Grading the 2017-18 Washington Basketball team
By Cody Tyo
Culture: A+
This was the number one goal for Washington basketball this year. For 15 years, Romar led a solid program. In the final years of the Romar era, there was no identifiable culture for fans and players to believe in.
Hopkins established a culture in his first month in Seattle. “Tougher Together” became a war cry, a motivation tool, and a marketing goldmine. Shifting from the star power days of Romar, Hopkins wanted the Huskies to refocus on playing as one.
Fultzless
Without a Fultz, or an Isaiah Thomas, or a Brandon Roy, Washington needed a team that could unite with one another and overcome adversity together.
That goal was accomplished and then some. The 2-3 zone combined with an offense that relied on a different scorer each night. Seemingly overnight, Washington had earned itself something real for its fans and recruits to identify with.