BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ
NEW YORK— No. 5 UConn is off to a dominant start to the season despite struggling with its health. So much so, that head coach Dan Hurley thinks it has a chance to be the program’s most impressive non-conference resume yet.
“As great as the ’23 non-conference slate was for us when we went undefeated, this would be our most impressive non-conference performance if we’re able to get the game on Tuesday,” Hurley said after UConn’s 77-73 victory over No. 18 Florida at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. “Just based on the teams we played and the health of the group.”
Hurley hopes to cap off the teams impressive non-conference slate with a big win on Friday against Texas.
“For us, the Texas game is a huge game,” he said. “That game on Friday is — and this group deserves just the best home crowd we’ve had in a while for that game because this team has really, really worked for its fan base.”
No. 5 UConn edges No. 18 Florida, 77-73, in a game featuring the last 3 NCAA champions
UConn improves to 4-1 vs. ranked opponents
beat No. 7 BYU (neutral)
lost to No. 4 Arizona (home)
beat. No. 13 Illinois (neutral)
beat No. 21 Kansas (road)
beat No. 18 Florida (neutral) https://t.co/sIv5URXkqx— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) December 10, 2025
The Huskies will head back to Storrs 4-1 on the season against ranked opponents thus far, with their only loss being to the No. 1 team in the country, Arizona.
But this matchup against the team who eliminated them from the NCAA Tournament a season ago served as extra motivation for a team trying to win its third national title in four seasons.
“It was definitely a topic, I would say,” UConn forward Alex Karaban said postgame. “Definitely revenge was just like added motivation, I would say. A lot of guys in that locker room last year were hurt, and we just remember that feeling being hurt.”
Karaban was one of three players in double digits for the Huskies on Tuesday. He scored 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor. Tarris Reed Jr. scored 12 points while Solo Ball led the team with 19.
As the Huskies continue to improve their health, they continue to show they are one of the best teams college basketball has to offer, and they only expect to continue getting better as the season continues.
“I think, when it’s all said and done, we’re going to have a top-5, top-10 defense, top-5, top-10 offense,” Hurley said. “I think right now my biggest concern is probably rebounding.”
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