Huskies Look to Flip the Script in Cross-Town Rematch vs. Red-Hot Seattle U
SEATTLE - One year removed from a season that offered more questions than answers, the Washington Huskies men’s basketball team is back on the court with a new look, a new feel, and a shot at redemption.
Last season, in Danny Sprinkle’s first year at the helm, the Huskies struggled to find their footing in their inaugural Big Ten campaign. Washington stumbled to a 13-18 overall record and just 4-16 in conference play - a mark that left them at the bottom of the 18-team Big Ten and on the outside looking in when it came time for the conference tournament.
But the loss that may have stung the most? A 79-70 defeat to cross-town rival Seattle University on December 23, 2024.
It was only the fifth time Washington had ever lost to the Redhawks - and the first since 1978. For a rivalry that had been largely one-sided since it resumed in 2009 after a 29-year hiatus, that game was a wake-up call.
Fast forward to this season, and the Huskies are trying to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Sprinkle and his staff hit the reset button in the offseason, bringing in a revamped roster that has already shown signs of growth and grit. Even with a lineup that’s yet to be fully healthy - forward Mady Traore is out for the season and fellow big man Jacob Ognacevic has battled ankle issues - Washington has looked far more competitive in year two under Sprinkle.
The Huskies nearly pulled off a double-digit comeback against UCLA on December 3, falling just short in an 82-80 loss. But they didn’t let that one linger.
Just three days later, they stormed back from another deficit to hand then-undefeated and No. 24-ranked USC its first loss of the season, 84-76. That win was a statement - not just to the conference, but to themselves.
And if that wasn’t enough, Washington followed it up with a 105-69 dismantling of Southern Utah on December 13 - their most dominant performance of the season.
That game also marked the return of freshman forward Bryson Tucker, who had missed six games with an ankle sprain, and the debut of Serbian freshman Nikola Dzepina. With Tucker back in the fold and Dzepina adding depth to the frontcourt, the Huskies are starting to resemble the team Sprinkle envisioned.
Now, with some momentum and a mostly healthy roster, Washington is eyeing a chance to avenge last year’s loss to Seattle U. But it won’t come easy.
The Redhawks have been rolling. They’ll enter Thursday night’s matchup at Climate Pledge Arena with a 9-2 record and a résumé that includes a win over Stanford - a team that’s also 9-2 and owns a victory against Big Ten member Minnesota. Seattle U has proven it can hang with high-major programs, and they’ll be the designated home team in what’s shaping up to be a critical non-conference showdown for both squads.
For Washington, this game is about more than bragging rights. It’s a chance to show how far they’ve come in just one season - to prove that last year’s stumble was just that: a stumble. For Seattle U, it’s a shot to solidify its place as a legitimate threat on the national stage and to sweep the Huskies in back-to-back seasons for the first time in decades.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. PT on December 19 at Climate Pledge Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Two teams. One city.
A lot on the line. Let’s see who owns Seattle - at least for one night.