UW coach Lorenzo Romar: Markelle Fultz making progress but still not cleared to play – The Seattle Times

Markelle Fultz has missed the past two games due to a sore knee, but is expected to practice Wednesday. If all goes well, he'll likely return for Thursday's game against Arizona State.

The Washington mens basketball team needs all the help it can get to snap a seven-game losing streak and potentially gain a little momentum heading into next months Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.

To that end, the health status of Markelle Fultz and Malik Dimes suspension are hot topics for a team that has metaphorically lived under dark and rainy clouds all season.

The news from Lorenzo Romars press conference on Wednesday was somewhat encouraging for Fultz, who returned to practice and is listed as questionable for Thursday after missing the previous two games.

Meanwhile, Dime wont play in the 8 p.m. encounter against Arizona State (12-14, 5-8 Pac-12) at Alaska Airlines Arena and will miss his second straight game due to a suspension.

The 6-foot-9 senior center was suspended by Washington following an off-court incident in which he slapped a Colorado student heckler at halftime during UWs 81-66 loss on Feb. 9.

Before the suspension, Dime missed the previous nine games due to a broken pinkie. He sat out UWs 85-61 loss at Utah last Saturday.

Dime has been medically cleared to play, but its unclear if or when hell return this season.

Were still evaluating everything completely, Romar said. So well see. To be determined.

Futlzs status for Thursday depends largely on how he performed during Wednesdays practice and if he has any lingering issues with a sore right knee that caused him to miss two games last week.

The 6-5 freshman guard had been limited in practice, but participated in 5-on-5 workouts for the first time in days.

Hes progressing, Romar said. Hes doing a little more. Still day to day, but hes been doing a little bit with us and hell do a little bit more. Hell still be a pretty much game-time decision.

Each day is different with it. If he continues to make progress, were probably more optimistic than pessimistic.

Fultz, who averages 23.2 points, is on pace to finish with the highest scoring average in the Pac-12 since former California star Ed Gray averaged 24.8 in 1996-97.

Given Fultzs promising future, hes projected to be the No. 1 pick in this summers NBA draft, its fair to wonder if UWs dismal season has any impact on his return.

He has not been allowed to play, Romar said. Youve got to hold him back from wanting to play. If youre playing H-O-R-S-E, if youre playing on the playground, if youre playing on an 8-foot rim, he wants to play. But he was held back from playing.

Where were at in the season has nothing to do with if hes playing or not.

Washington (9-16, 2-13) will finish the regular season with a losing record. If the Huskies fail to capture another win, then theyll have the fewest victories since 1993-94 when they were 5-22 during Bob Benders first year.

Barring a win before the conference tourney, UW would have its fewest league wins since 1960.

Without Fultz, the Huskies were outscored by an average of 19.5 points last week.

Subconsciously, you go out there without your leading scorer and leading (player in assists) and leading playmaker and youre not playing with a full deck, Romar said. But I didnt think we went out there not believing we could win when we were in Colorado and Utah.

Even with Fultz, Washington has obviously struggled.

He had one of his best outings of the season 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the first game against Arizona State and UW still lost 86-75 on Jan. 25 in Tempe, Ariz.

He loves to play basketball, Romar said when asked how Fultz is dealing with distractions. He cant wait to get on the court. When hes on the court, its his playground. So not a whole lot is going to distract him. He loves the game too much.

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UW coach Lorenzo Romar: Markelle Fultz making progress but still not cleared to play - The Seattle Times