Can you believe this, Seattle? The Apple Cup, that historic men’s basketball showdown, is reportedly OFF for the 2026-27 regular season. According to a report from The Spokesman Review’s Greg Woods, the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars won’t be battling it out on the hardwood. This isn’t a minor schedule change; it’s the first time since *1917* these teams won’t clash in the regular season. A 109-year streak, wiped clean. My blood is boiling just thinking about it.
The Big Ten Move and The Exhibition Game That Doesn’t Count
So, what happened? It all goes back to the Huskies making that big jump from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten after the 2023-24 season. It felt like a lifetime ago, but the ripple effects are still hitting us hard. Instead of a full-blown rivalry game that counts, these in-state foes will only get an exhibition game in Seattle sometime this fall. An exhibition! It’s better than nothing, sure, but it’s not the same high-stakes, sweat-inducing matchup we’ve come to expect for over a century. This isn’t just about winning or losing; it’s about the tradition, the bragging rights, the soul of college basketball in the Emerald City. An exhibition just doesn’t carry that weight, does it?
What We’re Missing: Steinbach, Yates, and Coach Sprinkle’s Perfect Record
And let’s not forget what we’re losing out on. The Huskies have dominated this series, leading 189-111, and they’ve been on a roll, taking the last three matchups against the Cougars. Who could forget that last one? An 81-69 victory in Pullman, a sweet win on their home turf. Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach was an absolute force, racking up 14 points and 13 rebounds. The kid had a stellar season, so good the Charlotte Hornets snatched him up with the No. 14 overall pick in June’s NBA draft. And sophomore guard Wesley Yates? He lit up the scoreboard with 26 points and added 7 boards in that win. What a performance! Then there’s Coach Danny Sprinkle. The guy grew up a Husky, his dad played defensive back for UW in the 60s, even though he was born in Pullman. He’s got a perfect 2-0 record against WSU as coach. Now he’s gotta wait at least another year to try for another win against Wazzu. It’s a bummer, man, a real missed opportunity to keep that momentum rolling.
So, while we’re left scratching our heads about the Apple Cup, what’s next for the Huskies? Coach Sprinkle and the team haven’t locked down their full non-conference schedule for 2026-27 just yet. But we do know they’ve got a killer December matchup with Baylor right here in Seattle, plus a trip to the Maui Invitational in Hawaii. Those are big games, no doubt. But let’s be real, nothing truly replaces the Apple Cup in the regular season. We’ll show up for the exhibition, we’ll cheer our hearts out, because that’s what we do. But a part of Seattle hoops tradition is definitely taking a break, and it’s gonna feel weird.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply