Washington Basketball: Can Noah Dickerson Get Even Better?

Washington basketball senior Noah Dickerson has shown flashes of being one of the most exciting bigs in college basketball.

Noah Dickerson is hard to pin down. Garnering many kind words from coach Mike Hopkins and NCAA media members alike, the senior forward has shown a great deal of potential over his last three seasons in a Huskies uniform. Thankfully for Washington basketball fans, he returned for a fourth.

After a win over Eastern Washington early last season, Coach Hopkins had this to say, “We need to get Noah Dickerson the ball. He’s one of the best low-post players in our league for sure and I don’t know how many guys are as good as him in the country.”

However, he uses his big body down low and it costs him. Dickerson ended last season with a 15.5/8/1 line, but also managed to rack up nearly three and a half fouls per game; and this year is more of the same.

In the regular season home opener against Western Kentucky, Dickerson’s physical play got him in foul trouble early. Banging up against WKU’s five-star recruit Charles Bassey, Dickerson picked up two fouls in the first two and a half minutes of the game. What’s more, both of them came on the offensive side of the court.

Making the trip to play No. 11 Auburn started off as a homecoming for Noah, with friends and family traveling from his hometown of nearby Atlanta, GA to come see him play. Unfortunately for all, the homecoming was cut short as Dickerson fouled out after playing only 16 minutes –  thanks to his play underneath the basket, as well as a ridiculous tech following a two-handed jam.

After a long trip from Auburn was made longer due to a fire on the team bus, Dickerson and the Huskies returned to Hec Ed to face the San Diego Toreros, where Noah returned to form. After being fed by his team all game, he ended the night with 16 points and eight boards while only picking up two fouls.

“We tried to get the ball to Noah Dickerson, I don’t think that’s a secret,” said Coach Hopkins after the game. “When he gets two guys, he can pass out and you get a wide open shot”, he continued, “Sometimes, Noah, I thought he could have passed it out earlier.”

Where does that put us? If he’s able to stay away from foul trouble, he’s capable of being one of the most dominant performers on the floor. He just needs to learn to stay focused, kick the ball out sooner when he’s doubled, and keep himself composed when he’s looking to draw fouls.