Has Bryan Penn-Johnson noticed Washington Basketball’s success?

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies celebrates with players after a basket during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Sprint Center on December 6, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies celebrates with players after a basket during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Sprint Center on December 6, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Washington Basketball playing very well

This team shocked the nation by traveling to and defeating then undefeated Kansas.  The team recently defeated nationally ranked Arizona State, and then turned right around and did the very same thing to an even tougher ranked Arizona team.

A team with many of the same players from last season’s 9-22 team is suddenly 17-7 overall and 7-4 in conference play, good for fourth place in the Pac-12 but a mere 1.5 games under conference-leading Arizona.

Big quality in big men

While the Huskies are outnumbered in the front court by other teams, they are by no means outhustled. The team is getting incredible big-man play from forward Noah Dickerson. Equally important is the value of minutes the team sees this year from center Sam Timmins. It’s their play around the basket – offensively, defensively, and intelligently – which is a huge part of the team’s incredible turn-around this season. But there certainly is room for improvement.