Bob) Bender and his staff for the opportunities they presented me at Washington."

There was no indication of problems with the staff, the program or teammates. In fact, Bender said Carey's decision was a shock to him.

"I was completely surprised," Bender said. "I was on vacation in Florida Tuesday when he phoned and said he wanted to talk. I came back and met with him for two days. I had no idea he had any feelings about this. He said he thought about it and this was his final decision.

"He couldn't express whether it was one or two things that we could address. He just said, `I haven't been happy.' "

After a 10-20 record, there weren't many happy faces on Montlake last season, but this clearly was going to be the 6-foot-4 Carey's team next season. He would have run the offense and the locker room. Teammates had accorded him status as the clutch playmaker at the end of shot clocks and games. Such was the case Jan. 29 at California when he hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Bears, 54-52.

"It's certainly going to be a challenge. We're going to be without a guy who has been in that position for basically two years," Bender said. "It puts a premium and pressure on the two freshmen coming in and we're going to need the commitment and focus from the returning players. We met as a team (Wednesday). They understand. We need this to be a bonding effect."

Much of the burden will fall on two Tacoma high-school seniors, C.J. Massingale from Mount Tahoma and Curtis Allen of Wilson. Both guards have committed to play for Washington. In the fall the coaching staff will sort out where the 6-1 Allen and 6-3 Massingale will play. Both can handle the ball well; Allen is the better shooter.

The staff also will rely on senior Bryan Brown, a walk-on who emerged in the final month of the season as a dependable point guard.

"I've talked to both players (Allen, Massingale) and told them this may be a little difficult to comprehend but they have to prepare themselves in their strength conditioning and their skill development as a challenge to play against good competition," Bender said. "The advantage is they are close by and can spend a lot of time playing against the guys here."

Someone, or perhaps all of them, will need to fill in for Carey's 32 minutes per game and his leadership.

"We believe we need to be a go-to team," Bender said. "We've started to address that with the team. Certain teams have a certain guy. We have to have the five on the floor to do that."

This is the sixth straight offseason in which a player of some significance has left the Washington program early.

It began in 1995, a year after Bender took over a devastated program. Roberto Bergersen and Alex Lopez, both unhappy with playing time, left. Jason Hartman left after 1996 to follow Coach Ritchie McKay to Portland State. Mark Sanford turned pro after his junior season in 1997, Patrick Femerling turned pro to play in Europe after his junior year in 1998 and Dan Dickau, who ironically had his playing time taken by Carey, transferred to Gonzaga after last season.

"Unfortunately, yes, there are more kids than in the past transferring around the country," Bender said. "Playing time is the most common reason, but it varies. I've been asked a lot about the reasons, I think because people like to departmentalize things. But it's not like that. We're dealing with young, emotional kids and that is a big part of it. Each one is an individual situation."

Bender doesn't expect to use the extra scholarship this year. He might use it for a walk-on but would also like to save it as a sixth scholarship for next year's recruiting class, which, he says, is loaded with talent, particularly around the state.