Entering the game with a new coaching staff led by Danny Sprinkle and preparing to enter the Big Ten, the University of Washington basketball team will begin with an 11-game non-conference schedule that includes a handful of exhibition games, a number of unfamiliar opponents and all of the Northwestern rivals except Gonzaga.
Sprinkle will introduce his team on Wednesday, November 5, at Alaska Airlines Arena against a Big West opponent, UC Davis; the Aggies have a record of 20-13 this season.
The Huskies will play at home against Northwestern teams Eastern Washington, Washington State and Seattle University within two weeks in December.
UW was originally scheduled to play at Gonzaga, but Sprinkle opted against it, apparently to ease a schedule that will be grueling enough with many away trips to the Big Ten.
After hosting NCAA Tournament seed Nevada last November and losing 83-78, UW now travels to Reno to complete a home-and-away series against Steve Alford’s team. The Wolf Pack finished 26-8 last season and beat Sprinkle’s Utah State team 77-63 in Logan, Utah, in February.
This is the second straight year the Huskies will face Colorado State in a tournament. Last season they lost 86-81 to the 25-11 NCAA-qualified Rams at the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational. This time the two teams will meet on Thanksgiving Day at the Acrisure Invitational in Palm Springs, California.
The Huskies have two Big Ten games starting in December. Among other things, they will host national runner-up Purdue in Seattle at a date not yet determined and will face another conference opponent on the road.
The Big Ten Tournament will be held March 12-16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
UW NON-CONFERENCE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
November 5, Tuesday — University of California in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
November 9, Saturday — in Nevada (Reno)Starting signal will be announced
November 13, Wednesday — Nicholls State in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
17 November, Sunday — Lowe’s University at the Alaska Airlines Arena, 7 p.m.
22 November, Friday — State of Alcorn in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
November 28, Thursday — State of Colorado at the Acrisure Invitational in Palm Springs, 3:30 p.m.
29 November, Friday — TCU or Santa Clara at the Acrisure Invitational, kick-off to be announced
December 10, Tuesday — Eastern Washington in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
December 18, Wednesday — State of Washington at the Alaska Airlines Arena, 7 p.m.
December 23, Monday — Seattle University in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
December 29, Sunday — ^ “New Jersey Institute of Tech”. in the Alaska Airlines Arena, kick-off to be announced
For the latest UW football and basketball news, visit si.com/college/washington
