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Washington Basketball Silver Linings Playbook

By Bret Stuter

Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. PITT won 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. PITT won 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. PITT won 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Syracuse Orange interim head coach Mike Hopkins gestures from the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. PITT won 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Basketball Team has been working feverishly to gain ground in NCAA college basketball. But with recent NBA talk of ending one year college players, are the Washington Huskies now ahead of the curve?

The Washington Basketball Team has had its share of adversity recently. Following a disappointing 9-22 season, to changing the coaching staff, to losing a majority of the highly anticipated recruiting class of 2017, the team has been reeling and recovering so far in 2017.

But there has been some positive momentum brewing for this team.  The Washington basketball team has replenished the ranks with no-nonsense fundamentally sound prospects in Michael Carter III, Nate Pryor, and most recently Nahziah Carter.

But there is more to build upon.  And this comes from the mother ship NBA.

One And Done Not Working

In essence, the NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the NBA one-and-done rule isn’t working, and he is pushing for the NBA and the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) to come together to try working out a more meaningful resolution.

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The premise of the one-and-done rule suggest that no player graduating high school can immediately enter the NBA.  There is a mandatory one year grace period before any prospect is eligible for the NBA Draft. So, most prospects simply attend college for one year to meet the requirement and then enter the NBA Draft as soon as they are determined eligible.

So how does that help the Washington Basketball Program?

Coaching Concerns

In a word? Dramatically.

When the Washington Basketball Team shifted gears in coaching, the team changed the philosophy of the program.  Coach Mike Hopkins advocates giving players a four year basketball program.

In essence, he can focus on lower ranked players with good work ethic and coach them up.  That also takes some pressure off the team recruiting because the cycle is multiple years, not the rapid pattern of one year and so long Washington Huskies!

Next: SB Nation Bill Connelly Ranks USC Over Washington Football

As the NBA pursues slowing the exodus of NCAA players to the NBA, the Washington Huskies basketball team are a jump ahead of them.  And if you need a silver lining to the storm clouds that have rumbled over the Washington Basketball team, this is certainly one of them.  In fact, it’s nearly a Silver Linings Playbook.

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