Pac-12 Basketball: Early efforts by coaches viewed on the hot seat

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Buffalo Bulls reacts against the Manhattan Jaspers during the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational at Barclays Center on December 21, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

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Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Mike Hopkins (45-49) Washington

A 2021-22 conference record of 11-9 placed Washington Basketball in sixth place in the PAC-12 and resulted in the third straight year that the Huskies were not invited to the NCAA Men’s Tournament. In fact, during Mike Hopkins’ current five-year reign, the Huskies have participated in the tournament just once. Hopkins did sign a contract extension in March of 2019 that covers until the conclusion of the Huskies 2025 season. Hopkins also has a guarantee of 9.3 million dollars, so regardless of how hot the seat gets, he has some insurance.

His freshmen

While he has guaranteed money, it will be the players that guarantee him a job and his crop of freshmen will not make a huge impact in their first year. The Huskies’ No. 42 ranked class is highlighted by Koren Johnson a 6’2 combo guard. As a top 150 recruit, Johnson has the ball-handling and outside shooting capability and he looks to be able to contend for meaningful minutes in the backcourt as Daejon Davis and Terrell Brown have exhausted their eligibility.

At 6’7, top 175 recruit Tyler Linhardt will firmly be behind Jamal Bey – who is not in the draft or transfer portal yet – as the Huskies have a greater need at power forward, a position sub 200 recruit Tyler Bilodeau will not be able to fill either.

The transfer portal

Coach Hopkins had another coal thrown under his seat when almost 12 points per game small forward Emmitt Matthews entered the transfer portal. After starting 31 games for the Huskies in 2021-22, there was always a chance he would spend his COVID year somewhere else. The departures of red-shirted Jonah Goren and guard Dominiq Penn – who combined for a total of nine minutes played – will be easily compensated for with the arrival of 6’11 Oregon transfer Franck Kepnang who might get the starting role.

As an almost double-digit scorer transferring from Washington State, Noah Williams will be starting for Coach Hopkins, whether he goes with a three-guard set consisting of freshman Johnson, transfer Williams, and Bey or goes with the two experienced players, the Huskies’ starting line-up will not be better than last season and Coach Hopkins’ seat is going to be hot all season.

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