UConn men's basketball season preview 2024-25: 3 biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more

Defending back-to-back champion UConn aims to secure its third consecutive national title in the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season amid the departure of most of its starting five who helped the team outplay Purdue in the title game. Dan Hurley will still have a solid roster for its three-peat quest with junior Alex Karaban leading the charge.

Here is a peek of what's in store for UConn — from its marquee games, key players to watch and other things that college basketball fans should look forward to with the Huskies this coming season.

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UConn men's basketball 2024-25 season preview: Biggest games, key players to watch and more

UConn's 3 biggest games in the 2024-25 season

Scott Drew and Baylor will test UConn early in the Big 12-Big East Battle on December 4. (Image Source: IMAGN)

Although the Big East has yet to release its 2024-25 schedule, there were reports that the Huskies will appear in the annual Big 12-Big East Battle, Basketball Hall of Fame Series in New York and the Maui Invitational in Hawaii.

Two opponents in these non-conference series are considered crucial in the Huskies' three-peat quest. They are 2021 champions Baylor and two-time runners-up Gonzaga.

UConn faces Baylor in the Big 12-Big East Battle on Dec. 4. The Huskies are 1-2 all-time in the inter-conference series, losing to the Kansas Jayhawks last season in Lawrence.

Ten days later, the Huskies will clash with two-time runners-up Gonzaga in the Basketball Hall of Fame series at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Huskies will be tested this early before venturing into the conference games.

The first part of UConn's Big East rivalry with Georgetown is the third-biggest game that college basketball fans should mark on their calendars this season.

Although the Big East has yet to release the conference schedule, the first game of the UConn-Georgetown rivalry is historic, as it will be the 75th time both teams will meet in the NCAA. The Huskies lead the series, 38-36, as they have taken the last eight matches of this illustrious showdown.

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Key Huskies players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season

Five-star forward Liam McNeeley looks to help the Huskies to its third-straight national title (Image Source: IMAGN)

Two of UConn's key players last season — Alex Karaban and Hassan Diarra — are back to lead the Huskies in their bid to claim a historic three-peat.

Karaban, who skipped the 2024 NBA draft for another year under Hurley, averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this past season. Diarra, the 2024 Big East Sixth Man of the Year, provided quality minutes for UConn, averaging 6.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. Both players are expected to be the team's primary offensive options.

Hurley also claimed key rotational pieces from the transfer portal and high school recruitment this year. He acquired sweet-shooting guard Aidan Mahaney out of Saint Mary's and big man Tarris Reed Jr out of Michigan.

Mahaney averaged 2.3 apg, 2.4 rpg and 13.9 ppg on 37.5% 3-point shooting in two seasons with the Gaels. Reed normed 6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.2 bpg in 60 games for the Wolverines.

Furthermore, the Huskies became the destination of five-star prospect Liam McNeeley and four-star guards Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham. McNeeley was part of the star-studded Montverde Academy and averaged 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his senior year.

Nowell, on the other hand, is an aggressive guard who knocked down 41% of his shots from the three-point line in the EYBL and averaged more than five assists against two turnovers per outing. Abraham is a six-foot-six player who can easily shift from guard to forward when Hurley calls for it.

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UConn predictions for the 2024-25 season

With Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer, Stephon Castle and Tristen Newton gone, the Huskies' 2024-25 campaign now rests on Karaban's shoulders. The forward was a vital piece of the Huskies' back-to-back conquests and is expected to lead the team to an unprecedented third title.

Just like the previous seasons, Hurley has ensured that his team will contend for the Big East title and, if possible, the NCAA Tournament. Karaban will have plenty of support from Diarra, Reed, Mahaney, McNeeley, Nowell, Abraham and sophomore guard Solomon Ball.

The Huskies will continue to lord over the Big East with another regular season and tournament double, winning 31 of its 34 regular season games and making the NCAA Tournament. However, the quest for three consecutive titles could hit a snag as the Cooper Flagg-led Duke Blue Devils might stop the hard-charging Huskies in the Final Four.