Tuesday’s exhibition slate gives college basketball fans a quick early look at how several programs are taking shape before the 2026-27 season gets rolling for real.
The headliner is the matchup everyone will circle first: Syracuse against UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The game revives a rivalry that once sat at the center of Big East basketball, and even though this one won’t count in the standings, it still carries real value for two programs trying to answer early questions.
Syracuse is stepping into a new era under Gerry McNamara, the former Orange star who returned after leading Siena to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. He inherits a roster that includes Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White Jr., plus several newcomers, and this exhibition should offer an early look at how the scoring responsibilities will be shared.
UConn, meanwhile, is trying to stay among the sport’s elite after reaching last season’s national championship game. Dan Hurley brings back guard Braylon Mullins, who is expected to be a key piece in the Huskies’ rotation.
That game tips at 7 p.m. ET and will be shown on NBC Sports Boston and UConn+. Syracuse also lists streaming through Cuse.com, and UConn Sports Network will carry radio coverage.
Arizona also opens its exhibition schedule Tuesday night, hosting San Francisco at 10 p.m. ET at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena in Tucson, Arizona. Tommy Lloyd’s team is coming off a stunning 36-3 season that ended with a Final Four run, and now the Wildcats are working through the challenge of adding new faces without losing their edge.
Among the names to know for Arizona are freshman Caleb Holt and returning frontcourt players Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov. San Francisco, under Chris Gerlufsen, enters with a roster that has changed significantly, making this a useful measuring stick for both sides. The game will stream on ESPN+.
Earlier in the night, Florida A&M hosts Warner at the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee at 7 p.m. ET.
The Rattlers are using the exhibition to evaluate their roster before the regular season starts in November, and they also have another exhibition scheduled against Saint Leo on October 27. No broadcast has been confirmed on the official schedule.
Samford and Alabama A&M meet in Birmingham at 8 p.m. ET as part of the Ballin in Boutwell event at Boutwell Auditorium.
Samford coach Lennie Acuff has pointed to the value of playing in-state opponents during the preseason, and the Bulldogs also have exhibition games set against Jacksonville State and Auburn later this month. Samford’s schedule includes a Watch link, though no specific platform is listed in the available information.
For all four teams, the results won’t go on the record. But these games still tell a story, especially this time of year. They offer a first look at defensive communication, offensive rhythm and which players are ready for bigger roles as the 2026-27 season starts to come into focus.
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Gerry McNamaras first Syracuse lineup was always going to draw a little extra scrutiny, and the exhibition against UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena gave Orange fans an early look at how this new era might open. With the coaching debut unfolding in Uncasville, the game brought together live first-half updates, both starting lineups and the usual broadcast details, but the bigger story was simply seeing how McNamara would set the tone in his first official night on the sideline.
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Dual is projected to start at point guard, making his availability especially important as Syracuse continues sorting out roles before the games begin to count. He has dealt with injuries before, but his recent run of practice work suggests he is on track to give the Orange a much-needed boost when they take the floor. [Read more 🡒]