The Husky Haul
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The Case For Washington Huskies Basketball

By Roman Tomashoff

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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The Washington Huskies have had their ups and downs this season, but deserve an invitation to the NCAA Tournament

Sure, as a fan of the Washington Huskies, I’m biased. I admit that. But there is more afoot with wanting to see the Washington Basketball team in the NCAA Tournament than homerism. Let’s start with the problems in the latest bracketology.

The Huskies are currently the first team among Joe Lunardi’s Next Four Out.  Meanwhile, there are three Pac-12 teams seeded in the tournament. Those teams? Arizona, USC, Arizona State. Question #1, how is Arizona State a 10 seed while Washington is on the bubble? Washington not only beat ASU, but has a stronger look in Quadrant 1 of the new RPI system. Washington is 4-2 while ASU is 3-3.

Tournament Limbo

Question #2, how is Arizona State, who is 7-9 in conference play in good standing for the tournament but Washington isn’t? ASU is currently sitting ninth in the Pac 12 and seems to have solidified themselves in March, while Washington is seventh and they are in tournament limbo.

The same could be said for UCLA and USC. USC is 21-9, second in the conference, but is currently among the Last 4 In. Meanwhile, in Westwood, UCLA is in fourth in the conference, with the same overall record as the Huskies. UCLA is also one game up in the Pac-12 standings, and they’re part of the First 4 Out. They have a very similar RPI standing, as they’re sitting at 53, while the Huskies are at 49. It’s also worth noting that Stanford, who is third in the conference, is nowhere to be seen in any of this.

What do the Huskies Have to Do?

Win. Going 2-0 this weekend is a start, beating Oregon and Oregon State is a solid start. But the Huskies will need more. They need to make a statement in the Pac-12 tournament as well. This is the perfect time to surprise the conference. As you know, if they win the tournament they get an automatic bid. But that doesn’t need to happen. They just need to make a statement.  That could mean simply getting to the final of the tournament. On their way, knocking off Arizona again would definitely help. Also, root for USC and Colorado this weekend. If UCLA and Utah lose, and the Huskies win out, they would rise to fourth in the Pac-12 tournament. That  alone would give them a much needed bye in the tournament, and it would also look great for the team to finish in the top 4 in the regular season standings. The Huskies also have an opportunity to rise if Stanford goes 0-2 in Arizona this weekend.

Next: Washington Basketball Madness hopes down to final 3 game stretch

Don’t worry Husky fans, it’s not time to hit the panic button just yet. It’s almost March, but the Madness is already underway. Oh and don’t forget, this conversation shouldn’t be happening. Just a quick reminder that the Huskies beat every team in the Pac-12 currently seeded in the tournament.

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