Hannes Steinbach, right, and Franck Kepnang high-five at midcourt after Washington beat Utah 74-65 on Dec. 29, 2025, at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
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By
Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Dawg Pack didn’t camp outside Alaska Airlines Arena in sleeping bags and tents — a storied tradition from a bygone era that preceded a big game — but Wednesday night will be unlike any other for Danny Sprinkle and the Washington men’s basketball team.
For starters, UW is expecting a capacity “Black Out” crowd of 9,268 — the first sellout since Sprinkle took over in 2024 — when the Huskies (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) face fourth-ranked Michigan (14-1, 4-1) for the 7:30 p.m. PT tipoff.
“Our guys haven’t seen this building sold out,” Sprinkle said. “I know they’re excited about that. School is back in session. Football is over. Now it’s basketball season.
“I’m sure they’ll be amped up. We’ll probably be anxious. Our first shot, who knows, it might go over the backboard. But I know they’ll be excited about it.”
There’s so much to savor in a much-anticipated matchup between the Huskies and Wolverines.
As many as 15 NBA scouts and front office personnel will be on hand to evaluate a game that includes potentially a half dozen pro prospects, notably UW’s Hannes Steinbach (18.4 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game) and UM’s Yaxel Lendeborg (14.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg).
Both are considered possible lottery picks in the 2026 NBA draft.
“There’s going to be times that they’ll be matched up,” said Sprinkle who noted the 6-foot-11, 220-pound Steinbach plays power forward while 6-9, 240-pound Lendeborg plays small forward. “Hannes is going to have to guard him when they go small, and they don’t really go small.
“It’ll be awesome. There’s going to be a lot of NBA talent on the floor. They have probably five guys that at some point will play in the NBA. And I feel like we have a couple guys too. A lot of talent on the floor and it’ll be exciting game.”
Washington is riding high after collecting an 81-74 upset win against Ohio State on Sunday, but Michigan presents an assortment of problems for the short-handed Huskies.
Sprinkle is concerned about curtailing a Wolverines offense that ranks second nationally among Division I teams while averaging 94.6 points and starts an imposing front line that includes 7-3 center Aday Mara, 6-9 forward Morez Johnson Jr. and Lendeborg.
The Wolverines lead the Big Ten in field-goal shooting (52.3%) and have six players averaging double-digit scoring.
“They’re so big and athletic. They can shoot the basketball, but just how they play as a team,” Sprinkle said when asked what makes Michigan dangerous offensively. “A lot of people have talent, but the way those guys are playing together, they create so many catch-and-shoot shots just because their ball movement’s so good.
“Very rarely do they have to take a contested shot because they can put you in so many predicaments defensively, to where they get two on the ball, and they’re great passers. So, somebody’s getting a wide-open shot and when you got that much talent on the offensive end, it’s hard to guard.”
Just ask Gonzaga, Auburn and Rutgers, who surrendered at least 100 points to Michigan during lopsided losses.
Still, the Wolverines aren’t perfect and they’re coming off a 91-88 defeat to Wisconsin in their last outing, which preceded a 74-72 win at Penn State.
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“We have to play the way we play,” Sprinkle said. “We can’t just go and change everything just because we’re playing Michigan. We have to execute. We have to take care of the basketball. We have to play through our bigs, and when our guards do get driving lanes, we have to take them. We have to make shots at a high level in order for us to be successful.”
The Huskies are also hoping to get an assist from UW fans, who are asked to wear black for a game dubbed ‘Dawgs After Dark.’
“We need Alaska Airlines Arena to be rocking,” Sprinkle said. “It’s got to be like back in the day. They (UW fans) have got to help us through the adversity times. When things aren’t going good they’ve got to help us come back.
“And when we are playing well, hopefully it affects Michigan the way it affects a lot of teams on the Big Ten on the road.”
Washington is 7-1 at home.
Notes
— It’s uncertain if senior Desmond Claude, who was benched on Sunday, will make his return Wednesday.Sprinkle said: “He’ll be on the team. Playing? I don’t know, we’ll see.”
Claude, who transferred from USC, missed the first four games of the season due to a sprained ankle before starting nine of the next 11 games.The 6-5 guard is fourth among UW players in scoring (14.5 points per game) and assists (23). He’s shooting 43% from the field, 31% on three-pointers and 87.2% on free throws.
— Washington won’t have injured center Lathan Sommerville (knee) and guard Jasir Rencher (undisclosed medical issue), but guard Wesley Yates III (wrist) and Jacob Ognacevic (ankle) are considered game-time decisions.
“I don’t know if they’ll play (Wednesday) night,” Sprinkle said. “I expect them to, but it’s any day now. They’re both feeling better and better.”
Percy Allen: pallen@seattletimes.com. Percy Allen is a sports reporter for The Seattle Times, where he writes about the University of Washington Huskies men’s and women’s basketball teams and the Seattle Storm.
