3. No. 25 Washington Huskies
Washington was one of the biggest surprises nationally a season ago, finishing with a 21-13 record under first-year head coach Mike Hopkins. The Huskies had several impressive wins on the year and landed a spot in the NIT, making the second round before losing to Saint Mary’s.
Under the guidance of Hopkins, Washington recorded wins over Kansas and Arizona while the team progressively adjusted to the 2-3 zone better and better throughout the year.
The result?
Hopkins was named the 2018 Pac-12 Coach of the Year. He now enters a new campaign with expectations to not only replicate last season’s success but to surpass it.
While that might be a tall order for a team that only has had one year of success under its belt, the Huskies appears up for the challenge. UW returns all five starters from a season ago, including two seniors starting for a fourth consecutive year.
The biggest problem for opposing teams will be handling the Huskies’ frontcourt of forward Noah Dickerson, who pulled out of the NBA draft to return for his senior season, and freshman Bryan Penn-Johnson, a 7-footer that was a four-star recruit.
The duo of Dickerson and Penn-Johnson, in addition to reserves in junior Sam Timmins and freshman Nate Roberts, gives Washington length to defend the paint, a luxury they have not recently had.
On the defensive end, reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Matisse Thybulle will look to further his reputation as the conference’s premier defender. The senior recorded a program-record 101 steals as well 49 blocks in 2017-18.
The combination of both a lengthy post presence and a stifling defender at the top in Thybulle caused problems for opponents last seasons as the team’s zone defense was difficult to crack, allowing 73 points per game.
Expect Washington to use both their experience and stifling defense from a season ago to make a run towards the top of the Pac-12. Anything short of a top-three finish in the conference would be a disappointment for an experienced roster.
– Whitehouse