The Washington Huskies entered the 2026 Big Ten season with a clear mandate to rebound after a 16‑17 record that left them outside the NCAA Tournament. A year ago the team posted a 7‑13 conference slate, finishing just shy of the tournament bracket and prompting a hard look at the roster.
A reshaping of the roster
The departure of top scorer Hannes Steinbach, who was selected 14th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the recent draft, created a sizable void in the paint. Joining him on the exit list was Zoom Diallo, the second‑leading scorer who opted to transfer to Kentucky, further thinning the backcourt.
Returning guard Wesley Yates III, who averaged just under 13 points per game last season, will anchor the lineup alongside newcomer Ryan Beasley, a 5‑10 point guard from San Francisco who posted 13.6 points and 4 assists in his lone starter season. Adding depth at forward, senior LeJuan Watts, a transfer from Texas Tech, brings a 37 percent three‑point career mark and a rebounding presence that should help diversify the offense.
A tentative schedule and early expectations
The schedule promises two meetings with the Oregon Ducks, one at home and one on the road, though the full conference slate remains a work in progress. Early non‑conference games are expected to serve as experiments in chemistry as the coaching staff evaluates lineups and rotations.
If the early experiments prove successful, the Huskies could see a marked improvement in conference play, turning the lessons of a missed tournament into a springboard for a deeper postseason run.