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Will 2023 be the year of revival for Washington basketball?

By Karley Sibert

Mar 2, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins walks to the locker room following a 93-84 loss against the Washington State Cougars at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins walks to the locker room following a 93-84 loss against the Washington State Cougars at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington basketball needs a crucial turnaround in 2023 in year seven under Mike Hopkins.

The Washington basketball program has been in demise since its last NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament appearance in 2019. I was genuinely surprised it had been only four seasons since the Huskies were last in the NCAA tournament as it has felt like closer to an eternity of despair under head coach Mike Hopkins.

When it was announced that Hopkins would return for the 2023-2024 season, the Huskies saw EIGHT players quickly enter the transfer portal. This was a significant blow to the team’s chemistry and said a lot about the state of the team. The Huskies ended up losing several notable players including Keyon Menifield, who had a promising freshman year and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

Will 2023 be the year of revival for Washington basketball?

Similar to the Washington football program, the Huskies have replenished their roster through the transfer portal. Their most notable additions include point guard Shaver Wheeler (Kentucky), shooting guard Nate Calmese (Lamar), power forward Moses Wood (Portland), guard Anthony Holland (Fresno State), and power forward Wilhelm Breidenbach (Nebraska). Wilhelm, the latest of the bunch to join the Huskies, fills a crucial hole at the power forward position.

While the team is making some solid moves to improve the program’s success, it will take effective coaching, teamwork, and a cohesive playing style to find consistent success. The impact of these factors on the Huskies’ overall performance in the upcoming season remains uncertain.

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