Washington’s homecoming after a two-game road stretch was an eventful one, bouncing back from a pair of losses by downing Ohio State 81-74, while honoring Husky legend Christian Welp by retiring his No. 40 jersey during the halftime ceremony.
If you were looking for a sign of life from these Huskies, you found it Sunday.
“We played with an intent, urgency, and togetherness that it takes to win in this league,” Sprinkle said after the win. “It’s probably the best-executed game we’ve played since I’ve been here.”
To beat the Buckeyes, the Huskies had to survive an impressive scoring output from Bruce Thornton, who poured in 28 points on 9-17 shooting. Ohio State’s second leading scorer wasn’t far behind as Amare Bynum added 20 points.
Desmond Claude was previously away from the team for personal reasons. He did not play on Sunday (coach’s decision) despite being present. His absence meant UW would need Zoom Diallo to continue being an aggressive scorer, and he answered the call, leading the way with 22 points while Hannes Steinbach added 21.
Washington (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) isn’t where it wants to be. It’s no secret that the ongoing campaign has been disappointing thus far. But what awaits is a significant opportunity, and it began with beating Ohio State. The Huskies’ next three opponents are ranked #3 (Michigan), #12 (Michigan State), and #10 (Nebraska).
The weight of being in do-or-die mode in mid-January can be crushing. But desperation can bring out the best in teams; we see it all the time in March. Wednesday vs. Michigan will be a great indicator of how these Dawgs handle the pressure of chasing postseason hoops.