Washington basketball has a ton of talent returning from last season. With this being said, just how successful will the Huskies be in 2018-19?
Washington basketball projects as one of the most interesting teams in all of college basketball last season. After missing the NCAA Tournament a year ago due to dismal advanced metric rankings, the Huskies bring back just about every major contributor for this upcoming campaign. This includes several double-digit scorers per game and one of the best defensive players in the entire country. With this being said, many are projecting that Washington will compete for the Pac-12 title this season.
Strictly from a competition point of view, the Pac-12 looks quite open at the top this year. For the most part, this is due to the idea that Arizona, one of the conference’s powerhouse teams for the past few years, is expected to experience a down season for the first time in what feels like forever. Additionally, it seems as though there are several teams who have the potential to be top-25 teams this year, including Washington.
As the season draws closer, many are projecting that Oregon is the preseason favorite to win the conference. And while this certainly might be the case, Washington has a more experienced roster on the whole and could use this to their advantage throughout the year. There are several important factors that go into winning a conference title and the Huskies hit on quite a few of those. With this being said, let’s dive into three major reasons why Washington *might* compete for the regular season title.
Jaylen Nowell takes the next step
One of the best freshmen in the entire nation last season, Jaylen Nowell was an absolute stud for the Huskies last season. A top-100 recruit out of high school, many expected that Nowell would impact the program right away but maybe not to the extent that he did. Even though Washington was unable to reach the NCAA Tournament a year ago, Nowell was extremely impressive throughout the year. Over the course of the year, the 6-foot-4 guard led the team in scoring by posting 16.0 points per game on relatively efficient shooting numbers.
Now a sophomore, it is reasonable to expect that Nowell will take the next step in his career. And considering the tremendous freshman campaign that he put together, this idea should frighten the rest of the Pac-12. A superb scorer from just about anywhere on the court, Nowell could take the nation by storm this season as one of the star players on a top-25 team nationally. Even though his sensational first season flew a bit under the radar due to other top freshmen, Nowell’s name is one that all college basketball fans should know heading into this season.
With a full season of experience under his belt now, Nowell could emerge as a Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate this season. It may be asking a lot, especially when considering the amount of talent around him, but Nowell could be a 20+ points per game scorer this season while helping guide the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior leaders take charge
Poise and experience can go a long way in college basketball. While talent is obviously the most important ingredient for a winning team, these two qualities can turn a team into a conference title contender. And in regards to Washington basketball this year, the program is returning three top-tier seniors in Noah Dickerson, David Crisp, and Matisse Thybulle. And considering all of these players bring something different to the table, they gel together well when on the court.
Leading the way for this group, though, will be Dickerson, a 6-foot-8 forward who can impact every game in a number of ways. Even though I already wrote at length about Nowell’s potential earlier in this piece, Dickerson might be the most talented player on the roster. An elite big man, Dickerson posted an outstanding season a year ago, averaging 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds on 56.9% shooting from the field.
Next, starting point guard David Crisp is an underrated leader for the Huskies. Despite not being the most efficient scorer or playmaker, Crisp is a sound defender who knows how to lead the team when on the court. Over the course of last season, the 6-foot-0 guard averaged 11.6 points (.380/.286/.664), 2.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists (2.4 turnovers) per game.
Lastly, Matisse Thybulle is arguably the best returning defender in the nation. A 6-foot-5 wing with plenty of athleticism and NBA potential, Thybulle can lock up just about anyone. Additionally, he is developing quickly on the offensive end, averaging 11.2 points on shooting slashes of .445/.365/.714.
Freshmen poised to contribute
Lastly, the Huskies are also bringing in a strong recruiting class to improve the roster’s depth. Even though it might be difficult for these players to find significant roles right away, they should improve the overall talent level on the roster and that can only help the team in practice. Head coach Mike Hopkins clearly has plenty of talent on his hands for this year but setting up for the future is also very important. With five newcomers that make up the No. 40 overall recruiting class in the nation joining the program, the future of Washington basketball looks bright.
At the forefront of this incoming class is Jamal Bey (No. 109), a 6-foot-6 wing who can just about do it all. Thanks to his size and strength, Bey can finish around the rim as well as knock down open jumpers beyond the arc. In terms of a potential role as a freshman, Bey could provide some instant offense off the bench due to his well-rounded game. Additionally, point guard prospect Elijah Hardy (No. 201) could find a valuable role right away backing up the senior Crisp.
Lastly, the program is also bringing in three centers in Bryan Penn-Johnson (No. 175), Nate Roberts (No. 244), and Riley Sorn (No. 464). On the whole, this group might not feature many highly-rated recruits but the newcomers should be able to develop with the team over the next few years.
With all of these factors taken into account, it is easy to see why Washington basketball could contend for the Pac-12 title this season. There are plenty of programs that should compete near the top of the conference and the Huskies should be one of those.