The injury bug just won’t let up for Washington.
Already battling through a season riddled with setbacks, the Huskies men’s basketball team took another tough blow this week-both on the court and in the training room. On the same day Washington dropped a 63-60 heartbreaker to Penn State, two of its promising freshmen-guard JJ Mandaquit and forward Jasir Rencher-underwent season-ending procedures.
It’s the latest chapter in a season that’s been defined as much by who’s not available as who is.
Let’s start with Mandaquit. The freshman guard has been navigating a nagging foot issue since before the season tipped off.
He managed to push through for much of the year, even earning six starts across 22 appearances. But the injury flared up again during a recent Midwest road swing, and after trying to play through it, the decision was made to shut him down.
Mandaquit underwent surgery in New York, and according to head coach Danny Sprinkle, the procedure went well.
“I heard that right before the game,” Sprinkle said after the Penn State loss. “The surgeries both went well.”
Mandaquit’s numbers don’t jump off the page-5.2 points per game on 43.6% shooting, with 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds-but his presence was steady. He brought poise to the backcourt, and in a year where the Huskies have struggled to find rhythm and continuity, Mandaquit was one of the few constants. His ability to handle the ball and create in transition gave Washington a spark, and his absence will be felt on both ends of the floor.
Rencher’s season had already been on pause for two months due to a heart condition, and now it’s officially over following his own procedure. While his role was more limited than Mandaquit’s, Rencher had been carving out a bigger piece of the rotation as injuries piled up.
In eight games, he averaged three points on 50% shooting and pulled down 1.8 boards per contest. He was starting to find his footing, logging double-digit minutes in four of his final five appearances before his last outing on Dec. 22 against San Diego.
Neither freshman was a headline name, but both were essential depth pieces for a team that’s been stretched thin. With Mandaquit and Rencher now sidelined for good, Washington is down four players in total. Junior forward Mady Traore has missed the entire season with a foot injury, and senior guard Desmond Claude stepped away from the team in January due to complications from an ankle issue that just wouldn’t go away.
At 12-13 overall and 4-10 in Big Ten play, the Huskies’ season has been a grind. The loss to Penn State was another punch to the gut, but the long-term health of their young players takes priority.
The hope now is that Mandaquit and Rencher can recover fully and return stronger next season-because if there’s one thing this year has shown, it’s that Washington’s young core has promise. They just need a chance to stay on the floor.