Mike Hopkins and the UW coaching staff had each of the UW players sign their names in white ink on the black baseball bat before the season. It's inspired a perfect 8-0 run in Pac-12 play and has gotten the team striking early in games.
To explain why Washington has been able to get off to fast starts recently, senior point guard David Crisp told a story about his team and its baseball bat.
For the Huskies, the bat symbolizes togetherness and toughness – two of the core tenants of the resurgent UW program since Mike Hopkins took over two years ago.