On Friday, Nov. 7, the No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team (1-0) will head to the state capital to take on UMass Lowell (1-0) in one of three tune-up games before the non-conference schedule gets more difficult.
According to CT Insider’s David Borges, the first three games on the Huskies’ schedule are part of a multi-team event. UConn, New Haven, UMass Lowell and Columbia will play each other over the span of 10 days. This multi-team event, MTE for short, has financial benefits along with the ability for each program to play an extra game this season. There is no title for it, like the Connecticut Mutual Classic, but it is an MTE nonetheless.
Borges reported that the Huskies hope to play in more competitive MTEs in the future, unlike what UConn head coach Dan Hurley said after the dismal Maui Invitational trip last season. That can include the Players Era Festival, which is held annually in Las Vegas and benefits the programs through name, image and likeness (NIL) money.
The Huskies did not look like the No. 4 team in the country on Monday night at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, despite defeating New Haven 77-59. Connecticut led wire-to-wire but looked poor defensively as it allowed 23-made field goals from a team playing in its first Division I game in program history.
Alex Karaban led all scorers with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-10 shooting. The two-time national champion knocked down three 3-pointers as he sought to regain his form after struggling to find his groove since missing a crucial free throw at Villanova last season. His effort moved him to 26th in career points in program history, moving past UConn legend Toby Kimball.
Solo Ball added 18 points, making all seven of his free-throw attempts. The Leesburg, Va., native was far from perfect in his shooting, going 3-14 from the floor.
Jaylin Stewart had arguably his most efficient game, shooting 5-8 from the field for 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Huskies also looked uncharacteristic on offense, with just 11 assists on 27 made baskets. Malachi Smith came off the bench and led the team in that category with four in his UConn regular-season debut, but it was safe to say the team was not satisfied with its efforts in passing the ball.
On the bright side, the Huskies made those simple mistakes with two key starters out: Tarris Reed Jr. and Braylon Mullins.
Reed, still recovering from a hamstring injury, will be a game-time decision, as UConn head coach Dan Hurley does not want him to reaggravate the injury, especially with the challenging schedule ahead.
Mullins is dealing with an ankle injury and remains out for the time being, but all signs point toward him returning to the court in early December.
A key reserve remains out for the Huskies as newcomer Jacob Furphy continues to deal with a mild ankle sprain but should return sooner than Mullins.
UMass Lowell began the season with a non-Division I opponent in Rivier, throttling the team 107-55. The River Hawks were led by a 21-point, 13-rebound effort from forward Austin Green, who is in his first season with the team after spending last season at Texas State. He will provide a presence up front.
UMass Lowell shot 60% from the field and recorded 60 points in the paint.
UMass Lowell is expected to have a down year after losing Martin Somerville, last season’s America East Rookie of the Year, to Florida State in the offseason. The River Hawks only return one scholarship player who scored a point last season, the most notable change in the roster in head coach Pat Duquette’s tenure.
Despite low expectations, the America East Preseason Poll projects UMass Lowell to finish fourth in the conference, behind Vermont, Maine and UAlbany. Funnily enough, the River Hawks received a first-place vote from one of the league’s nine head coaches.
Darrel Yepdo is expected to be one of the key scorers for UMass Lowell this season. Along with Green, he is also a newcomer as he comes in from Saint Michael’s at the Division II level.
According to KenPom, the River Hawks boast the 222nd offense and 331st defense in terms of adjusted efficiency. Because UMass Lowell has not played a Division I opponent yet, there are no advanced statistics available.
There is not much history between UConn and UMass Lowell. This is just the third overall meeting between the two schools, with the Huskies taking home the first two wins.
The series began on Dec. 20, 2015, with an 88-79 win over the River Hawks at the XL Center in Hartford. Former Husky guard Rodney Purvis led the way with 28 points.
Nearly three years later, Connecticut defeated UMass Lowell, 97-75, at Gampel Pavilion on Nov. 27, 2018, year one of the Hurley era. Starting backcourt Christian Vital and Jalen Adams each notched 19 points, while Alterique Gilbert and Josh Carlton each had 15.
Hurley is 3-0 against UMass Lowell, with the first two meetings coming from his early years at Rhode Island.
Since the 2022-23 season, UConn is 20-0 against one-bid leagues, which includes the America East. Since the 2018-19 season, it is 43-1, with the lone loss being New Mexico State during the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Tip-off at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn., is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be streamed exclusively on Peacock.