Huskies Head to Big Ten Tourney With Survivor Seven

Washington basketball team has just 7 scholarship players available for postseason run

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The University of Washington basketball team is heading to the Big Ten Tournament with just seven scholarship players available, a group they've dubbed the "Survivor Seven." The team has dealt with injuries and shooting slumps, and will be severely limited in substitutions and ability to overcome foul trouble. Despite the challenges, standout performances from players like Hannes Steinbach have kept the team competitive.

Why it matters

The Huskies' thin roster and injury issues highlight the challenges mid-major programs can face in the postseason, where depth and health are critical. Their ability to overcome these obstacles and make a run in the tournament could be an inspiring underdog story.

The details

The Huskies erased a 21-point deficit against Oregon in their final regular season game, only to lose by 5 in the closing seconds. Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III is in a major shooting slump, hitting just 3 of his last 27 3-point attempts. Senior guard Quimari Peterson was disappointed after fouling at the end of the Oregon game. Freshman Courtland Muldrew and Nikola Dzepina have been asked to play more minutes with the limited roster. Hannes Steinbach has been a bright spot, posting 22 points and 12 rebounds in the second half against Oregon.

  • The Huskies' final regular season game against Oregon was on March 5, 2026.
  • The Big Ten Tournament begins on March 11, 2026.

The players

Wesley Yates III

A sophomore guard for the University of Washington who is in a major shooting slump, hitting just 3 of his last 27 3-point attempts.

Quimari Peterson

A senior guard for the University of Washington who was disappointed after fouling at the end of the Oregon game.

Lathan Sommerville

A 6-foot-10 sophomore forward for the University of Washington who has never looked quite right since suffering a knee injury in December.

Courtland Muldrew

A freshman guard for the University of Washington who was asked to play a career-high 26 minutes in the loss to Oregon.

Hannes Steinbach

A standout player for the University of Washington who had 22 points and 12 rebounds in the second half against Oregon.

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What’s next

The Huskies will open the Big Ten Tournament on March 11, 2026 against USC.

The takeaway

The Huskies' ability to overcome their injury-depleted roster and make a run in the Big Ten Tournament despite the odds will be a true test of their resilience and determination as an underdog program.