I’m conflicted when it comes to the excitement surrounding the Washington men’s basketball team. As a Coug, I never want the Huskies to excel at anything, though it’s usually applied more to the football team than the basketball team.
What makes it worse is while the Huskies are rising to unexpected heights this year under first-year head coach Mike Hopkins, the Cougs are last in the Pac-12 Conference at 1-9. The Huskies play in front of sellout or near-sellout crowds at Alaska Airlines Arena, and the Cougs play in front of empty seats at Beasley Coliseum.
The Huskies have a coach who has re-energized and restored faith in the program.