Gonzaga and Washington to Renew Rivalry in 2016

After years of not playing, the two premier basketball programs in the state of Washington will matchup annually once again.

The Washington Huskies announced today that the University of Washington and Gonzaga will renew their basketball series, starting in 2016-2017. The series between the two cross-state rivals was on a 10 year hiatus.

It is publically unknown why the series stopped in the first place, but many speculate some foul play in the recruitment of former Gonzaga forward Josh Heytvelt. It is safe to say that the relationship between Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar is strained.

Per Tim Booth, Washington and Gonzaga agreed to a four year series, which will alternate locations between Seattle and Spokane. The date and whether it will be at the Alaska Airlines Arena or the McCarthey Athletic Center to kick off the series is to be determined.

Based on the reactions via twitter, many are excited about the series and the rivalry being renewed. Although Washington leads the head-to-head series 29-14, Gonzaga won eight out of the last 10 games between 1997 and 2006, when the series came to a halt.

However, with Washington recruiting the way they have been, there is no reason to think the series can be more competetive. After Few, Romar and their respective universities have buried the hatchet after all these years, one would hope the fans are entertained with a fun and exciting in-state rivalry.