There is little concern in Storrs over the open New York Knicks head coaching job, and whether UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley might be considered to fill it.
There is certainly no concern over the quality of the Huskies’ 2025-26 schedule, which added yet another high-profile piece on Wednesday, or its roster, which seems to have an ideal modern mix of returning stars and new faces.
UConn added to its monster nonconference slate with a home-and-home series against fellow blue-blood Kansas, which was announced Wednesday. The Huskies will make their second visit to the historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse in three years for a high-profile matchup on Dec. 2.
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Kansas will make the return trip to Connecticut during the 2026-27 season. The Jayhawks have only come to Connecticut once before, winning 73-65 at the Hartford Civic Center on Jan. 19. 1997 – two name changes ago. The XL Center was renamed “PeoplesBank Arena” this week.
UConn is 0-4 in its all-time series against the Jayhawks, which only includes one regular season matchup since the turn of the century.
Tristen Newton starred in that game, scoring 31 points as the hobbled Huskies came up just short without Stephon Castle. Cam Spencer, who missed a potential go-ahead 3-point shot in the waning seconds, played most of the game on one healthy foot as UConn fell, 69-65, for the first of only three losses during its 2024 back-to-back national championship season.
The Kansas game will be UConn’s only true road trip against a power conference opponent in the nonconference slate as the Huskies move away from multi-team events (MTEs) and continue to make clear their focus on scheduling high-level home-and-home series. Three will be at play during the 2025-26 season with Texas scheduled to make a return trip to CT on Dec. 12 and Arizona starting a new series in CT on Nov. 19.
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“Dan Hurley has put together the best nonconference schedule in the history of UConn basketball,” College Hoops Today’s Jon Rothstein posted on X after announcing the Kansas series Wednesday morning.
Dan Hurley has put together the best non-conference schedule in THE HISTORY OF UCONN BASKETBALL.
BYU (Nov. 15th, TD Garden, Boston)Arizona (Nov. 19th)Illinois (MSG, Nov. 28th)At Kansas (Dec. 2nd)Florida (MSG, Jimmy V Classic, Dec. 9th)Texas (Dec. 12th) https://t.co/63QOKGo26P
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 4, 2025
UConn will also meet BYU and No. 1 prospect AJ Dybantsa at Boston’s TD Garden for its first major nonconference test on Nov. 15 and later make two trips to Madison Square Garden, first for a rematch of the 2024 Elite Eight against Illinois on Nov. 28 and then for a rematch against reigning national champion Florida in the late game at the Jimmy V Classic Dec. 9.
Five of the six scheduled opponents were ranked in ESPN’s way-too-early top 25. Texas is the only team not on that list, but the Longhorns are mentioned in the “next in line” category. Kansas, which will welcome a haul of new additions headlined by five-star prospect Darryn Peterson, came in at No. 21.
Originally Published: June 4, 2025 at 11:28 AM EDT
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