UConn begins its pursuit of a third consecutive NCAA Tournament championship when it opens the 2024-25 season on Nov. 6 at home against Sacred Heart. The Huskies face New Hampshire, Le Moyne, and Texas A&M-Commerce before heading to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. The Huskies will open that tournament against Memphis and, if the stars align, could face Michigan State in the following round.
The Maui Invitational isn’t the only marquee nonconference game the two-time reigning national champions will be part of. Perhaps the most intriguing game on the slate is a matchup against Baylor at home in early December. That game is part of the Big 12-Big East Challenge and is arguably the best game in the series.
Another top nonconference game is UConn’s matchup with Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden. This will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the accomplished programs. UConn defeated Gonzaga 76-63 last season in Seattle.
Despite losing Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer to the NBA, UConn returns potential All-American candidate Alex Karaban. The Huskies added highly touted recruits Ahmad Nowell and Liam McNeeley and former Saint Mary’s star Aidan Mahaney via the transfer portal.
Here are the top five UConn nonconference games to watch this season.
1. Baylor
When: Dec. 4, 2024 Where: Home
The best nonconference game on UConn’s schedule is a home game against Baylor. The Bears loaded up in the transfer portal by landing former Duke star guard Jeremy Roach and Miami big man Norchad Omier to pair with returning guard Langston Love.
Baylor also has three top-100 recruits from the 2024 recruiting cycle coming to campus: V.J….
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