Washington to Host Colgate in Season Opener
The Huskies will begin their 2026-27 basketball season against Colgate on November 2 in Seattle.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Basketball
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Washington hosts Colgate for the season opener on November 2, 2026. The Huskies look to improve upon a 16-17 record from last season.
Why it matters
The matchup highlights the roster turnover at both programs, as both teams navigate the evolving landscape of player transfers and NIL funding. Washington enters the contest having spent $5-7 million on name, image and likeness funding.
Washington finished last season with a 16-17 record, while Colgate concluded their campaign at 18-15. Washington currently reports $5-7 million in NIL funding expenditure.
The players
Wesley Yates III
He is one of the few players returning from Washington's starting roster last season.
Lathan Sommerville
He is returning to the Washington squad as a key member of the roster from the previous season.
Andrew Alekseyenko
He previously earned the Patriot League rookie of the year title while averaging 14.8 points per game.
Isaiah Skinn
He is a new transfer addition to the Colgate basketball program.
The details
Washington returns only Wesley Yates III and Lathan Sommerville from last year's starting roster following multiple transfers to Kentucky and Arizona. Colgate enters with roster additions including transfer Isaiah Skinn and first-year guards Kingston McCoy and Jayden Harrington.
Timeline
Steele Venters began his career as a walk-on during the 2019-20 season.
Andrew Alekseyenko was named Patriot League rookie of the year for the 2025-26 season.
Washington hosts Colgate for the season opener on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This game marks a pivotal test for Washington's new roster composition following significant departures through the transfer portal. It establishes how well smaller-budget programs like Colgate can compete against larger institutions in an era defined by the NCAA Name, Image and Likeness policy.
The season opener will serve as the first look at Washington's new transfer recruits, including LeJuan Watts and Steele Venters. Fans can monitor whether this new rotation can effectively replace the production of former players like Hannes Steinbach.
The takeaway
The game provides an early indicator of how roster continuity impacts team performance early in the season. Success for both programs will likely depend on how quickly new transfers can integrate into their respective team schemes.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming season, check the Basketball page for updates.
Live Poll
Should college basketball programs prioritize high NIL spending to stay competitive with other elite teams?
