Post by mhbruin on Jul 23, 2021 9:16:24 GMT -8
Next up are the 11th place Washington Huskies.
The two worst teams in the Pac-12 are engaged in an interesting experiment. When you have a terrible team are you better off keeping most of your players or replacing most of your players? California is going with experience. Washington is going for the rebuild.
Last season the Huskies were terrible. They had two quality wins all season, over Colorado and Washington State.
They lost to UC Riverside and Montana. They finished the season 5-21.
There isn't anything good to say about them. Have I mentioned that they were terrible?
In the past, Mike Hopkins' teams have been good defensively, but offensively challenged. However, this team wasn't very good defensively. They were so bad he even tried playing quite a bit of man defense. It didn't help.
To top it off (or bottom it off), he is seeing a mass exodus of players. Is there any hope in Seattle? Aside from their football team? I see a glimmer.
GRADUATING
- None -
IN THE DRAFT
Quade Green has stayed in the draft, but he is unlikely to get drafted. He'll be playing pro ball somewhere.
TRANSFERRING OUT
Like rats deserting a sinking ship, many are Huskies deserting a sinking team. Six rotation players transferring out of a program which has not fired its coach may be a record, but I think Larry Krystowiak may have approached those levels. (I hope that is the last year I have to spell his name.)
Stevenson, Pryor, and Brooks join the new wave of players who transfer in, play one season, and transfer out.
I don't know what went on between Hopkins and Tsohonis. One night he scores 27 points in 27 minutes. The next game he only plays 14 minutes. Other games he doesn't play at all. I am not surprised to see him leaving.
RETURNING
UW is losing 4 of their top 5 scorers, 3 of their top 5 rebounders, and their top 4 at assists.
Bey shot 51% from the arc on 75 shots. It seems like he should have been taking more than 3 a game.
They keep hoping the light will go on for Roberts and Michigan transfer Bajema.
Sorn is the biggest player in the Pac-12 at 7' 4", 270. He's not very mobile, but his size presents problems for other teams.
There is some talent here, but no where near enough. This is not the core of players you want to build around.
The transfer portal taketh away, but it also giveth. Overall, I think Hopkins got more than he lost. 4 of these guys look like they will be quality Pac-12 players.
Thank goodness Brown left Arizona. Two players named Brown on one roster is too much for my aging brain to keep track of. Unfortunately, he just moved to another Pac-12 team, so there are still too many Browns in the league.
Washington State is getting a transfer from Brown University, but fortunately, that's not the player's name.
Anyway, Mike Hopkins will be happy to have have this Brown. As a part-time starter for the Wildcats, he only shot 39% from the floor, but 37% on 3's. He shined as a ball handler. He was #2 in the nation in A/TO ratio at 3.91. After losing Green and Tshonis, Hopkins desperately needed a PG.
He will also be happy to get another Pac-12 transfer, Daejon Davis. Coming out of high school, he committed to the Huskies twice. Then Lorenzo Romar was fired and he decided to go to Stanford. Now, with a Stanford degree in hand, Davis is returning to his home town
Matthews is originally from Tacoma, so it seems he also wanted to come home. He player in all 29 games for the Mountaineers, starting in 25 of them.
Wilson looks like a really good player, if his health is OK. Wilson was diagnosed at an early age with Marfan Syndrome. Some of the trademarks of the condition include extremely long limbs and fingers which put extra strain on the heart and increase the chance of a cardiac issue. The physical traits can often be advantageous to sports like basketball and swimming but also make participating in them more dangerous.
After he turned 18 was cleared to play competitively after studies showed no signs of deterioration. Wilson averaged 1.2 blocks per game as a freshman. He was headed to Alabama, but changed his mind when they signed too many other transfers. At the time of his commitment to Alabama, Wilson had 44 scholarship offers.
I am not sure why the Huskies want Fuller. He is listed as a PG, but his A/TO ration is an abysmal 0.8. He shot 37% from the field and 25% from the arc. He's tall for a PG and athletic, so he has the right body type for Hopkins. However, his skills are questionable. He was highly rated out of HS, but he hasn't lived up to the recruiting ranking. He's originally from Seattle, so he is returning home.
The question in Montlake is whether Hopkins can pull an Altman, and put together a new team. I don't think he has Oregon-level talent, but he definitely has some players.
Less and I have projected the Huskies to finish 8th next season. Wilner says 11th or Torvick says 9th. Will that be enough for Hopkins to hold on to his job? That may be the biggest suspense for Husky hoops next season.
The two worst teams in the Pac-12 are engaged in an interesting experiment. When you have a terrible team are you better off keeping most of your players or replacing most of your players? California is going with experience. Washington is going for the rebuild.
Last season the Huskies were terrible. They had two quality wins all season, over Colorado and Washington State.
They lost to UC Riverside and Montana. They finished the season 5-21.
There isn't anything good to say about them. Have I mentioned that they were terrible?
In the past, Mike Hopkins' teams have been good defensively, but offensively challenged. However, this team wasn't very good defensively. They were so bad he even tried playing quite a bit of man defense. It didn't help.
To top it off (or bottom it off), he is seeing a mass exodus of players. Is there any hope in Seattle? Aside from their football team? I see a glimmer.
GRADUATING
- None -
IN THE DRAFT
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Might Return? |
| Quade Green | 32 | 15 | 2 | 4 | No |
Quade Green has stayed in the draft, but he is unlikely to get drafted. He'll be playing pro ball somewhere.
TRANSFERRING OUT
Like rats deserting a sinking ship, many are Huskies deserting a sinking team. Six rotation players transferring out of a program which has not fired its coach may be a record, but I think Larry Krystowiak may have approached those levels. (I hope that is the last year I have to spell his name.)
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Destination |
| Marcus Tsohonis | 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | VCU |
| Erik Stevenson | 27 | 9 | 4 | 2 | South Carolina |
| Hameir Wright | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | North Texas |
| RaeQuan Battle | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | Montana State |
| Nate Pryor | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | New Mexico State |
| J'Raan Brooks | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | UC San Diego |
Stevenson, Pryor, and Brooks join the new wave of players who transfer in, play one season, and transfer out.
I don't know what went on between Hopkins and Tsohonis. One night he scores 27 points in 27 minutes. The next game he only plays 14 minutes. Other games he doesn't play at all. I am not surprised to see him leaving.
RETURNING
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Jamal Bey | 31 | 10 | 4 | 1 | Sr | 4 | 105 |
| Nate Roberts | 22 | 5 | 6 | 1 | Jr | 3 | 239 |
| Cole Bajema | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Jr | 4 | 112 |
| Riley Sorn | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Jr | Unranked |
Bey shot 51% from the arc on 75 shots. It seems like he should have been taking more than 3 a game.
They keep hoping the light will go on for Roberts and Michigan transfer Bajema.
Sorn is the biggest player in the Pac-12 at 7' 4", 270. He's not very mobile, but his size presents problems for other teams.
There is some talent here, but no where near enough. This is not the core of players you want to build around.
RECRUITS
(#47 class, #6 in Pac-12)
(#47 class, #6 in Pac-12)
| Player | Position | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank | Offers |
| Jackson Grant | C | 4 | 67 | Wisconsin, California, Oklahoma, Pepperdine |
| Samuel Ariyibi | SF | Unranked | No other offers. |
Grant seems like a good prospect. However, with Roberts and Sorn already on the roster, it is not clear that Hopkins needs another center.
Ariyibi is from South Africa, and doesn't seem to have been on the recruiting radar. Here's what I found about him on a Husky site:
"The 19 years old Ariyibi is listed at 6’8 and 190 pounds give or take an inch or 5 pounds depending on the source. He is originally from Nigeria and played at the NBA Africa Academy. Given that Ariyibi is international there’s not a ton of information available about him. The primary scouting report I was able to find is written by someone from Turkey in only so-so English and lists him as having a 6’1 wingspan which is clearly a typo (another source says 6’11). But the description said that Ariyibi profiles primarily as a plus defender that should be an ideal fit for the corner of the zone with his length and athleticism. On the offensive end it sounds like he can hit an open midrange jumper but is at his best as a lob finisher/dunker around the basket."
Who isn't at their best as a lob finisher / dunker around the basket? Tyger?
Ariyibi is from South Africa, and doesn't seem to have been on the recruiting radar. Here's what I found about him on a Husky site:
"The 19 years old Ariyibi is listed at 6’8 and 190 pounds give or take an inch or 5 pounds depending on the source. He is originally from Nigeria and played at the NBA Africa Academy. Given that Ariyibi is international there’s not a ton of information available about him. The primary scouting report I was able to find is written by someone from Turkey in only so-so English and lists him as having a 6’1 wingspan which is clearly a typo (another source says 6’11). But the description said that Ariyibi profiles primarily as a plus defender that should be an ideal fit for the corner of the zone with his length and athleticism. On the offensive end it sounds like he can hit an open midrange jumper but is at his best as a lob finisher/dunker around the basket."
Who isn't at their best as a lob finisher / dunker around the basket? Tyger?
TRANSFERRING IN
The transfer portal taketh away, but it also giveth. Overall, I think Hopkins got more than he lost. 4 of these guys look like they will be quality Pac-12 players.
| Player | Size | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | From | Class | Recruiting Stars | Recruiting Rank |
| Terrell Brown Jr. | 6-3 185 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 4 | Arizona | Sr 5 | Unranked | |
| Emmitt Matthews, Jr. | 6-7 215 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 1 | West Virginia | Sr | 3 | 177 |
| Langston Wilson | 6-9 215 | 10 | 8 | Georgia Highlands College | #2 JUCO | ||||
| Daejon Davis | 6-3 170 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 3 | Stanford | Sr 5 | 4 | 40 |
| P. J. Fuller | 6-4 175 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 2 | TCU | Jr | 4 | 76 |
Thank goodness Brown left Arizona. Two players named Brown on one roster is too much for my aging brain to keep track of. Unfortunately, he just moved to another Pac-12 team, so there are still too many Browns in the league.
Washington State is getting a transfer from Brown University, but fortunately, that's not the player's name.
Anyway, Mike Hopkins will be happy to have have this Brown. As a part-time starter for the Wildcats, he only shot 39% from the floor, but 37% on 3's. He shined as a ball handler. He was #2 in the nation in A/TO ratio at 3.91. After losing Green and Tshonis, Hopkins desperately needed a PG.
He will also be happy to get another Pac-12 transfer, Daejon Davis. Coming out of high school, he committed to the Huskies twice. Then Lorenzo Romar was fired and he decided to go to Stanford. Now, with a Stanford degree in hand, Davis is returning to his home town
Matthews is originally from Tacoma, so it seems he also wanted to come home. He player in all 29 games for the Mountaineers, starting in 25 of them.
Wilson looks like a really good player, if his health is OK. Wilson was diagnosed at an early age with Marfan Syndrome. Some of the trademarks of the condition include extremely long limbs and fingers which put extra strain on the heart and increase the chance of a cardiac issue. The physical traits can often be advantageous to sports like basketball and swimming but also make participating in them more dangerous.
After he turned 18 was cleared to play competitively after studies showed no signs of deterioration. Wilson averaged 1.2 blocks per game as a freshman. He was headed to Alabama, but changed his mind when they signed too many other transfers. At the time of his commitment to Alabama, Wilson had 44 scholarship offers.
I am not sure why the Huskies want Fuller. He is listed as a PG, but his A/TO ration is an abysmal 0.8. He shot 37% from the field and 25% from the arc. He's tall for a PG and athletic, so he has the right body type for Hopkins. However, his skills are questionable. He was highly rated out of HS, but he hasn't lived up to the recruiting ranking. He's originally from Seattle, so he is returning home.
CONCLUSION
At the time of my first preview, Washington had eight scholarship players. They are now up to 11 and the new guys look pretty good. Don't be shocked if Langston Wilson turns out to be a star.
I expect quite a few of the new guys will start or play significant minutes. Hopkins will need to show he can take a bunch of new player and put them together into a team.
Hopkins will also need to teach a team to play effective offense. That has been a problem throughout his tenure in Seattle. Perhaps to address this, Mike Hopkins has shaken up his coaching staff, bringing in former California head coach Wyking Jones, and former UW player Quincy Pondexter.
At the time of my first preview, Washington had eight scholarship players. They are now up to 11 and the new guys look pretty good. Don't be shocked if Langston Wilson turns out to be a star.
I expect quite a few of the new guys will start or play significant minutes. Hopkins will need to show he can take a bunch of new player and put them together into a team.
Hopkins will also need to teach a team to play effective offense. That has been a problem throughout his tenure in Seattle. Perhaps to address this, Mike Hopkins has shaken up his coaching staff, bringing in former California head coach Wyking Jones, and former UW player Quincy Pondexter.
The question in Montlake is whether Hopkins can pull an Altman, and put together a new team. I don't think he has Oregon-level talent, but he definitely has some players.
Less and I have projected the Huskies to finish 8th next season. Wilner says 11th or Torvick says 9th. Will that be enough for Hopkins to hold on to his job? That may be the biggest suspense for Husky hoops next season.