Life in the Big Ten doesn’t wait for anyone - and right now, Washington is learning that the hard way.
Fresh off an emotional rivalry win over Oregon, the Huskies were hoping to build some momentum. That win marked just the second time in six games they’d faced a team outside the AP Top 15 - a brutal stretch by any measure.
But any good vibes were short-lived. A few days later, Washington ran headfirst into No.
9 Illinois, and the result wasn’t pretty. Illinois keeps rolling, while the Huskies are left trying to pick up the pieces and figure out what’s next.
The good news? The road ahead looks a little less treacherous.
Washington won’t see another ranked opponent the rest of the way, and only five games remain on the road - with only two of those against notable threats in Oregon and UCLA. So yes, the schedule softens.
But let’s be honest: just stacking wins from here on out probably won’t be enough to turn heads on the selection committee. Still, how Washington finishes matters.
This is about more than just March - it’s about building something sustainable.
When the Huskies brought in Great Osobor to reunite with head coach Danny Sprinkle, it felt like a jolt of energy for a program that desperately needed one. Sprinkle had earned buzz in the offseason for what looked like a savvy roster build.
Early projections hinted at an offense-first identity with a defense that might lag behind. But if we’re calling it like it is, the better word so far has been “inconsistent.”
Outside of freshman forward Hannes Steinbach, who’s been a bright spot, the Huskies have struggled to find rhythm or reliability.
Now sitting at 11-10, Washington is at risk of slipping back to .500 if they can’t take care of business on the road against Northwestern. The first priority?
Finding some kind of offensive flow. Against Illinois, only three players reached double figures: Steinbach led the way with 15 points and 12 boards, followed by Wesley Yates III with 13, and Zoom Diallo with 12.
That’s not going to cut it, especially when the rest of the roster can’t seem to find a consistent scoring touch.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Washington’s issues run deeper than a box score. There’s a lack of cohesion, a lack of identity - and in a conference as unforgiving as the Big Ten, that’s a dangerous place to be.
The Huskies still have time to right the ship, but the clock is ticking. Whether or not they can turn this season into something more than just a learning experience will depend on what they do from here.
The margin for error is thin, and the pressure is mounting. Welcome to life in the Big Ten.