UConn begins a quest for a third straight national championship when the Huskies open the season at home against Sacred Heart. The Wednesday (Nov. 6) tip-off game for UConn is one of four games on the schedule before the Huskies hit the islands for the Maui Invitational and a first-round matchup with Memphis (Nov.
25). Coach Dan Hurley put his trust into his powerhouse program in the offseason, eschewing overtures from the Los Angeles Lakers to chase history with the Huskies. No Division I program has won three straight championships since UCLA claimed seven in a row from 1967 to 1973.
A cast change makes this UConn club more of an unknown than previous net-cutting iterations. While Hurley passed on jumping to the pros, the third-ranked Huskies had four of last year's five starters leave for the NBA, but Hurley said this might be the deepest team he's ever had. "We think, top to bottom, this could be our most talented roster," Hurley said.
"Maybe a little bit young, but the talent is impressive." UConn (37-3 overall, 18-2 in the Big East last season) starts the season planning to build around lone returning starter Alex Karaban. A 6-foot-8 junior forward, Karaban averaged 13.
3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. "Alex gets a chance to be more of an impact player at the offensive end," Hurley said.
"Somebody who has a chance to create more and attack more. ..
. There's a lot of weight you have to carry when you're the man, and Alex is about to carry it." Sophomore forward Jayl.
