A look at the can't-miss games on UConn men's schedule

Dan Hurley and his staff put together one of the most challenging and highly-anticipated schedules UConn has ever had, with a total of nine games against teams ranked in the preseason AP poll, all with their own unique storylines.

Here are six that stand out:

Nov. 15 vs. BYU, FOX

Only three games into the season, it’ll be a dual homecoming of sorts for UConn captain Alex Karaban (from Southborough, Mass.) and BYU’s stud freshman A.J. Dybantsa (from Brockton, Mass.) in an early top-10 matchup at Boston’s TD Garden. In his second year coaching the Cougars, Kevin Young has put a competitive roster around the versatile 6-foot-9 forward who is expected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, adding former Baylor point guard Robert Wright III to a lineup that features experience in seniors Richie Saunders and Keba Keita.

Nov. 28 vs. Illinois, FOX

Brad Underwood and the Illini will be looking for some get-back from the 2024 Elite Eight matchup that will be remembered for UConn’s remarkable 30-0 run and Illinois’ insistence on challenging Donovan Clingan at the rim in Boston. Visiting another neutral site that will be stuffed with UConn fans, Underwood retooled his roster with international players like Andrej Stojakovic (son of former NBA star Peja), from Cal, and seven-footer Zvonimir Ivisic, from Arkansas. The Illini were ranked No. 17 in the preseason AP poll.

Dec. 2 at Kansas, ESPN2

UConn will be making its second trip in three years to Phog Allen Fieldhouse to start a blue-blooded home-and-home series with the Jayhawks. The last meeting, part of the Big East-Big 12 Battle, served as the first of just three losses for the Huskies during their otherwise dominant 2024 national championship season. Kansas features another projected top NBA Draft pick in 6-foot-5 guard Darryn Peterson, who was the top-ranked player out of high school in this freshman class.

Dec. 9 vs. Florida, ESPN

This matchup of the last two national champions is one of the most highly-anticipated games in all of college basketball as UConn seeks revenge after losing to the Gators by just two points in the second round of the tournament last year. No. 3 in the preseason rankings, Florida returns three of its high-impact bigs in Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu. The Gators have also brought in Boogie Fland from Arkansas and Xavien Lee from Princeton to boast what should be one of the best starting lineups in the country.

Jan. 31 at Creighton, FOX

Whether it was the court-storming in 2024 or Dan Hurley chirping back at fans after Liam McNeeley led the Huskies to their first-ever road win against the Blue Jays last year, every trip to Omaha has been must-see as of late. Ranked No. 23 in the preseason AP poll, Creighton is expected to be a top team in the Big East despite losing four-time defensive player of the year, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and its top four scorers. Greg McDermott and his staff were busy this offseason, adding a transfer class that includes Iowa big man Owen Freeman, point guard Nik Graves and Iowa sharpshooter Josh Dix.

Feb. 6 at St. John’s, FOX

Dan Hurley versus Rick Pitino at Madison Square Garden will never disappoint. And this year’s matchup will be more exciting than ever with both teams entering the year as national title contenders at the top of the Big East. After winning both matchups last year and taking dual championships in the league, Pitino went back to the portal and brought in the top-ranked transfer class in the nation with players like UNC’s Ian Jackson, Arizona State’s Joson Sanon, Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Bryce Hopkins (Providence) and others. Not to mention the Johnnies return the Big East Preseason Player of the Year and one of the nation’s best centers in Zuby Ejiofor.