COLUMBUS — A trio of firsts with second-year Washington coach Mike Hopkins, as recalled by senior guard David Crisp this week:
The first time the two met in person: “It was the news conference,” introducing Hopkins as the Huskies’ new coach, replacing Lorenzo Romar, in March 2017. “I come in the gym and he’s at the top of the stadium in a full suit. He goes, ‘Is that D.C.?!’ and sprints down the stairs in a full suit, picks me up in a hug and everything. I was like, man, this dude’s crazy.”
The first time Hopkins led a team meeting: “Coach Romar didn’t say one cuss word.