Washington Huskies at Alaska Airlines Arena
Up to 9,268 fans can enjoy a men's basketball game at Alaska Airlines Arena, located at the Hec Edmundson Pavilion, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Hec Ed was originally built in 1927, with renovations completed in 2000. The multipurpose arena also serves as home base to the Huskies women's basketball team, as well as the school's gymnastics and volleyball programs. The Huskies official student section is called The Dawg Pack.
Washington Huskies Men's Basketball History
UW men's basketball dates back to 1895. The program competed as an independent until 1915 then joined the Pacific Coast Conference for the 1915-16 and 1916-17 seasons before returning to independent status for 1917-18. Washington had a long run in the PCC from 1918 to 1959 before departing for the Athletic Association of Western Universities from 1959 to 1968.
Since 1968, the Huskies have been in what has been the Pac-8, Pac-10 and now Pac-12.
In the program's first century of existence, Hec Edmundson (for whom the pavilion is named) was the all-time winningest head coach, with 488-195 spanning from 1920 to 1947. Lorenzo Romar, who led the team from 2003 to 2017, notably was 298-196 overall, with six trips to the NCAA tournament. Romar also played for the Huskies from 1978 to 1980 before playing in the NBA for five seasons. Mike Hopkins took over for Romar as head coach of the Huskies in 2017.
Washington has been a consistent pipeline to the NBA. Markelle Fultz became the first Husky drafted No. 1 overall when the Philadelphia 76ers selected him in 2017. Prior to Fultz, other notable players taken in the first round out of UW include Chris Welp (16th overall in 1987), Nate Robinson (21st overall in 2005), Spencer Hawes (10th overall in 2007), Terrence Ross (eighth overall in 2012), Marquese Chriss (eighth overall in 2016), Dejounte Murray (29th overall in 2016) and Matisse Thybulle (20th overall in 2019). All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas was taken in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft.
Washington sports teams were originally nicknamed the Sun Dodgers until the mascot was switched to the Huskies in 1922.
The Huskies have played against the cross-state rival Washington State Cougars since 1910. The Gonzaga Bulldogs — located in Spokane, Washington — and Oregon Ducks are also considered rivals.
