Washington Huskies
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #33
Conference Rank: #3 Pac-12
Following a debacle of a season in 2016-2017, Washington improved immensely during Coach Mike Hopkins’ first season leading the program. The Huskies boosted their win total from nine to 21 and their conference record from 2-16 to 10-8. The result was a trip to the NIT where UW bested Boise State before falling at Saint Mary’s in the second round. That was a rebuilding year though and now Coach Hopkins returns his top seven players and brings in some talented freshmen to help add even more depth. After last year’s performance, this group will be eyeing Washington’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.
2017-18 Record: 21-13, 10-8
2017-18 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Mike Hopkins
Coach Record: 21-13 at Washington, 25-18 overall
Key Departed Players:
Carlos Johnson, 3.8 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Jaylen Nowell, Sophomore, Guard, 16.0 ppg
Noah Dickerson, Senior, Forward, 15.5 ppg
David Crisp, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Matisse Thybulle, Senior, Guard, 11.2 ppg
Sam Timmins, Junior, Forward, 4.3 ppg
Dominic Green, Senior, Forward, 5.4 ppg
Nahziah Carter, Sophomore, Forward, 5.1 ppg
Hameir Wright, Sophomore, Forward, 2.6 ppg
Key New Players:
Jamal Bey, Freshman, Guard
Elijah Hardy, Freshman, Guard
Bryan Penn-Johnson, Freshman, Center
Nate Roberts, Freshman, Forward
Riley Dorn, Freshman, Center
Projection:
The backcourt could emerge as one of the best in the Pac-12 this year. Matisse Thybulle is a lanky 6-5 guard who averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.4 blocks as a junior. He has started 99 games for the Huskies and his ability to make big plays on both ends of the floor will have him in the mix for all-conference honors and Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Jaylen Nowell led the team with 16.0 points per game as a freshman and the expectations are quickly rising for the 6-4 guard. Nowell has already proven that he can do it all, but he could take the next step with more consistency with his outside shot. David Crisp had trouble shooting the ball last year too as he moved from shooting guard to point guard. He did run the point very effectively though, dishing out 3.1 assists per game. Like Thybulle, Crisp is an experienced senior and now that he has had more time running the show, Crisp should be in for a very productive senior season. The frontcourt will be led by Noah Dickerson, who averaged 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior. Sam Timmins provides the size in the paint, while Dominic Green, Nahziah Carter, Hameir Wright and incoming freshman Jamal Bey will provide much of the depth. With just about everybody back from a 21-win team, anything but a trip to the NCAA Tournament should be considered a disappointment. And if everything comes together, this is a team that can stick around in the Pac-12 title race too.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 74.6 (155th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.0 (189, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.8 (115, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.7 (222, 10)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.8 (262, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.6 (193, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.1 (228, 10)
Rebound Margin: -2.5 (285, 11)
Assists Per Game: 11.7 (306, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (217, 8)
Madness 2019 NBA Draft Rankings:
#64 Matisse Thybulle
Madness 2018 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#134 Jamal Bey
