Grading the 2017-18 Washington Basketball team

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 07: Assistant coach Cameron Dollar (L) and head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies look on during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon State Beavers 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: Assistant coach Cameron Dollar (L) and head coach Mike Hopkins of the Washington Huskies look on during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Oregon State Beavers 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) /

Overall: B+

The Hopkins Era is underway and Washington fans have reason to be excited. The Huskies finished with 21 wins and a winning record in conference play. Topping that off, the team made an NIT appearance. That was a welcome reward after beginning the season with rock-bottom expectations.

As Arizona loses recruits and the rest of the Pac-12 fights for relevancy, a window exists over the ensuing few years for the Huskies to become a force in west coast college basketball.

More to do

The team has work to do. They need to find a way to bolster assists, rebounds, and perimeter scoring. The Washington Basketball team entered the season with a lot of questions, and right now many of those questions can be answered. If not, the team at least knows what it must do to get better.

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The recruting class of 2018 does a good job reinforcing the team in areas of great need. But much like a recording artist. One point does not a trend make. The team must get visibly better before the nation takes notice. But as far as first impressions, Coach Hopkins made a good one.