SEATTLE — The rivalry between the University of Washington and Seattle University was supposed to resume during the 2009-10 season.
But because of a cancellation in the Huskies’ schedule and an opening in Seattle’s schedule, the two schools — a mere four miles apart — will renew their rivalry on March 3 in a game at Washington’s Bank of America Arena.
The matchup takes the spot of Washington’s game against Lehigh on Dec. 23 that was postponed due to a heavy snowstorm in the Seattle area. Lehigh was en route to Seattle, but its flight was diverted back to Newark International Airport and the schools could not find a suitable date to try and reschedule the game.
“Certainly it was unfortunate that we did not get a chance to reschedule the Lehigh game, but there is no question that this local rivalry game will excite the fans of the two schools and should pique the interest of basketball in the area,” Washington athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement.
Washington will finish the season with four consecutive home games. The Huskies will host Arizona State (Feb. 26) and Arizona (Feb. 28), then play Seattle and close the regular season on March 7 against Washington State.
It will be the first time Washington and Seattle have played since the 1979-80 season. Seattle is in the first year of its transition back to Division I after dropping from the highest level of college athletics in 1980. The schools have a five-year deal in place for annual matchups beginning with the 2009-10 season. Three of those games will be played on Washington’s campus, while the games in the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons will be Seattle home games at KeyArena.
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