"This is the team. I feel like we are way better than last year," Washington said. "We did lose Patrick [Punch], but we do have some solid players this year."
Because they have been around each other for so long, Washington knows these guys well. Trace Brooks is the hype guy in the huddle "clapping and dancing" and Devin Mason is the jokester.
"We like to have fun, but the moment we step on the court we get serious," he said.
Pulling on those black and gold jerseys with IKE across the front will make anyone get serious. It's a pride thing, Washington said to play for those three letters and the community it represents.
"Swoop means Eagle pride to us," he said. "We've got to go out there and give 110-percent when we step on the court because everyone wants to beat I-K-E."
