Dan Hurley has made no secret of where he wants the UConn-Syracuse series to go next: back into the regular season, where it can feel like an actual event again.
The Huskies’ coach has said more than once that he hopes the programs can bring the matchup back as a home-and-home or at Madison Square Garden. After UConn’s 72-52 win over Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday, Orange coach Gerry McNamara made it clear he’s on board too.
"I love this, I grew up in this, this is what I played in," McNamara said after the game. "This game means a lot to me.
I felt like, when I was a player in the Big East, it brought the best out of both programs. What Danny's done has brought them back to where we want to go.
I love their staff. It's hard for me to root for a UConn team, but I find myself doing it because of the people on the sidelines."
McNamara also pointed to the kind of edge he thinks the matchup brings out.
"I think both of us really appreciate old-school, head-to-head competitive juices. Because I think the fan bases enjoy it.
I think we're going to continue to get better, they've got to that point. Hopefully as we move forward, this is something we do every year."
Hurley, for his part, said the attraction goes beyond nostalgia.
"It's always pretty cool when UConn plays Syracuse," Hurley said. "Hopefully moving forward, we're able to find a way to get it done in the regular season.
Because I think Gerry's one of the best young coaches in the sport, and he's going to have the program back to where it was. Hopefully, we're going to be able to move this from an exhibition to a regular-season game in the future."
In Other News...
UConns New-Look Roster Showed Something Big After A Shaky Start
After a shaky start to its first look with a retooled roster, UConn settled in and showed the kind of depth Dan Hurley has been looking for in a 72-52 win over Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena. Najai Hines sparked the turnaround with 17 points off the bench, while Nik Khamenia and Silas Demary Jr. gave the Huskies steady support as the game tilted firmly in their direction.
For a team still sorting out roles and chemistry, it was the kind of performance that can matter early in the season even beyond the final margin. It also came against a Syracuse program with a familiar connection through Gerry McNamara, and the matchup had enough energy around it that both sides left open the idea of making it a regular-season fixture down the road. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Has One Big Scoring Question Entering 2026-27
UConn is still being viewed as a top-15 caliber group heading into 2026-27, even with a major piece gone from the backcourt. The Huskies bring back Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, and they have added transfers Nikolas Khamenia and Najai Hines to help shore up the frontcourt, while freshmen Egor Amosov, Colben Landrew and Junior County give the roster more depth and more ways to play.
The bigger concern is how the offense replaces the scoring and spacing that came from Solo Ball, whose absence leaves a real hole on the perimeter. One answer could come from Wofford transfer Nils Machowski, who arrives after a productive season and the kind of three-point shooting that should translate well, but UConn still has to prove it has enough reliable shot-making to match its talent level when the games get tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Begins Sorting Out A New-Look Team With Pressure Still There
Tuesdays exhibition slate offers an early look at how several programs are sorting themselves out before the games count for real, and for UConn it comes with a familiar backdrop at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Huskies meet Syracuse in a renewed rivalry matchup that doubles as one of the more interesting tuneups on the schedule, giving both sides a chance to see how new pieces fit and where the holes still are.
For UConn, this is the kind of October test that can help clarify a rotation without revealing everything. The preseason is built for evaluation, and with other games around the country also getting underway, the Huskies will be watching closely for how their group responds to the pace, the combinations and the pressure that already comes with a game like this. [Read more 🡒]