For my column this week, I was going to make a preseason All-American team that only consists of opponents that the UConn men’s basketball team has/will face this season, especially with the loaded schedule the Huskies have. However, to show just how difficult the schedule is, I have listed every player that Connecticut faces that was named to a preseason watch list for a national honor, in order of who comes into the year with the most hype.
AJ Dybantsa, forward, BYU
Arguably the top freshman this year, one of the favorites for national player of the year.
Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
Like Dybantsa, a top freshman with the same ceiling.
Alex Condon, forward, Florida
He was a focal point of the national championship run last season and has All-American potential this season.
Zuby Ejiofor, forward, St. John’s
The reigning Big East Most Improved Player looks to bring St. John’s even more glory.
Richie Saunders, guard, BYU
The top returner from last year’s team, Saunders serves as the lead guard in a stacked backcourt.
Koa Peat, forward, Arizona
The five-star freshman had an incredible debut against the defending national champions.
Boogie Fland, guard, Florida
Fland is looking for a breakout sophomore year after transferring from Arkansas.
Thomas Haugh, forward, Florida
Another national champion who was one of Florida’s best players in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Tomislav Ivišić, center, Illinois
He is one of the top stretch-bigs in the country but dealt with injuries for part of last season.
Owen Freeman, forward, Creighton
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year is now in Omaha, where he looks to be Creighton’s next star.
Xaivian Lee, guard, Florida
Todd Golden got his Walter Clayton Jr. replacement in the two-time first-team All-Ivy League point guard from Princeton.
Bryce Hopkins, forward, St. John’s
Can he finally stay healthy? A healthy Bryce Hopkins is scary to go up against.
Flory Bidunga, forward, Kansas
Hunter Dickinson’s successor will have to fill in some massive shoes for the Jayhawks.
Josh Dix, guard, Creighton
Dix had his breakout season at Iowa last year, averaging 14.4 points per game. With shoes to fill in Creighton’s backcourt, expect the former Hawkeye to be one of the top guards in the Big East.
Robert Wright III, guard, BYU
Remember when I said BYU’s backcourt was loaded? Wright was a talented freshman at Baylor, averaging 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game during the 2024-25 season.
Andrej Stojaković, guard, Illinois
At his third school in his collegiate career, Stojaković was one of the top players in the transfer portal. He had his best season last year at California, averaging 17.9 points per game.
Kylan Boswell, guard, Illinois
Illinois has a loaded backcourt as well, with Boswell paired alongside Stojaković. The former Arizona Wildcat is in his second season with the Fighting Illini, coming off a season where he averaged 12.3 points per game.
Ian Jackson, guard, St. John’s
Jackson is coming off his freshman season at North Carolina, averaging 11.9 points per game. With a fresh start with the Red Storm, maybe this is the season the former McDonald’s All-American breaks out.
Jason Edwards, guard, Providence
Not enough people are talking about Edwards. Even though he is at his fifth school in as many years (the past two have been at the Division I level: North Texas and Vanderbilt), he is averaging 18.1 points per game for his career. Expect similar numbers with the Friars this season.
Dailyn Swain, guard, Texas
Swain had a memorable two seasons at Xavier and came to Texas alongside head coach Sean Miller. He was one of the most improved players in the Big East last season, averaging 11 points per game after averaging 4.6 points per game the season before.
Brayden Burries, guard, Arizona
One of the top recruits in his class, Burries had a decorated high school career and is one of the more under-the-radar freshmen in college basketball this year, despite being a five-star recruit.
When do the Huskies play these teams:
BYU (in Boston on Nov. 15, 7 p.m. on FOX)
Arizona (in Storrs, Conn. on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. on FS1)
Illinois (at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. on FOX)
Kansas (at Lawrence, Kan. on Dec. 2, 9 p.m. on ESPN2)
Florida (at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9, 9 p.m. on ESPN)
Texas (in Hartford, Conn. on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. on FOX)
Providence (in Providence, R.I. on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. on Peacock; in Storrs, Conn. on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. on TNT and truTV)
Creighton (in Omaha, Neb. on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. on FOX; in Storrs, Conn. on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. on TNT)
St. John’s (at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. on FOX; in Hartford, Conn. on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. on Peacock)