Dan Hurley hasn’t handed Na’jai Hines anything yet. If anything, he’s made the Seton Hall transfer earn every inch. But after one exhibition, the answer to UConn’s biggest offseason question is already starting to take shape.
The Huskies needed someone to help fill the void left by Tarris Reed Jr., who is now in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, and Eric Reibe, who transferred to Stanford. Hines gave them a loud first look Tuesday in a 72-52 win over Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena, coming off the bench and putting up 17 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes.
That kind of production doesn’t solve everything, and it certainly doesn’t mean UConn’s frontcourt will look the same. Hurley said after the game that Hines needs to become more steady in practice and show that level more consistently instead of in spurts.
Still, the raw tools were obvious. Hines played with force, brought energy, and spent his time around the rim like he owned it.
For a team trying to replace size and production in the paint, that matters. Hines has the look of a player who can change games in a hurry, and if he can stretch that 20-minute burst into longer stretches against Big East competition, the ceiling gets a lot higher. Hurley is pushing him hard, and the same goes for Duke transfer Nik Khamenia.
One other piece of the night: Braylon Mullins, widely seen as the most talented player on the roster, did not play because of a minor ailment. Hurley didn’t specify what it was.
Mullins wore a UConn warm-up sweatsuit but didn’t go through warmups with the team. He sat courtside before the game with Solo Ball, who is expected to miss the entire season after offseason wrist surgery.
UConn now turns to its first road trip of 2026-27 next week, with a visit to Michigan State in East Lansing. The two programs scrimmaged last year, making this the return game in that setup.
Michigan State, led by longtime coach Tom Izzo, remains one of the country’s standard-bearers.
In Other News...
UConn Football Just Put One Big Idea Back In Play
Barstool Sports personalities, including Dave Portnoy, made the trip to Rentschler Field for UConns game against UMass and spent time mingling with fans while taking in the scene around the program. Portnoy also used the stop to celebrate New Haven-style pizza and talk up the energy around Huskies football, a reminder that the program still has a way of drawing attention when the setting and the stakes line up.
The bigger takeaway was the conversation he wanted to have about what UConn football could become if the right pieces fall into place. The event also had a bit of a novelty hook attached to it, thanks to the Southwick Jug trophy created in 2024, which the group planned to present to the winning team. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Took Control Of A Rivalry Fans Care About
UMass was back on the schedule with a familiar kind of edge, and UConn handled it at Rentschler Field with a 35-16 win that pushed the Huskies into the lead in the all-time rivalry. The result gave UConn a little extra bragging rights in a series that has been tight for years, while also giving the Huskies another solid showing from the offense. Cyncir Bowers ran for 131 yards and a touchdown, and Kalieb Osborne added 173 passing yards with two scores.
UMass had some stability back at quarterback with William "Pop" Watson III returning from injury, and he finished with 205 passing yards and a touchdown on 22 completions. But the Minutemen never found enough answers to keep pace once UConn started piling up plays on both sides of the ball. For a game that carried more history than the average nonconference meeting, the Huskies left with the kind of result their fan base will remember when this rivalry comes up again. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Gave Huskies Fans A Rivalry Win Worth Celebrating
The scoreline at Rentschler Field was the sort UConn fans have been waiting to see in this matchup, a comfortable 35-16 win over UMass that came with a little more meaning than your average nonconference result. The Huskies controlled the game behind a strong day on the ground from Cyncir Bowers, who ran for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Kalieb Osborne kept the offense moving with 173 passing yards and two scores.
UMass did get quarterback William Watson III back from injury, and he finished 22 of 38 for 205 yards and a touchdown, but the Minutemen never found enough rhythm to threaten the outcome after another uneven offensive showing. For UConn, the win was the kind that matters beyond one afternoon, the latest reminder that this rivalry has been tight for years and that every meeting still carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]