Mike Locksley didn’t get through the first stretch of his Tuesday news conference without a small stumble, and it was the kind of slip UConn fans will have plenty of fun with by Saturday.
The Maryland coach, previewing his team’s upcoming trip to East Hartford, briefly called the Huskies’ opponent Toledo before catching himself and correcting the name to UConn. It was a harmless mix-up, but an amusing one considering he was talking about Jason Candle, the former Toledo head coach who now leads the Huskies.
Locksley had just wrapped up discussion of Maryland’s 62-0 win over FCS program Hampton when he moved on to the next game. He said the Terrapins had “Closed the book on them on Sunday, reviewed everything, took a long look at things that we need to improve upon from game one to game two that was on the tape,” before adding that Monday was used “to get recovered, to get some guys in here get healthy, and to get a jump start on obviously this week's opponent, Toledo.”
He quickly fixed the mistake, but the moment is likely to get a reaction from the crowd at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
That crowd could be a factor again. UConn’s 56-7 win over Lafayette drew 31,831 fans, and the stadium’s listed capacity is 36,000, with room for standing-room-only seating. Maryland will be one of three Power Four programs to visit East Hartford this season, so a big turnout is expected.
The Huskies already saw what that kind of environment can look like last year, when 38,106 fans showed up for UConn’s 37-34 win over Duke. Locksley said he understands the boost a strong home crowd can provide, especially when the student section shows up in force.
“I think it was 10,000 students that showed up at the start of that game and carried the momentum into halftime that helped us,” Locksley said Tuesday of his team's opener.
Even with the slip, Locksley made clear he has respect for Candle and for UConn. The two coaches know each other well, and Locksley praised the job Candle did at Toledo before taking over the Huskies after Jim Mora departed last December.
“A lot of respect for our opponent this week, UConn,” he said. “I know Jason Candle really well.
Did tremendous job at Toledo. Has put together a big-time staff up there at UConn.
“Obviously, UConn's coming off of a big year, where they lost their head coach, bowl eligible a year ago. A bunch of those guys are returning, but if you look at Jason and what he's been able to do at Toledo, and you look at the landscape of how he was able to bring a lot of the players that were successful for him there at Toledo to UConn…”
Locksley is in his ninth season at Maryland. The Terrapins have finished 4-8 in each of the past two seasons, and his record at the school stands at 38-49.
In Other News...
UConn Just Landed A Five-Star Piece Dan Hurley Really Needed
UConn added a major building block to its future this week when NaVorro Bowman Jr. committed to the Huskies, giving Dan Hurley the first pledge in the programs 2027 recruiting class. The five-star guard from Notre Dame High School in California arrives with plenty of upside and plenty of attention, a combination that has become increasingly familiar for a UConn staff that keeps landing elite talent.
Bowmans commitment is also another sign that Hurleys recruiting reach remains national, not just strong in the Northeast, and it adds to the list of five-star wins the Huskies have stacked since 2023. For a program that has spent the past few years chasing another high standard, getting an early cornerstone in place for 2027 gives UConn a different kind of momentum, even if the rest of that class is still waiting to be built. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Already Has A Big East Test That Could Change Fast
Before UConns 2026-27 Big East slate even takes shape, one matchup already stands out as the kind that can define a winter. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported that the Huskies and St. Johns are expected to meet in conference play on Jan. 29 and again on March 2, with the early one likely set for Madison Square Garden. Since Rick Pitino took over in Queens, the two programs have split their regular-season meetings, and St. Johns has carried the more recent league hardware after winning the last two Big East titles.
The interesting part is how quickly the balance around this rivalry could shift again. Both teams are facing the usual roster churn that comes with college basketball now, and St. Johns in particular is waiting on NCAA eligibility decisions for several possible rotation pieces. Even with the Red Storms recent run and UConns standard place near the top of the league picture, the look of these games could change a lot before the teams ever get to tip off. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Just Added Another Elite Piece For Dan Hurleys Next Wave
UConns next wave of talent got a major boost with the commitment of NaVorro Bowman Jr., a five-star guard who already looks like the kind of prospect Dan Hurley loves to stockpile. The son of former NFL All-Pro NaVorro Bowman, the 6-foot-3 point guard arrives with plenty of pedigree and the kind of national profile that tends to turn recruiting battles into early tone-setters for the future of a program.
Bowman Jr. has been one of the most coveted names in the 2027 class, drawing interest from several major programs before choosing UConn. He also brings international credibility after helping Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup, another sign that the Huskies are not just loading up on upside, but targeting players who have already proven they can compete on a big stage. [Read more 🡒]