The Details: 'The Future Of Basketball'
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
As Andrew Andrews’ college career winds toward its finish, the senior has taken time to thank those who have impacted his career most. From coach Lorenzo Romar and his staff, to his teammates, the point guard has thoughtfully credited those around him.
But, of all the things he has said, of all the people he has thanked, one quote stands out.
"I also have to give a shoutout to Pabail, who has helped expand my mind on the game and life in general, thanks for helping me grow as a man,” Andrews said.
That quote is reflective of the impact Pabail S. Sidhu, the Huskies’ director of basketball strategies, has on the university’s basketball program.
“To me, that validates my job, what I do and the long hours I put in,” Sidhu said.
Andrews and Sidhu joined the program around the same time. They wove their way into the fabric of the team, one working on the court, the other behind the scenes parsing numbers and data to craft analysis he provides to players and coaches using basketball parlance.
“The overriding thing, for me, with Pabail is his passion,” Romar said. “He has passion for this university, this program and the game of basketball. He just loves it.”
What started with algorithms written on white boards has evolved into a digitized system of video-game-styled dashboards designed specifically for Washington.
A career born from a penchant for number crunching, Sidhu’s role has evolved to in-game strategy adjustments.
“We have a lot of people who crunch numbers, a lot of people who are in analytics, but he’s got a feel for the game and a feel for talent,” said Rick Sund, a former NBA general manager. “That combination helps him.”
Sund met Sidhu when he was the general manager of the Seattle Supersonics. Even back then, Sidhu was “ahead of the analytics game,” Sund said.
Now the man NBA Hall of Famer and college basketball analyst Bill Walton introduces as “the future of basketball,” is entrenched at Washington, becoming an integral part of the university that has meant so much to him.
Not only did he graduate from Washington, he met his wife, Harprit, at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. His children, Amaya and Zylan, were born at the University of Washington Medical Center in a delivery room overlooking Husky Stadium.
He found his way into the athletic department by presenting Romar with an idea.
“When I first talked to him, he had some ideas about things that could help,” Romar said.
Romar was intrigued. The coach’s curiosity paid off.
“He’s learned our system and learned more of what contributes to us winning and losing and he’s been able to develop systems and numbers for us to see how efficient we are,” Romar said.
When Sidhu was hired, he also worked for Washington’s football team. In fact, he was the first full-time hire in college athletics to work on basketball and football analytics.
Equal parts trail blazer and trend setter, Sidhu is on the front lines of an information onslaught as statistical analysis becomes vital across all sports at almost every level. But, while there are plenty of people who can break down data, there are few who have figured out how to share the information in a way that has a practical impact.
Sidhu understands data and basketball in a way that allows him convey his point to players without using numbers.
“It is a natural interaction,” he said. “It’s not like, ‘here’s my spreadsheet.’ We don’t even talk about numbers. When I present stuff, vary rarely do I use numbers.”
He is particularly effective because he in invested in the program. He engages with players after practice and at the airport. He will break down Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James’ game, “taking it a couple of layers deeper,” explaining tendencies and using information as a means to explain ways to improve the games of Washington players.
Sidhu’s presence puts the Huskies through a daily course in statistics, game theory and strategy that is so relatable players learn through natural interactions.
The more his role evolves, the more he moves into “uncharted waters.” He is on the cutting edge of what is possible when someone combines data analysis with a strong understanding of the game.
But, while he is always looking for things he can do behind the scenes to help the Huskies on the floor, it is his passion for game, the program and players like Andrews that pushes him to the top of his field.
“You don’t have to tell him to do more,” Romar said. “You have to tell him, “that’s enough,” because he keeps coming at you. That’s what you want.”
Statistical analysis has become so important to basketball Walton sought out Washington’s “analytics guru” to learn more. Like the Hall of Famer said, Sidhu is the “future of basketball.”
