Thursday, December 21
Seattle, WA
6:00 PM
University of Washington
vs
Eastern Washington
Final Non-Conference Home Game Slated For Thursday Night
December 20, 2023 | Men's Basketball
SEATTLE – On the heels of a thrilling double overtime win over Seattle U, Washington (7-3) wraps up non-conference play on Thursday evening when Eastern Washington comes to Alaska Airlines Arena.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. as A.J. Kanell and Eldridge Recasner have the call on Pac-12 Washington. Tony Castricone and Jason Hamilton will call the action on the Husky Sports Network and locally on Sports Radio KJR 950 AM.
THE MATCHUP
The Huskies aim to wrap up non-conference play on a four-game win streak while simultaneously thwarting Eastern Washington from doing the same. The Huskies have lost just one of the previous 17 meetings against the Eagles and enter Thursday's contest on a 12-game winning streak in the series. This is the first meeting between the teams since 2019. The Eagles have already played four Pac-12 opponents this year, losing all four contests by an average of 24.5 points. The Huskies are seeking eight non-conference wins for second straight season, which would equal their most since 10 in 2019-20.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
The Huskies were named Jeff Borzello's Team of the Week last week and are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week (first time since Jan. 13, 2020). UW is an 11-seed in Joe Lunardi's Bracketology this week. The Huskies rank 48 in both the NET and KenPom rankings. Two plays have appeared on SportsCenter's Top 10 with Nate Calmese's backboard alley-oop to Braxton Meah against UCSD coming in at eight and Koren Johnson's circus shot against Gonzaga checking in at number nine.
LAST TIME OUT
Washington went to double overtime for the first time since January 2022 as Keion Brooks Jr. scored 22 points, Sahvir Wheeler added 19 and 14 assists to rally the Huskies from a 16-point second half deficit to beat Seattle 100-99 Sunday night at the Battle for Seattle. The Huskies trailed for over 40 minutes and did not lead until 1:43 into the first overtime. It was the Huskies' largest comeback since erasing a 17-point deficit against Colorado in January of 2017. The 99 points were the most points allowed to Seattle since 1971 and the game was the first in series history to go to OT.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wheeler was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for his performance against Seattle. He scored or assisted on 10 of the Huskies' last 12 points in regulation, culminating in the game-tying layup as time expired. The nation's active career assist leader scored or assisted on 21 of the team's last 32 points to complete the comeback. Wheeler's 14 assists tied a career high and were the most by a Husky since current Associate Head Coach Will Conroy had 14 against California in 2005. He is the first Husky to win the award since Jamal Bey in 2021.
TOP DAWGS
Keion Brooks Jr. is one of two Pac-12 players to rank in the league's top-five in points and rebounds. Paul Mulcahy and Sahvir Wheeler both rank in the top-five in the Pac-12 and top-35 in the country in assists per game. Wheeler is the active DI leader in assists (722). Mulcahy ranks 16th (506). The Huskies rank 2nd in the Pac-12 and 26th in the country with 5.3 blocks per game. The team ranked in the top-10 in DI in blocks last season.
EXPERIENCED GROUP
The Huskies are one of nine DI teams with three players with 1,200 or more career points. The team's 7,516 combined career points is 10th-most in Division I. The 926 career games played is 13th.
THE RETURNERS
UW is one of three Pac-12 teams to return multiple All-Conference honorees, behind only USC. Preseason first-team All-Conference choice Keion Brooks Jr. headlines the core of returners as the leading returning scorer in the entire Pac-12. He averaged 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds to earn Second Team All-Pac-12 honors. Braxton Meah is back for another season in purple and gold after shooting over 70 percent in 2022-23 to lead the league and set a new single-season Husky record. He was selected to the All-Defensive team after averaging 1.6 blocks per game.
Koren Johnson enters his sophomore season following a stellar freshman campaign in which he racked up 34 steals, which were tied for second on the team. Franck Kepnang adds depth to the frontcourt after missing the majority of the 2022-23 season due to injury.
THE NEWCOMERS
Kentucky grad transfer Sahvir Wheeler highlights an experienced group of newcomers. Wheeler twice led the SEC in assists, both times ranking in the top five in the NCAA with over six helpers per game.
Wilhelm Breidenbach (Nebraska), Nate Calmese (Lamar), Anthony Holland (Fresno State) Paul Mulcahy (Rutgers) and Moses Wood (Portland) also arrived in Seattle via the transfer portal. Four-star guard Wesley Yates III headlines the freshman class of four.
SIGNING DAY
Head Coach Mike Hopkins and the Huskies signed four-star guard Casmir Chavis to a letter of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday, the Huskies' first commit in the 2024 class.
NEW AT ALASKA AIRLINES ARENA
New LED lights will not only greatly enhance gameday energy and the fan experience, but the technology also supports UW's focus on sustainability. Complete with instant on/off and color takeover capabilities, new LED lighting will enhance team entrances and create other special moments in the arena.
The Huskies will also be playing on a new surface with a redesigned court.
Follow the Dawgs all season long @UW_MBB on X and Instagram.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. as A.J. Kanell and Eldridge Recasner have the call on Pac-12 Washington. Tony Castricone and Jason Hamilton will call the action on the Husky Sports Network and locally on Sports Radio KJR 950 AM.
THE MATCHUP
The Huskies aim to wrap up non-conference play on a four-game win streak while simultaneously thwarting Eastern Washington from doing the same. The Huskies have lost just one of the previous 17 meetings against the Eagles and enter Thursday's contest on a 12-game winning streak in the series. This is the first meeting between the teams since 2019. The Eagles have already played four Pac-12 opponents this year, losing all four contests by an average of 24.5 points. The Huskies are seeking eight non-conference wins for second straight season, which would equal their most since 10 in 2019-20.
NATIONAL ATTENTION
The Huskies were named Jeff Borzello's Team of the Week last week and are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week (first time since Jan. 13, 2020). UW is an 11-seed in Joe Lunardi's Bracketology this week. The Huskies rank 48 in both the NET and KenPom rankings. Two plays have appeared on SportsCenter's Top 10 with Nate Calmese's backboard alley-oop to Braxton Meah against UCSD coming in at eight and Koren Johnson's circus shot against Gonzaga checking in at number nine.
LAST TIME OUT
Washington went to double overtime for the first time since January 2022 as Keion Brooks Jr. scored 22 points, Sahvir Wheeler added 19 and 14 assists to rally the Huskies from a 16-point second half deficit to beat Seattle 100-99 Sunday night at the Battle for Seattle. The Huskies trailed for over 40 minutes and did not lead until 1:43 into the first overtime. It was the Huskies' largest comeback since erasing a 17-point deficit against Colorado in January of 2017. The 99 points were the most points allowed to Seattle since 1971 and the game was the first in series history to go to OT.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wheeler was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for his performance against Seattle. He scored or assisted on 10 of the Huskies' last 12 points in regulation, culminating in the game-tying layup as time expired. The nation's active career assist leader scored or assisted on 21 of the team's last 32 points to complete the comeback. Wheeler's 14 assists tied a career high and were the most by a Husky since current Associate Head Coach Will Conroy had 14 against California in 2005. He is the first Husky to win the award since Jamal Bey in 2021.
TOP DAWGS
Keion Brooks Jr. is one of two Pac-12 players to rank in the league's top-five in points and rebounds. Paul Mulcahy and Sahvir Wheeler both rank in the top-five in the Pac-12 and top-35 in the country in assists per game. Wheeler is the active DI leader in assists (722). Mulcahy ranks 16th (506). The Huskies rank 2nd in the Pac-12 and 26th in the country with 5.3 blocks per game. The team ranked in the top-10 in DI in blocks last season.
EXPERIENCED GROUP
The Huskies are one of nine DI teams with three players with 1,200 or more career points. The team's 7,516 combined career points is 10th-most in Division I. The 926 career games played is 13th.
THE RETURNERS
UW is one of three Pac-12 teams to return multiple All-Conference honorees, behind only USC. Preseason first-team All-Conference choice Keion Brooks Jr. headlines the core of returners as the leading returning scorer in the entire Pac-12. He averaged 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds to earn Second Team All-Pac-12 honors. Braxton Meah is back for another season in purple and gold after shooting over 70 percent in 2022-23 to lead the league and set a new single-season Husky record. He was selected to the All-Defensive team after averaging 1.6 blocks per game.
Koren Johnson enters his sophomore season following a stellar freshman campaign in which he racked up 34 steals, which were tied for second on the team. Franck Kepnang adds depth to the frontcourt after missing the majority of the 2022-23 season due to injury.
THE NEWCOMERS
Kentucky grad transfer Sahvir Wheeler highlights an experienced group of newcomers. Wheeler twice led the SEC in assists, both times ranking in the top five in the NCAA with over six helpers per game.
Wilhelm Breidenbach (Nebraska), Nate Calmese (Lamar), Anthony Holland (Fresno State) Paul Mulcahy (Rutgers) and Moses Wood (Portland) also arrived in Seattle via the transfer portal. Four-star guard Wesley Yates III headlines the freshman class of four.
SIGNING DAY
Head Coach Mike Hopkins and the Huskies signed four-star guard Casmir Chavis to a letter of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday, the Huskies' first commit in the 2024 class.
NEW AT ALASKA AIRLINES ARENA
New LED lights will not only greatly enhance gameday energy and the fan experience, but the technology also supports UW's focus on sustainability. Complete with instant on/off and color takeover capabilities, new LED lighting will enhance team entrances and create other special moments in the arena.
The Huskies will also be playing on a new surface with a redesigned court.
Follow the Dawgs all season long @UW_MBB on X and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballWashington Men's Basketball - Training Facility Reveal
Thursday, September 25
Washington Men's Basketball 2025-26 Schedule Release
Friday, September 19
Head Coach Danny Sprinkle Press Conference: August 7, 2025
Friday, August 08
Head Coach Danny Sprinkle Press Conference: July 31, 2025
Tuesday, August 05
