NCAAB Washington Huskies

NCAA Division: Division I

Conference: Pac-12

Past Conferences:  Pac-10, Pac-8, AAWU, PCC, Ind

City: Seattle, Washington

Stadium: Hec Edmundson Pavilion

NCAA Tournaments: 1943, 1948, 1951, 1953, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019

Championships:

         National Championships: 0

       Conference Titles: 3

Team History

The Washington Huskies men’s basketball has a more extended history than compared to some of the schools in the conference, since the team was introduced as an intercollegiate program in the 1895-96 season. The program went through many head coaching changes in the early years of its agenda because the school was searching for its identity.

The program’s direction was formed under Hec Edmundson’s leadership, and the venue is named after the legend. As a member of the Pacific Coast Conference, the Huskies showed signs of success. However, they did not receive any national recognition until the 1943 season. With a 24-7 record, they made it to the first NCAA Tournament. The Huskies would get a shot in the Elite 8 but fell to the Texas Longhorns and also lost the Regional Third Place Game to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Arthur McLarney took over the program during the 1948 season and stayed for three years. During that same period, the Huskies made it to the Elite 8 on two separate occasions during the 1948 and 1951 seasons, winning their respective Regional Third Place Games against Wyoming Cowboys and BYU Cougars.

When the odds were the greatest in 1952-53, the squad reached its peak. The team posted its highest winning percentage during a single season in the program’s history with a 28-3 record, made their only Final Four appearance, and controlled the pace from start to finish in their National 3rd Place Game against the LSU Tigers with coach Tippy Dye calling the plays. 

20+ Year Drought

With the season over, the Huskies’ program went through a 20-plus year drought in making the NCAA Tournament after joining the Athletic Association of Western Universities. The school would finally make it back in 1976  with coach Marv Harshman, but would come up short in the opening round against the Missouri Tigers in the opening round.

A bit of hope swayed their way in 1984 with a regular season record of 24-7; the Washington team stats showed as they were a six-seeded team in the West. The team took care of business against the Nevada Wolf Pack and had a nail-biting upset against the Duke Blue Devils before losing to the Dayton Flyers in the Sweet 16.

The next two appearances in the dance would end in the opening round in both 1985 and 1986. The program would go through an NCAA Tournament drought for 12 years before making a much-needed return in 1998. They would reach the Sweet 16 before losing a close one to the Miami (OH) RedHawks.

In 1999 and 2004, they lost two close games and missed the chance to advance. During the 2005 season, the school was the top seed in the West but fell in the Sweet 16. Their hopes of reaching the Sweet 16 would also be dashed the following year. Purdue Boilermakers escaped with a narrow victory in the second round in 2009, but they would miss their chance to advance.

In 2011 and 2019, the Huskies would punch their tickets to the dance. As a result, the teams would be unable to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. 

Mike Hopkins will be entering his fifth season as head coach, a solid start to the season. However, the Washington Huskies men’s basketball team has the second-to-last worst odds to win the conference, which translates to difficult NCAAB odds. 

All-Time Records

• Points Scored

  • Chris Welp 2,073

  • C.J. Wilcox 1,880

  • Andrew Andrews 1,812

• Rebounds

  • Jon Brockman 1,283

  • Doug Smart 1,051

  • Doug McClary 1,002

• Assists

  • Will Conroy 515

  • Abdul Gaddy 469

  • Isaiah Thomas 415

• Steals 

  • Matisse Thybulle 331

  • Jamie Booker 195

  • Justin Dentmon 180

FAQs

1. What Is the Highest Win Total in Program History?

The most recent 2004-05 season showcased the highest in the program’s history, with 29 wins and six losses. This team would make it to the NCAA-Regional-Semifinal.

2. Who Is the Winningest Coach in Program History?

The venue where the Washington Huskies men’s basketball team plays is named after Hec Edmundson. Through his legendary 27-year tenure, he was able to compile a record of 488-198. No other coach has reached the 300-win milestone in the school’s history.

3. Who is the greatest player in program history?

Isaiah Thomas is arguably the best basketball player in the school’s history; he was selected with the last pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He has faced incredible highs and has dealt with serious lows due to a gruesome injury he suffered. Since the injury, he has bounced around the league.