FAYETTEVILLE — It took Michael Washington 32 seconds to draw his first charge against Ole Miss on Saturday, when he stood his ground under Arkansas’ basket as Rebels guard Chris Warren drove into him.
Washington, the Razorbacks’ 6-9 senior from McGehee, took four charges against Ole Miss to raise his season total to 29 of the team’s 60 going into this week’s SEC Tournament.
“Mike is the best I’ve ever been around in terms of taking charges,” Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. “He understands making the middle of your defense strong. He’s willing to sacrifice his body.”
Washington also drew four charges in the Razorbacks’ home game against Alabama this season.
“He’s one of those guys who is very aware as a basketball player in terms of anticipating what the offense is trying to do, and what they’re about to do,” Crimson Tide Coach Anthony Grant said.
Pelphrey said Washington has a “good basketball IQ” for knowing when and where to position himself to take a charge, but that at times he also benefits from defensive mistakes made on the perimeter.
“You can’t take charges unless there’s some guard getting beat,” Pelphrey said. “So he owes a lot to his teammates for getting blown by off the dribble.”
SEC coaches, especially those in the West who have faced Washington at least twice a season, have grown accustomed to seeing him draw charges.
“Washington’s a smart player, and the way Arkansas defends ball screens, they don’t bring him out of there too much,” Auburn Coach Jeff Lebo said. “So when you go in, a lot of the time he’s standing right in there waiting.
“Typically you don’t see guys of his size try to draw charges. Usually they’re trying to shot-block. But he’s done a good job of knowing when to go for the shot block and also knowing when to take a charge.
“I know he’s drawn a bunch of them against us.”
Washington, who hasn’t been available for interviews in three months, has been bothered by back injuries the past two seasons. But he never seems hesitant to try and draw a charge that knocks him to the court.
“Washington’s not afraid to take charges, and I think that’s the biggest thing with a lot of guys,” Ole Miss assistant coach Owen Miller said. “They won’t take them. They won’t put themselves in position and give up their body, but Washington will, and he’s quick on his feet and gets to the right spots.”
Lebo said it takes “courage” to draw a charge.
“But I tell my team all the time, I’ve never seen anybody get hurt taking a charge,” Lebo said. “So stick your nose in there and do it.”
Pelphrey said he’s proud of Washington for taking so many charges.
“It’s essential to defense,” Pelphrey said. “It’s the greatest play in basketball that you can make, by taking the ball away from the offense and giving it to your team.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 03/10/2010