As this University of Washington basketball team gets better acquainted, the players hopefully will learn they don't know each other as well as they might think.
Take Wini Braga, for instance.
To a man in practice, these Huskies call him "Win-EE" whereas the Brazilian newcomer's first name actually is pronounced "Vinnie."
As in My Cousin Vinnie.
Or my Power Forward Vinnie.
The 6-foot-9, 207-pound Winicuis Braga likewise has been referred to as another Hannes Steinbach, with some people comparing him to the departed UW power forward now in the NBA, which Danny Sprinkle doesn't hesitate to correct.
"He's not Hannes," the Husky coach said flatly. "I don't want him to be compared to that; he's not even close. He is a good player."
Braga, who speaks minimal English, comes to the Huskies as a 21-year-old from the community of Altamira in the northern part of the country.
He brings a background of Brazilian pro basketball and international play, which does't resemble the Big Ten and its more bunched-up and physical brand of push and shove.
"The style of play they play in Brazil is entirely different than college basketball," Sprinkle said. "It will be an adjustment."
For reasons the coach chose not to spell out but didn't seem none too pleased about, Braga couldn't get into school at the UW until Sept. 30. That put him well behind the rest of the team by as much as 12 to 14 weeks in learning all of the nuances.
"We have to go back and teach him the little things before practice and not overload him," Sprinkle said.
With his late arrival in Montlake, Braga needs to get in better basketball shape, so he'll deal with that, too.
In last weekend's 109-91 exhibition loss to Boise State, the Huskies sent their South American import onto the floor for 13 minutes of action in that Idaho city. He hit a 3-pointer, grabbed 3 rebounds and picked up an assist and a steal.
"Like Hannes, he's a really good passer," Sprinkle said, permitting just that one basketball similarity.
The Husky coach said he's a big fan of Braga because the new guy has proved to be a most welcome roster addition solely for the way he interacts with everyone else.
"He's so genuine and kind," Sprinkle said. "When he gets on the court, that's when we need him to turn into a jerk."
Or some guy named Wini.
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