The Husky Haul
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2017 Washington Basketball season in review

By Bret Stuter

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies signals his players during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Beavers won 69-66 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies signals his players during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Beavers won 69-66 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Basketball team surprised everyone in Coach Mike Hopkins’ debut season. Let’s investigate the season as a whole, and in detail.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, philosopher.

The Washington Basketball team was far more successful than anyone had given them opportunity to be.  Success on the basketball court, yes. But success in forging a team of individual players. The entire #TougherTogether became more than a hashtag cool thing to say. For the Huskies, it took on meaning early. And then when adversity arrive later in the season, it took on new meaning.

To call the season a success or failure on record alone does this team a complete disservice.  The  goal for this season was not a winning record alone. If that was the case, then the entire article would read: “The Washington Basketball Team improved from 9-22 to 21-13. Nicely done!” But this was not about winning games. It was about rebuilding a basketball program.

Lay a successful foundation

The earliest stage of the season was to build a strong foundation. That included the right coaches, recruiting the right players, and coaching those players with sound fundamentally strong basketball concepts and skillsets. Coach Hopkins did all that. And then he and his staff turned the team loose on the NCAA and Pac-12 basketball teams.  Surprisingly, the Huskies won games. And as they did, fans and pundits took notice of that early success.

Two things begin to oppose success from the moment it happens. The first opposing force is complacency. Confidence’s greatest nemesis is complacency. It’s that burning desire for recognition, competency, to be the best. As we near our goal, that hunger wanes. We get closer, so distractions looms larger. And success elevates one’s social position.

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