Gone are the days of easy travel schedules as Washington prepares for its first quest through the Big Ten as a conference member. The change in locations and level of competition has created an exciting but challenging slate of games as we enter winter.
The new conference foes and stretches of road games make the upcoming campaign particularly interesting. Four instances exist where the Huskies have consecutive games in a state not named Washington. How head coach Danny Sprinkle and the staff handle this will significantly affect how the season progresses. The 2024 campaign is like a watered-down version of what the NBA deals with regarding miles traveled, time away from home, and adjusting to time zones. Unlike the NBA, players must juggle keeping their grades in check.
As the upcoming campaign nears, below is a look at the four instances mentioned above, along with excitement and difficulty ranking compared to the other three.
Acrisure Invitational
Nov. 28: vs. Colorado State in Palm Springs
Nov. 29: vs. Santa Clara or TCU in Palm Springs
Dec. 3: UCLA
Excitement ranking: 4
Difficulty meter: 2
Washington battling UCLA in any sport is a tale as old as time and will be nothing new despite the Big Ten logos on the Pasadena hardwood and jerseys of both squads. The challenge, though, is daunting. UCLA may be the best team in the Big Ten and is a legit contender to be the last team standing when March Madness unfolds many months from now. That game is just days after a duel with Colorado State and Santa Clara or TCU. Santa Clara went 20-13 last season, and TCU plays in the nation’s toughest conference.
Washington will have its work cut out, but it should have many fans in attendance for the Acrisure Invitational In Palm Springs. UCLA is the only of the three that is an actual road game, dipping the excitement ranking.
Jan. 9: Michigan State
Jan. 12: Michigan
Excitement ranking: 1
Difficulty meter: 1
So you want to play in the Big Ten, huh? Well, buckle up. Like in football, the Big Ten has environments that get wild and the Huskies will likely be forced to block out the noise twice in three days when making trips to battle Michigan State in East Lansing and Michigan in Ann Arbor. Both teams would surprise absolutely nobody by ending up in the NCAA Tournament, which heightens the difficulty of this road trip. Whether it’s the legendary Tom Izzo or Dusty May, who turned Florida Atlantic into a bully, Huskies head coach Danny Sprinkle will have his hands full. Historically, there arguably isn’t a tougher road trip in the conference than playing at Michigan and Michigan State.
If the Huskies are in the running for a ticket to the dance, road wins here would be massive.
Feb. 12: Ohio State
Feb. 15: Penn State
Excitement ranking: 3
Difficulty meter: 4
Ohio State and Penn State are football schools, but don’t overlook either on the hardwood. Ohio State is known to be a tough place to play when the team is playing quality hoops. Penn State is looking to re-discover success as it enters its second season without ex-head coach Micah Shrewsberry, who relocated to Notre Dame after finding rare success in Happy Valley.
This isn’t as tough as the stretch of games in Michigan, but it isn’t a cakewalk. Those don’t exist in the Big Ten.
Feb. 22: Iowa City
Feb. 25: Wisconsin
Excitement ranking: 2
Difficulty meter: 3
Wisconsin’s claim to fame in men’s basketball is turning 2012’s Kentucky squad into one of the greatest teams to never win a national championship by toppling them in the tournament finale. Iowa’s is sharing the same building with WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark.
That isn’t a shot; seeing Iowa’s logo without thinking of Clark’s greatness is hard.
She won’t be launching three-pointers against the Huskies, but Frank McCraffey’s squad will play a tough brand of basketball as usual; the same goes for Greg Gard. Expect physical basketball and excellent shot selection.