UConn is finally back on the floor Tuesday night, and the Huskies’ exhibition with Syracuse should offer an early look at just how many moving parts Dan Hurley has to sort through before the games start counting.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, with NBC Sports Boston carrying the broadcast for anyone not inside the building. It’s also Hurley’s first meeting with Syracuse since the 2K Classic in 2018 at Madison Square Garden, when UConn came away with an 83-76 win in a game that produced one of the most memorable early moments of his tenure.
The Orange look nothing like the old Jim Boeheim or Red Autry teams. Gerry McNamara is now in charge, and Syracuse has rebuilt almost entirely around a new group of players. McNamara arrived after a strong run at Siena, where the Saints pushed Duke to the brink before falling 71-65 in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season.
That Siena connection shows up again in Syracuse’s roster, which includes three transfers from there. Garwey Dual, though, may be the player who matters most.
The 6-foot-5 guard came from McNeese and is expected to be the centerpiece for Syracuse, bringing the kind of defensive edge that made him a problem for opponents there. Kiyan Anthony, Carmelo’s son, is also in the mix and should be part of the rotation after what the source described as an up-and-down freshman season.
On paper, Syracuse still doesn’t look like a finished product, but KenPom has the Orange at No. 80 entering the year, which would put them fifth-to-last in the 18-team ACC. That still counts as progress for a program that hasn’t finished higher than 80th in KenPom since the 2021-22 season.
UConn’s side of the equation is more familiar in one spot and very new everywhere else. The Huskies will be without Braylon Mullins, one of their two returning starters, as he continues to come back from an undisclosed injury.
That leaves Silas Demary Jr. as the lone returning starter, and he’s coming in with serious momentum after being named Big East Preseason Player of the Year. Demary Jr. is also expected to land on preseason All-American lists as they start rolling out, and after playing through an ankle injury in the NCAA tournament following the Big East Tournament, he’s back healthy and should drive what UConn does on both ends.
One of the biggest questions Tuesday is who joins Demary Jr. in the starting group. Colben Landrew, the Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year, is a strong candidate while Mullins is out. The 6-foot-6 freshman was the No. 26 player in the Class of 2026 and looks ready to handle high-major basketball right away.
Landrew is part of a crowded list of newcomers making their UConn debuts. Na’jai Hines, a Seton Hall transfer, is viewed as the next big man in line after Tarris Reed Jr.
Duke transfer Nik Khamenia arrives as the closest thing on this roster to an Alex Karaban replacement, though that comparison only goes so far given what Karaban meant to the program. Still, Khamenia is expected to handle plenty of the connective work that kept UConn’s offense flowing.
Freshmen Junior County and Egor Amosov will see their first college action, too, while transfers Oskar Giltay and Nils Machowski are both in position to carve out bench roles. Giltay, who rebounded well in limited minutes at Stanford, could become especially important if Hines runs into foul trouble. Machowski comes over from Wofford and brings size, shooting and playmaking from the guard spot, a useful skill set with Ball out.
County drew a lot of praise from the coaching staff over the summer and has the 6-foot-5 frame Hurley tends to like in guards. If that keeps holding, he could have the edge for the backup point guard job. Amosov brings a lot of talent, but may need more time to settle in.
Jayden Ross is another returning piece worth watching. He didn’t start a game last season, but he gave UConn important minutes off the bench and showed improved shooting to go with his elite defense.
Now a senior, he should keep playing meaningful minutes no matter where he begins games, and he and Demary Jr. should make life miserable for opposing backcourts all season. Ross should also get chances to knock down open threes in both the half court and transition.
With this being the first game of the season, there’s bound to be some sorting out on the fly as Hurley figures out his rotations. Syracuse should be a useful barometer, especially with McNamara mixing man-to-man defense and the classic Syracuse 2-3 zone for stretches.
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