Dan Hurley’s UConn agree to thrilling two-match series with SEC powerhouse

On Tuesday, the UConn Huskies and the Texas Longhorns announced a two-match home-and-home series. The first game will see the Huskies take a trip to Austin on December 8, 2024. The return game at Storrs will be played next year on December 12, 2025.

This will be the fifth home-and-home meeting between the Huskies and Longhorns. They previously participated in the series in 1991-93, 2000-01, 2010-2011 and 2014-2015. UConn leads the series 3-1, both in Moody Coliseum and Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.

This will be a home game for UConn's incoming freshman, Liam McNeeley. Alex Karaban is expected to take the win.

Meanwhile, Texas has recently joined the South Eastern Conference without its core team members. It still remains to be seen how the Longhorns will adapt to the SEC's high competitiveness.

The Huskies' non-conference schedule for the upcoming season is packed with interesting match-ups as they are set to play three games at the Maui Invitational from November 25 to 27. This will be followed by a contest against Baylor at Gampel on December 5, followed by a trip to Texas on December 8 and a return game against Gonzaga on December 14.

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A look at the roster line-up for the UConn Huskies and Texas Longhorns

In the off-season, Texas lost Dillon Mitchell and Tyrese Hunter to the transfer portal while Max Abmas, Dylan Disu, and Brock Cunningham exhausted their college eligibility. Coach Rodney Terry has since added Arthur Kaluma, Jayson Kent, Julian Larry, Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope and Malik Presley from the portal.

Talking about the conference change, coach Terry said (via Austin American-Statesman):

"The Big 12 has always been a physical league. Going into the SEC and playing Tennessee the last two years, Rick Barnes’ teams are always going to be physical, but there are going to be several programs that are going to be physical and have that same mindset."

Meanwhile, the UConn Huskies have lost four of its starting five, with Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan moving to the NBA. Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton exhausted their college eligibility. Alex Karaban returned to college after testing the NBA waters and coach Dan Hurley has added Aidan Mahaney and Tarri Reed Jr. from the transfer portal.

The Huskies also have the potential to create history as the first program since the UCLA Bruins to achieve a three-peat.