The Washington Huskies Men's Basketball 2025-26

The recent season of the Washington Huskies was a difficult one.  I am sure everyone 

in the program wanted more success than

what happened. 

The Huskies were riddled with injuries 

and they played in the tough Big Ten

Conference.  The conference ended up 

with nine teams going to the NCAA tournament. Michigan who won the

regular season was a number one 

seed in the tournament. Nebraska was

the unsung team in the conference 

now going to the sweet sixteen. They

had never won a game in the tournament 

in the history of their program. 

German born freshman Hannes Steinbach 

led the Huskies in scoring and rebounding.

Without him the Huskies would have had

less wins. The Huskies had conference 

record of 7-13 tied with USC for 12th 

place. The Huskies actually beat USC

twice in the regular season and again 

in the Big Ten Tournament. They lost

to Wisconsin who made the  NCAA tournament however only by three points

in the  Big Ten Tournament. 

When the Big Ten Tournament happened 

the Huskies had only seven healthy  scholarship players.  The Huskies likely 

lose Steinbach to the NBA and Quimari Peterson who is a senior.  Peterson 

started the season coming off the bench 

however with injuries he had to go into 

the starting lineup. Both of these guys

the Huskies will have to look into the

transfer portal to replace.

Zoom Diallo and Wesley Yates are

the two next important players next

to Steinbach. They both will be juniors

next season so they likely take another

step forward.  

My grade for the Huskies would be 

incomplete since injuries were not 

allowed to see how good the team was.

In the months ahead we will hear 

about at least two new new players 

coming in for significant playing 

times and a freshman or two as

well. Go Dawgs!

Cubs Beat the Mariners Saturday Night

The Cubs beat the Mariners 7-1.

George Kirby started and pitched

well. Likely he will pitch game 

two the regular season.

Kirby went five and one-third 

innings give up six hits and one

run in the first inning. Gabe Speier 

came in and struggled giving up

three runs on four hits including

a home run. Eduardo Bazardo 

pitched the seventh inning giving

up one hit and no runs. It was

minor leaguers who went the 

rest of the way.

News came out Saturday that

Colt Emerson is being sent

down  to start the season with

triple A Tacoma. At some 

some point of the season we

will see Emerson in a Mariners 

uniform. 

It will be interesting what other 

moved will be made. Will JP

start the season of go on the 

injury list. The Mariners likely

go with five infielders and

six outfielders/db. Go M's. 

Gonzaga's Season Ends

Texas who upset BYU on Thursday 

has now beaten the Zags 74-68.

The game was close all the way.

Texas now goes to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Zags were hoping to go to

the final four at least however Texas 

been hot recently. Had the Zags had

Braden Huff it might have been 

another story.

Graham Ike a seniored the Zags with

25 points making 10 of 22 from the

field. Texas did a good job on him

where he had only three rebounds.

Jalen Warley was the only other 

one to score in double figures. 

with ten points. 

Braden Huff will be a senior next

season and the main big man. 

The Zags will have to find another

one. They are good with returnees 

at guards however the front court

will need help. 

We will see in the months ahead 

who comes to the Zags. 

Mariners Crush Guardians

Friday night the Mariners best offense 

output of spring training against the

Cleveland Guardians who they open

against next Thursday of the regular 

season  winning 20-8.

The Guardians scored first with two

runs in the first inning. Jose Ramirez 

hit a two run homer off of minor 

league starter Gabe Mosser.  

The Mariners had ten runs scored in

the second inning beginning with

a home run by Cole Young.  Brendan 

Donovan hit a double scoring two 

more runs. Dominic Canzone who 

return from WBC playing for Italy 

hit a grand slam as well in the 

second inning.

At this moment we are not sure 

that JP Crawford will start the

season so the Mariners started 

Cole Young at shortstop and Leo

Rivas at second base. Young

had a great game hitting a double

and a second home run.  Young

and Canzone each had five this.

Young also scored four times.

The likelihood is if JP doesn't 

start the season Rivas would be

at short and Young at second but

the Mariners wanted to see how

Young look at short too.

Victor Robles who had struggled 

at the plate during spring had 

four hits including a home run

and driving in four runs. Julio

had three hits including a home

run.  Every player who started 

had at least one hit in the game.

The Mariners used four relievers 

who likely will be in the bullpen.

With three games left in spring

training they may get one more

appearance.  The last game will

be on Monday against the Padres

in Peoria. The game will start at

12:10 pm then the M's will fly

to Seattle.   

It was announced that  Logan 

Gilbert will start the opener 

on Thursday. The Mariners 

play Saturday night  against

the Chicago Cubs. It is a night

game because it is hot weather 

in the Phoenix Arizona area. 

Not known yet who will start 

the game though likely the

one who will follow Gilbert. 

By the way Gilbert did pitch 

on Friday in another game.

The Mariners didn't want to

see him against the Guardians 

in his final tuneup. Go M's. 

Look At the Washington State Cougars Men's Basketball

This last season for the Cougars wasn't 

a good one on men basketball. They

ended up with placing eighth in the

West Coast Conference with a record

of 7-11 and an overall 12-20 record. 

The worst was they had a 1-11 record 

on the road.

Next season the Cougars will be joined

up in the new Pac-12. Gonzaga should

be favored to win. News  came out that 

the Cougars have one of the worst 

budgets in the conference for men's 

basketball. I expect much of the athletic 

program budgets go to the football 

team. 

The world of NIL and the transfer portal 

it will be interesting to see how the 
Cougars end up doing.  Most of the

teams are coming over from the

Mountain West. Generally they do well

in college basketball so hopefully can

be a competitive conference with the

Cougars included. 

We will see over the months ahead 

who returns to the Cougars and who

makes up their squad. Go Cougs!

Mariners Win Thursday Night

The Seattle Mariners have a week 

until the season begins.  The two

main questions will Bryce Miller 

be in the starting rotation and

JP Crawford start at shortstop.

If not who will be on the roster

to take their spots.

The Mariners beat the A's 6-4.

The Mariners used minor league 

pitchers like using a bullpen 

only.  The A's scored first with

three runs in the third inning then

the Mariners scored all six of

their runs in the seventh inning. 

A's scored their last run in the 8th.

The scoring for the  Mariners  began

with Randy Arozarena hit a single 

to drive in the first run. Ryan Bliss

hit a single to drive in two runs.

 Cal back for his first game after

the WBC hit a double to drive in 

the last three runs. He was at dh 

while Mitch Garver was catching.

Whether he is the backup catcher 

or not to start the season we will

see. Go M's.

In the NCAA tournament Gonzaga 

beat Kennesaw State 73-64. It

wasn't an easy game and the Zags

could have been upset. Kennesaw 

was up by 13 points in the first

half before the Zags went on a 10-0

run.  The Zags were able to get a

ten run lead before the end of the

game. Kennesaw became very

physical. Zags Graham Ike was

charge for a fragrent foul where

Kennesaw made two free throws 

and a field goal to make it real 

interesting. I am not sure how

Graham was charged with a

fragrant foul when a defender 

came over to double team him. 

After the game Zags head coach

Mark Few said it was the defense 

that helped them to win. This was

how it was when they lost Braden 

Huff for the season.  The Zags 

take on Texas who upset BYU

in the game before there's.

It was a similar game as theirs

where Texas built a large lead 

the only difference BYU wasn't 

able to take a lead though it

did become close. This game

will take place on Saturday.

The winner will then go into

the sweet sixteen. Go Zags. 

Emerson Hancock Starts Mariners Beat Brewers

Emerson Hancock went three and two-thirds 

innings. His starts stats don't look great

since he gave up three runs however he

didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

The rest of the pitching came from minor

leaguers. 

Brendan Donovan led off the game 

with a home run. Luke Raley who 

continues hot during the spring

hit a three run homer in the third 

inning. In the 5th Raley hit a double

to drive in another run. Randy Arozarena 

hit a home run scoring him and Raley.

Tyler Black was the Brewers offense

driving a run in the 2nd inning with 

a sacrifice fly and in the 4th  a triple

driving two runs.  

Final Mariners 7 Brewer 3

The Mariners play a night game on

Thursday against the A's. The Mariners 

isn't known yet. 

Julio Rodriguez was in the lineup 

however had no hits.

Go M's 

A lot of Mariners fans are upset that 

 Cal Raleigh didn't start or make an

appearance in the loss to Venezuela 

Tuesday night.  You would have thought 

he at least pinch hit at some point.

 Cal shown he is a clutch pinch hitter 

Will this fuel Cal in the regular season.