The No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team enters the regular season in the preseason top ten for the third year in a row, as the team looks to return to national championship glory.
The journey begins at Gampel Pavilion on Monday night, when the Huskies welcome the New Haven Chargers to Storrs, Conn. It will be the Chargers’ first Division I contest since the team joined the Northeast Conference over the summer, moving up from Division II. New Haven went 12-17 last season in the Northeast 10 Conference
“We’ve been practicing since June,” head coach Dan Hurley said. “The focus for us has been playing with force, physicality and assertiveness. We’ve already played high-level opponents, so this won’t feel like opening night for us.”
The Huskies had each of their presumed starters this year named to the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Preseason Season Starting 5 Watchlist last week. Silas Demary Jr., Solo Ball, Braylon Mullins, Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. were all recognized as one of the best players at their respective positions in the country.
“I think that just shows how deep our team is,” Ball said. “I mean, from one through five, and when you go on the bench, there’s no drop off, and it just shows how talented we are as a group.”
UConn wrapped up a successful preseason exhibition slate on Tuesday night, taking down No. 22 Michigan State 76-69. They defeated Boston College earlier in October at the Hall of Fame Exhibition at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Karaban stood out for the Huskies, averaging 17.5 points over the two games. He was put on the Division I Player of the Year Watchlist by the National Association of Basketball Coaches on Thursday, joining 19 other players.
The exhibitions were really valuable,” Hurley said. “It was good to get that home game experience. We’re planning to keep playing high-level exhibition opponents.”
Reed was selected for the Preseason All-Big East First Team alongside Karaban and Ball. The Huskies starting center did not participate in the preseason scrimmages due to a hamstring injury.
Hurley stated on Sunday that Reed would be a gametime decision for Monday’s season opener.
“Tarris has been practicing for a few days now, and we’ll see where he’s at,” Hurley said. “He’s moving around better. We just want to be smart with him early.”
UConn will also be without two of its freshmen, Braylon Mullins and Jacob Furphy, who are both dealing with sprained ankles.
Mullins’ injury was released on Oct. 24, and had an initial six-week recovery time, while Hurley announced Furphy’s injury Sunday, which he described as a “freak thing,” but did not give an official timeline.
The Chargers brought in 13 new players, returning just one from last year’s roster, sophomore Najimi George. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 8.1 points per game in his freshman season.
“With so many newer guys, to have someone like him in our program to set the competitive standard is more powerful and beneficial than a coach talking about it on a daily basis,” New Haven head coach Ted Hotaling said to CT Insider’s Roger Cleveland.
George and New Haven will get its first taste of Division I basketball against one of the most storied programs in the history of the sport.
“It’s great for the state, especially with losing Hartford,” Hurley said. “To have another team competing at the Division I level, bringing excitement and opportunity here, it’s awesome to see.”
The tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.