Huskies Men's Basketball Faces Roster Overhaul After Disappointing Season

Transfers and NBA prospects leave UW with an uncertain future under coach Mike Sprinkle.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic state of the Huskies' men's basketball program, with overlapping geometric shapes in muted colors representing the team's struggles and uncertain path forward.The Huskies' men's basketball program faces an uncertain future as it navigates a period of roster upheaval and questions about the direction of the team.Seattle Today

The University of Washington men's basketball team is facing major roster turnover after a 16-17 season that fell well short of NCAA Tournament expectations. Key players like Zoom Diallo and JJ Mandaquit have already entered the transfer portal, while star forward Hannes Steinbach is likely headed to the NBA. With coach Mike Sprinkle's buyout reaching over $13 million, the Huskies are at a crossroads as they try to rebuild a competitive program in the challenging Big Ten conference.

Why it matters

UW basketball has struggled to maintain consistent success in recent years, with coaches Lorenzo Romar, Mike Hopkins, and now Sprinkle all failing to return the program to the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis. The current roster upheaval raises questions about Sprinkle's ability to build a winning culture and keep top talent in Seattle, especially with the added challenges of the NIL era.

The details

After a promising start to his tenure, Sprinkle's second season saw the Huskies take a major step back, with key injuries and a lack of on-court development hampering the team. Now, with Diallo and Mandaquit leaving and Steinbach likely turning pro, Sprinkle faces the daunting task of rebuilding the roster from scratch.

  • The Huskies' season ended in March with a loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament.
  • Diallo and Mandaquit have already entered the transfer portal in the weeks since the season concluded.
  • Steinbach is expected to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft in the coming months.

The players

Zoom Diallo

A starting guard who has entered the transfer portal after two seasons at UW.

JJ Mandaquit

A reserve guard who has also entered the transfer portal following the disappointing season.

Hannes Steinbach

The Huskies' leading scorer and rebounder, who is likely to turn pro after his standout junior campaign.

Mike Sprinkle

The Huskies' head coach, who is on the hot seat after two underwhelming seasons in Seattle.

Jen Cohen

The UW athletic director who hired Sprinkle and will have to decide his future.

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What they’re saying

“It's too early to say what the roster looks like for next season, but it does seem like the general idea of trying to build a 'talented' roster and hope it's enough isn't going to work at the UW in this new college sports environment.”

— Kirk DeGrasse, UW Dawg Pound Staff

“Husky hoops could get lost in the shuffle within the next two years if they don't get it together quickly.”

— Raymond Lucas Jr., UW Dawg Pound Staff

What’s next

The Huskies will need to aggressively recruit the transfer portal and high school prospects to rebuild their roster this offseason. The future of coach Mike Sprinkle's tenure will also be a major storyline to watch, with his hefty buyout potentially complicating any decision to part ways.

The takeaway

After years of inconsistency, the UW men's basketball program finds itself at a crossroads. The roster overhaul and uncertain future of the head coach raise doubts about the Huskies' ability to compete in the rugged Big Ten conference in the near future.