After the UConn men’s basketball team generated plenty of national buzz following the release of its non-conference slate, it has since taken a few weeks for the remainder of the schedule take shape. On Thursday, the Huskies’ conference block became public, with plenty of big games to note in what will surely be another exciting year of Big East action.
The schedule features 20 games, with an even split of 10 home and away matchups, each. Of the 10 home games, five will be played at Gampel Pavilion and five at the PeoplesBank Arena. All tip-off times have yet to be revealed.
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Coming off their final non-conference game against Texas at home Dec. 12, the Huskies will kick off Big East play Dec. 16 at the PeoplesBank Arena in a matchup with the Butler Bulldogs. UConn will go on the road to DePaul for its second conference game before taking a 10-day break for the holiday season. On New Year’s Eve, UConn will return to action to play Xavier on the road, hoping to get revenge at the Cintas Center after falling to the Musketeers in Ohio last year.
In January, the Huskies will host Marquette at Gampel Pavilion on the fourth. On Jan. 7, they hit the road for the third time in their first five conference games to take on Providence before returning home to host DePaul on Jan. 10. Seton Hall hosts the Huskies on Jan. 13, as will Georgetown four days later. Two home games follow in Villanova (Jan. 24) and Providence (Jan. 27) before UConn get its first shot at Creighton on Jan. 31. Remember the last time UConn played the Blue Jays at the CHI Health Center Omaha?
After Xavier comes to town Feb. 3, UConn will get its first taste of this upcoming season’s St. John’s roster under Rick Pitino, with the two squaring off at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6 in what will be one of the most highly-anticipated games of the season, not to mention in front of a national crowd. On Feb. 11, the Huskies go on the road to play Butler before coming home for two games at Gampel, first against Georgetown (Feb. 14) and second against Creighton (Feb. 18).
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The Huskies round out the month on the road at Villanova on Feb. 21 before welcoming St. John’s to the PeoplesBank Arena on Feb. 25. UConn plays its penultimate Big East game Feb. 28 before its first — of hopefully many — in March on the road at Marquette. The last time UConn went to Wisconsin, they stole a win over the then-No.9 Golden Eagles in early February of last year.
UConn will have its work cut out for itself in the non-conference schedule, set to face numerous prestigious programs all with deep NCAA tournament aspirations come March. And yet, its true identity will be revealed in the Big East slate, as the team looks to bounce back from a down year for Dan Hurley and the program’s standards in 2024-25.