
Huskies Return To Seattle, Host USC For Big Ten Home Opener Saturday
December 06, 2024 | Men's Basketball
SEATTLE β The Washington men's basketball team brings its five-game winning streak on the road to open up Big Ten Conference play on Tuesday, battling UCLA at 7:30 p.m. PT Pauley Pavilion.
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UW's first-ever Big Ten game will air on your television set on FS1 and on your radio dial on 93.3 KJR-FM. Links to live coverage are available on the schedule page at GoHuskies.com and at HuskyStats.com.
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OPENING TIPS
Β» UW welcomes UCLA to Seattle for the Huskies' first-ever Big Ten home game
Β» Washington is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Trojans
Β» The Huskies last defeated USC in 2020
Β» UW is coming off of a loss in its Big Ten opener at UCLA, ending the Huskies' first five-game winning streak since 2019
Β» UW is undefeated in five home games this season
Β» The Huskies have not win the first six home games of a season since 2018-19, when UW won its first 15 games in Seattle
Β» Washington has been a second half team, outscoring its opponents by 35 combined points
Β» 41.3 percent of Washington's points have been scored in the paint
Β» The Huskies are averaging 26.6 free throws per game, ranking 14th nationally, 2nd in the Big Ten
Β» UW ranks 28th in the nation at 5.3 blocks per game, tallying five or more five times
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ABOUT USC
Β» USC is in its first season under head coach Eric Musselman
Β» Musselman made the move to LA after five seasons at Arkansas and four seasons at Nevada
Β» Prior to Arkansas's 16-17 season a year ago, Musselman had led his teams to six-straight NCAA Tournament bids, including three-straight Sweet 16 appearances with the Razorbacks
Β» USC was picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
Β» The Trojans enter Saturday's contest with a 5-4 record
Β» USC is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, dropping its Big Ten opener Friday at home vs. Oregon, 68-60
Β» The Trojans boast the Big Ten's two leading active scorers in graduate transfers Josh Cohen (1,726 points) and Bryce Pope (1,629 points)
Β» USC returned just 1-of-10 letterwinners from the 2023-24 season
Β» The Trojans added 16 newcomers to this season's roster, including 16 transfers
Β» At 12.9 points per game, junior guard Desmond Claude leads a group of four Trojans averaging double-figure scoring, joining Chibuzo Agbo (12.1), Cohen (11.1) and Terrance Williams II (10.6)
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SERIES HISTORY - USC
Β» USC leads the all-time series with Washington 83-75
Β» The Trojans have won each of the last nine meetings between the two sides
Β» The Huskies last defeated USC in 2020, a 32-point win in Seattle
Β» Despite dropping the last three home games to USC, UW owns a 43-33 advantage over the Trojans in Seattle
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DESERT DAWGS TAKE ACRISURE TITLE
Β» Washington won the Acrisure Invitational, sweeping games over Colorado State (73-67) and Santa Clara (76-69)
Β» It was the second MTE championship in the last three seasons for UW, which claimed the 2022 Wooden Legacy title
Β» Great Osobor was named the event's MVP after averaging 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals
Β» Tyler Harris led the Dawgs over Colorado State, scoring 24 points on 9-of-13 from the field, knocking down a career-high five three pointers
Β» Harris had made just six three pointers all season prior to Thursday's win
Β» The win over CSU snapped a three-game losing streak against the Rams for UW, while the Huskies have beaten Santa Clara in four-straight
STAT STUFFER
Β» Great Osobor leads the Big Ten in average rebounding (10.1) and steals (2.88)
Β» The senior ranks eighth in the nation in SPG, sitting 19th in RPG
Β» Osobor has led the Huskies in rebounds and steals in 6-of-8 games
Β» No other player in the nation ranks in the top-50 in both steals and rebounds
Β» Osobor has also paced UW in scoring five times
Β» Osobor has attempted 80 free throws, ranking second in the nation
Β» In UW's season-opening win over UC Davis, Osobor became the first Power-6 player with at least 15 points, 17 rebounds and 6 steals since Blake Griffin in 2008
Β» Osobor is 1-of-4 players 6-8 or taller over the last 20 years to record 6+ steals in two games in a season (Corey Brewer, Marcus Dove, Cody Zeller)
Β» Osobor's seven steals against Seattle Pacific were the most by a Husky since Matisse Thybulle had three games with seven steals during the 2018-19 season
Β» Osobor is the only player in the nation with multiple 6+ steal games this season
Β» Osobor's 18 rebounds vs. UMass Lowell were the most by a Husky since Nate Roberts pulled down 19 vs. Northern Illinois in 2021
DAMAGE DOWN LOW
Β» 41.3 percent of Washington's points this season have been in the paint
Β» The Huskies have failed to score at least 30 points in the paint just twice
Β» UW has outscored its opponent in the paint in six games, including 5-of-6 wins
Β» Not counting free throws, Great Osobor has scored 62-of-72 (86.1%) of his points in the paint
SWAT TEAM
Β» UW ranks third the Big Ten and 28th in the nation at 5.3 blocks per game
Β» Tyler Harris' 1.88 blocks per game ranks 37th nationally, fourth in the Big Ten
Β» Harris is the first Husky with four or more blocks in back-to-back games (vs. Seattle Pacific and UMass Lowell) since Isaiah Stewart in 2019-20
Β» Harris is 1-of-10 players in the nation under 6-9 with multiple 4+ block games
RESTOCKING THE CUPBOARD
Β» Washington returns just four letterwinners from last season
Β» Wilhelm Breidenbach is the only returning Husky to play in more than 10 games a season ago
Β» UW returners started just 16 games in 2023-24, or 10 percent of Washington's total number of starts
Β» UW's 9.7% returning scoring is the 16th lowest in the nation
VET SCHOOL
Β» Washington players have appeared in 885 total collegiate games
Β» The Huskies own 524 career starts
Β» Four Huskies have played in triple digit games: Great Osobor (112), DJ Davis (123), Chris Conway (109) and Luis Kortright (111)Β» 10 of Washington's 16 players are upperclassmen
Β» UW's roster features six seniors and one graduate student
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MONTLAKE MAGIC
Β» Over the last 20+ seasons, Washington is 252-87 (.743) at Alaska Airlines Arena
Β» The Huskies have posted a winning record at home in 18 of those 20 seasons, registering double-digit home wins 17 times
Β» UW has posted at least a .600 home record in 14 of the past 20 seasons, including each of the last three seasons
Β» Washington has won at least 80% of its home games nine times over the last 20 seasons, including 90% or more four times
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PORTAL HOPPING
Β» Washington bolstered its roster with eight D1 players out of the transfer portal
Β» The eight additions via the transfer portal are the most in a single season for UW
Β» Four Huskies (DJ Davis, Tyree Ihenacho, Luis Kortright, Great Osobor) have transferred twice in their collegiate careers
Β» In total, 10 of UW's 16 players came to Washington via the transfer portal
Β» Washington has added at least three players through the transfer portal in each of the past four years
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
Β» Former Tacoma Curtis star Zoom Diallo is UW's highest-rated recruit since the Dawgs signed five-star prospects Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart in 2019
Β» Diallo is a consensus four-star prospect per 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals
Β» Diallo is Washington's ninth-ever McDonald's All-American and the fourth in the last five years, joining Jackson Grant (2021), McDaniels and Stewart (2019)
Β» The No. 1 player in Washington and 2022-23 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year, Diallo was rated the no. 3 point guard and no. 43 player in the country by ESPN
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THE GREAT ONE
Β» Great Osobor has spent his entire collegiate career with UW head coach Danny Sprinkle, following Sprinkle from Montana State and Utah State
Β» Osobor was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American in 2023-24
Β» Osobor was also tabbed the Mountain West Player and Newcomer of the Year
Β» Osobor earned Big Sky Top-Reserve honors as a sophomore at Montana State
Β» Osobor landed on the watchlists for the Karl Malone Award and Wooden Award
Β» Osobor was named a Preseason All-American by CBS's Jon Rothstein and ESPN's Jay Bilas
Β» Osobor was ranked at the No. 15 on CBS' Top 100 and 1 Best Players Entering the 2024-25 season
Β» Osobor was one of 10 players named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team
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FREE MONEY
Β» DJ Davis led the nation in free throw percentage in 2023-24 at 95.0 percent
Β» Davis was perfect from the charity stripe in 23-of-27 games in which he attempted at least one free throw
Β» Davis converted a career high 10 free throws twice last season, vs. SEMO (11/10) and vs. Texas Tech (11/30)
Β» Davis shot 86.5 percent from the free throw line over three seasons at UC Irvine, including 90.4 percent as a sophomore
Β» Davis owns an 88.8 percent free throw percentage for his career
Β» Davis has shot 100 percent on free throws for a game with at least five attempts 15 times in his career
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A B1G NEW ERA
Β» Washington enters its first season in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25
Β» The Big Ten received six bids to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, tied for third most of any conference
Β» UW was a founding member of what would eventually become the Pac-12 Conference, chartering the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915
Β» Washington also remained in the Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association until 1925
Β» Washington is 358-347 all-time against current Big Ten member institutions
Β» UW is 47-33 against Big Ten opponents not including Oregon, UCLA and USC
Β» Washington has played 14-of-17 fellow Big Ten Members
Β» UW has never faced Maryland, Penn State or Rutgers
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THE SPRINKLE EFFECT
Β» Teams in their first year under Danny Sprinkle have increased their win total from the previous season
Β» Sprinkle-led teams have earned an NCAA Tournament bid three straight seasons
Β» During those three seasons, Sprinkle's teams have lost just 11 conference games
Β» Sprinkle's teams have had at least three players earn all-conference honors in each of the last four seasons
Β» Sprinkle took a Utah State team that returned nine minutes from the previous season and led the Aggies to their first-ever outright Mountain West title
Β» Was named a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year finalist for his efforts at Utah State
Β» In year three at Montana State, Sprinkle led the Bobcats to their first NCAA bid in 26 years
Β» Sprinkle's Montana State followed with a 25-10 record in 2022-23, winning the Big Sky Tournament to earn a second-consecutive NCAA bid
Β» It was the first time Montana State had posted back-to-back 25-win seasons since 1927-29
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IT FEELS LIKE THE VERY FIRST TIME
Β» Danny Sprinkle is the 20th head coach in Washington men's basketball history
Β» Since legendary coach Hec Edmundson took over on Montlake for the 1920-21 season, eight of UW's 11 head coaches have posted a winning season
Β» In six of those 11 seasons under first-year head coaches, UW has posted a record of .600 or better
Β» Washington is 256-184 (.582) all-time under first-year head coaches
Β» Since Edmundson's first season, first-year head coaches at UW have posted a record of 194-152 (.561)
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HUSKY GREAT COMES HOME
Β» Former Husky standout Abdul Gaddy joins Danny Sprinkle's first Washington staff as director of player development
Β» Gaddy, who graduated in 2013, was a two-time captain for the Dawgs
Β» Gaddy ranks second all-time at Washington with 469 career assists
Β» Gaddy was a 2012 nominee for the Bob Cousy Award
Β» Gaddy played professionally in Italy, Latvia and Germany before playing four years in the NBA G League
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SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Β» Washington's 2025 high school recruiting class features three top-100 players in Nike Bundalo, JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew
Β» UW's class ranks ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten per On3
Β» Bundalo is rated as the 25 player nationally by ESPN, making him Washington's eighth-highest ranked signee ever
Β» Mandaquit is ranked No. 43 in the nation by On3, sitting as the No. 3 point guard
Β» Also a consensus four-star prospect, Muldrew is rated No. 99 by 247Sports
Follow @UW_MBB onΒ X/TwitterΒ andΒ InstagramΒ for the latest updates on Husky basketball.
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Related Links
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UW's first-ever Big Ten game will air on your television set on FS1 and on your radio dial on 93.3 KJR-FM. Links to live coverage are available on the schedule page at GoHuskies.com and at HuskyStats.com.
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OPENING TIPS
Β» UW welcomes UCLA to Seattle for the Huskies' first-ever Big Ten home game
Β» Washington is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Trojans
Β» The Huskies last defeated USC in 2020
Β» UW is coming off of a loss in its Big Ten opener at UCLA, ending the Huskies' first five-game winning streak since 2019
Β» UW is undefeated in five home games this season
Β» The Huskies have not win the first six home games of a season since 2018-19, when UW won its first 15 games in Seattle
Β» Washington has been a second half team, outscoring its opponents by 35 combined points
Β» 41.3 percent of Washington's points have been scored in the paint
Β» The Huskies are averaging 26.6 free throws per game, ranking 14th nationally, 2nd in the Big Ten
Β» UW ranks 28th in the nation at 5.3 blocks per game, tallying five or more five times
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ABOUT USC
Β» USC is in its first season under head coach Eric Musselman
Β» Musselman made the move to LA after five seasons at Arkansas and four seasons at Nevada
Β» Prior to Arkansas's 16-17 season a year ago, Musselman had led his teams to six-straight NCAA Tournament bids, including three-straight Sweet 16 appearances with the Razorbacks
Β» USC was picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten Preseason Media Poll
Β» The Trojans enter Saturday's contest with a 5-4 record
Β» USC is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, dropping its Big Ten opener Friday at home vs. Oregon, 68-60
Β» The Trojans boast the Big Ten's two leading active scorers in graduate transfers Josh Cohen (1,726 points) and Bryce Pope (1,629 points)
Β» USC returned just 1-of-10 letterwinners from the 2023-24 season
Β» The Trojans added 16 newcomers to this season's roster, including 16 transfers
Β» At 12.9 points per game, junior guard Desmond Claude leads a group of four Trojans averaging double-figure scoring, joining Chibuzo Agbo (12.1), Cohen (11.1) and Terrance Williams II (10.6)
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SERIES HISTORY - USC
Β» USC leads the all-time series with Washington 83-75
Β» The Trojans have won each of the last nine meetings between the two sides
Β» The Huskies last defeated USC in 2020, a 32-point win in Seattle
Β» Despite dropping the last three home games to USC, UW owns a 43-33 advantage over the Trojans in Seattle
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DESERT DAWGS TAKE ACRISURE TITLE
Β» Washington won the Acrisure Invitational, sweeping games over Colorado State (73-67) and Santa Clara (76-69)
Β» It was the second MTE championship in the last three seasons for UW, which claimed the 2022 Wooden Legacy title
Β» Great Osobor was named the event's MVP after averaging 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals
Β» Tyler Harris led the Dawgs over Colorado State, scoring 24 points on 9-of-13 from the field, knocking down a career-high five three pointers
Β» Harris had made just six three pointers all season prior to Thursday's win
Β» The win over CSU snapped a three-game losing streak against the Rams for UW, while the Huskies have beaten Santa Clara in four-straight
STAT STUFFER
Β» Great Osobor leads the Big Ten in average rebounding (10.1) and steals (2.88)
Β» The senior ranks eighth in the nation in SPG, sitting 19th in RPG
Β» Osobor has led the Huskies in rebounds and steals in 6-of-8 games
Β» No other player in the nation ranks in the top-50 in both steals and rebounds
Β» Osobor has also paced UW in scoring five times
Β» Osobor has attempted 80 free throws, ranking second in the nation
Β» In UW's season-opening win over UC Davis, Osobor became the first Power-6 player with at least 15 points, 17 rebounds and 6 steals since Blake Griffin in 2008
Β» Osobor is 1-of-4 players 6-8 or taller over the last 20 years to record 6+ steals in two games in a season (Corey Brewer, Marcus Dove, Cody Zeller)
Β» Osobor's seven steals against Seattle Pacific were the most by a Husky since Matisse Thybulle had three games with seven steals during the 2018-19 season
Β» Osobor is the only player in the nation with multiple 6+ steal games this season
Β» Osobor's 18 rebounds vs. UMass Lowell were the most by a Husky since Nate Roberts pulled down 19 vs. Northern Illinois in 2021
DAMAGE DOWN LOW
Β» 41.3 percent of Washington's points this season have been in the paint
Β» The Huskies have failed to score at least 30 points in the paint just twice
Β» UW has outscored its opponent in the paint in six games, including 5-of-6 wins
Β» Not counting free throws, Great Osobor has scored 62-of-72 (86.1%) of his points in the paint
SWAT TEAM
Β» UW ranks third the Big Ten and 28th in the nation at 5.3 blocks per game
Β» Tyler Harris' 1.88 blocks per game ranks 37th nationally, fourth in the Big Ten
Β» Harris is the first Husky with four or more blocks in back-to-back games (vs. Seattle Pacific and UMass Lowell) since Isaiah Stewart in 2019-20
Β» Harris is 1-of-10 players in the nation under 6-9 with multiple 4+ block games
RESTOCKING THE CUPBOARD
Β» Washington returns just four letterwinners from last season
Β» Wilhelm Breidenbach is the only returning Husky to play in more than 10 games a season ago
Β» UW returners started just 16 games in 2023-24, or 10 percent of Washington's total number of starts
Β» UW's 9.7% returning scoring is the 16th lowest in the nation
VET SCHOOL
Β» Washington players have appeared in 885 total collegiate games
Β» The Huskies own 524 career starts
Β» Four Huskies have played in triple digit games: Great Osobor (112), DJ Davis (123), Chris Conway (109) and Luis Kortright (111)Β» 10 of Washington's 16 players are upperclassmen
Β» UW's roster features six seniors and one graduate student
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MONTLAKE MAGIC
Β» Over the last 20+ seasons, Washington is 252-87 (.743) at Alaska Airlines Arena
Β» The Huskies have posted a winning record at home in 18 of those 20 seasons, registering double-digit home wins 17 times
Β» UW has posted at least a .600 home record in 14 of the past 20 seasons, including each of the last three seasons
Β» Washington has won at least 80% of its home games nine times over the last 20 seasons, including 90% or more four times
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PORTAL HOPPING
Β» Washington bolstered its roster with eight D1 players out of the transfer portal
Β» The eight additions via the transfer portal are the most in a single season for UW
Β» Four Huskies (DJ Davis, Tyree Ihenacho, Luis Kortright, Great Osobor) have transferred twice in their collegiate careers
Β» In total, 10 of UW's 16 players came to Washington via the transfer portal
Β» Washington has added at least three players through the transfer portal in each of the past four years
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
Β» Former Tacoma Curtis star Zoom Diallo is UW's highest-rated recruit since the Dawgs signed five-star prospects Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart in 2019
Β» Diallo is a consensus four-star prospect per 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals
Β» Diallo is Washington's ninth-ever McDonald's All-American and the fourth in the last five years, joining Jackson Grant (2021), McDaniels and Stewart (2019)
Β» The No. 1 player in Washington and 2022-23 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year, Diallo was rated the no. 3 point guard and no. 43 player in the country by ESPN
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THE GREAT ONE
Β» Great Osobor has spent his entire collegiate career with UW head coach Danny Sprinkle, following Sprinkle from Montana State and Utah State
Β» Osobor was named an AP Honorable Mention All-American in 2023-24
Β» Osobor was also tabbed the Mountain West Player and Newcomer of the Year
Β» Osobor earned Big Sky Top-Reserve honors as a sophomore at Montana State
Β» Osobor landed on the watchlists for the Karl Malone Award and Wooden Award
Β» Osobor was named a Preseason All-American by CBS's Jon Rothstein and ESPN's Jay Bilas
Β» Osobor was ranked at the No. 15 on CBS' Top 100 and 1 Best Players Entering the 2024-25 season
Β» Osobor was one of 10 players named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team
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FREE MONEY
Β» DJ Davis led the nation in free throw percentage in 2023-24 at 95.0 percent
Β» Davis was perfect from the charity stripe in 23-of-27 games in which he attempted at least one free throw
Β» Davis converted a career high 10 free throws twice last season, vs. SEMO (11/10) and vs. Texas Tech (11/30)
Β» Davis shot 86.5 percent from the free throw line over three seasons at UC Irvine, including 90.4 percent as a sophomore
Β» Davis owns an 88.8 percent free throw percentage for his career
Β» Davis has shot 100 percent on free throws for a game with at least five attempts 15 times in his career
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A B1G NEW ERA
Β» Washington enters its first season in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25
Β» The Big Ten received six bids to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, tied for third most of any conference
Β» UW was a founding member of what would eventually become the Pac-12 Conference, chartering the Pacific Coast Conference in 1915
Β» Washington also remained in the Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association until 1925
Β» Washington is 358-347 all-time against current Big Ten member institutions
Β» UW is 47-33 against Big Ten opponents not including Oregon, UCLA and USC
Β» Washington has played 14-of-17 fellow Big Ten Members
Β» UW has never faced Maryland, Penn State or Rutgers
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THE SPRINKLE EFFECT
Β» Teams in their first year under Danny Sprinkle have increased their win total from the previous season
Β» Sprinkle-led teams have earned an NCAA Tournament bid three straight seasons
Β» During those three seasons, Sprinkle's teams have lost just 11 conference games
Β» Sprinkle's teams have had at least three players earn all-conference honors in each of the last four seasons
Β» Sprinkle took a Utah State team that returned nine minutes from the previous season and led the Aggies to their first-ever outright Mountain West title
Β» Was named a Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year finalist for his efforts at Utah State
Β» In year three at Montana State, Sprinkle led the Bobcats to their first NCAA bid in 26 years
Β» Sprinkle's Montana State followed with a 25-10 record in 2022-23, winning the Big Sky Tournament to earn a second-consecutive NCAA bid
Β» It was the first time Montana State had posted back-to-back 25-win seasons since 1927-29
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IT FEELS LIKE THE VERY FIRST TIME
Β» Danny Sprinkle is the 20th head coach in Washington men's basketball history
Β» Since legendary coach Hec Edmundson took over on Montlake for the 1920-21 season, eight of UW's 11 head coaches have posted a winning season
Β» In six of those 11 seasons under first-year head coaches, UW has posted a record of .600 or better
Β» Washington is 256-184 (.582) all-time under first-year head coaches
Β» Since Edmundson's first season, first-year head coaches at UW have posted a record of 194-152 (.561)
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HUSKY GREAT COMES HOME
Β» Former Husky standout Abdul Gaddy joins Danny Sprinkle's first Washington staff as director of player development
Β» Gaddy, who graduated in 2013, was a two-time captain for the Dawgs
Β» Gaddy ranks second all-time at Washington with 469 career assists
Β» Gaddy was a 2012 nominee for the Bob Cousy Award
Β» Gaddy played professionally in Italy, Latvia and Germany before playing four years in the NBA G League
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SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Β» Washington's 2025 high school recruiting class features three top-100 players in Nike Bundalo, JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew
Β» UW's class ranks ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten per On3
Β» Bundalo is rated as the 25 player nationally by ESPN, making him Washington's eighth-highest ranked signee ever
Β» Mandaquit is ranked No. 43 in the nation by On3, sitting as the No. 3 point guard
Β» Also a consensus four-star prospect, Muldrew is rated No. 99 by 247Sports
Follow @UW_MBB onΒ X/TwitterΒ andΒ InstagramΒ for the latest updates on Husky basketball.
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Related Links
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