The History and Rivalry of Washington Huskies and Seattle Pacific Falcons Basketball
A Tale of Two Teams in the Emerald City
The Washington Huskies and Seattle Pacific Falcons are two of the most storied college basketball programs in the Pacific Northwest. The Huskies, a member of the Pac-12 Conference, have won two national championships and 15 conference titles. The Falcons, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 18 conference titles. The two schools are located just a few miles apart in Seattle, and their rivalry is one of the most passionate in college basketball.
The Early Years
The Washington Huskies men's basketball program was founded in 1919. The team played its first game on December 6, 1919, against the Seattle YMCA. The Huskies won the game, 22-18. The Seattle Pacific Falcons men's basketball program was founded in 1923. The team played its first game on December 12, 1923, against the University of Washington. The Falcons lost the game, 35-22.
The Rivalry Heats Up
The rivalry between the Washington Huskies and Seattle Pacific Falcons began to heat up in the 1950s. The two teams met for the first time in the NCAA Tournament in 1953. The Huskies won the game, 74-63. The two teams met again in the NCAA Tournament in 1958. The Falcons won the game, 81-78. The rivalry between the two teams has continued to be competitive over the years. The two teams have met 100 times, with the Huskies holding a 55-45 advantage.
Recent Years
In recent years, the Washington Huskies have been the more successful team. The Huskies have won the Pac-12 Conference championship four times in the past 10 years. The Falcons have won the Western Athletic Conference championship once in the past 10 years. The two teams met in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. The Huskies won the game, 84-71.
The Future of the Rivalry
The rivalry between the Washington Huskies and Seattle Pacific Falcons is one of the most passionate in college basketball. The two teams are located just a few miles apart in Seattle, and their fans are passionate about their teams. The rivalry is sure to continue to be competitive for many years to come.