The on-the-court basketball product has been awful. Washington takes over a team that has won a total of 16 games the past two seasons and has only had a .500 five times in the past 23 seasons. Last year the team was 6-23, which included an abysmal 4-14 conference record. Washington said the first thing to turning around the basketball program is having a positive attitude.
” I refuse to look at the glass half full,” he said.
Washington said he has a challenge ahead and wants to approach it with positive energy.
Even though the team does not have a set system he said his team will play great defense. He also said he will not put players in positions where they can’t succeed.
Coach Washington promoted point guard Ariece Perkins and center George Akpele to team captains. Washington said that both young men worked hard during off season and he expects them to have a great season.
The three things that will make his team successful this season are doing well in the classroom, continuing to exhibit high character and giving maximum effort.
Washington also said that the men’s basketball team can go from worst to first because of all the adversity they have been through these past several months.
The Tigers open practice Oct. 16.