UConn is losing key pieces from its national-title winning team such as Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson and Adama Sanogo, but don’t fall into the trap of calling the 2023-24 season a rebuilding year for the Huskies. With several key contributors from last season back and poised to thrive in bigger roles, coach Dan Hurley’s squad is likely to compete on the national stage yet again.
The arrival of the nation’s No. 6 signing class, headlined by five-star guard Stephon Castle, and the inbound transfer of elite 3-point shooter Cam Spencer also provide reason for optimism that there won’t be a significant drop-off for the Huskies.
Returning to anchor the 2023-24 squad are fifth-year senior point guard Tristen Newton, redshirt sophomore power forward Alex Karaban and sophomore center Donovan Clingan. Of the trio, Clingan is poised for the most-significant breakout after outperforming his No. 73 overall prospect ranking as a true freshman while backing up Sanogo.
One particularly interesting wild card on the Huskies’ roster is Samson Johnson, a third-year member of the program who was on track for a key role last season prior to an early-season injury. Hurley has been high on Johnson since before his arrival, and he could provide a spark for UConn in the front court in the season ahead.
As college basketball’s offseason player movement cycle slows to a trickle, it’s time to start breaking down the rosters of the sport’s top programs. For this installment, we’re taking a look at UConn and trying to decipher what the Huskies’ lineup could look like when the season begins.
The reigning national champion UConn Huskies are bringing back one of the best big men in the country and a few more pieces. So, where does this team fall in the overall hierarchy for title contenders for 2024, and is UConn even the favorite in the Big East? Matt Norlander and Gary Parrish elaborate on the challenging climb…
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