UConn Opens BIG EAST Play Against Butler, Riding Momentum and History
HARTFORD - The calendar may say December, but for UConn, the real season starts now. The No.
5 Huskies (10-1) tip off their 40th season of BIG EAST play Tuesday night when they host Butler (8-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) at PeoplesBank Arena. The matchup, set for 8:30 p.m., will be broadcast on Peacock and NBCSN, with Justin Kutcher and Donny Marshall on the call.
For UConn, conference play isn’t just another stretch of the schedule-it’s part of the program’s DNA. Since joining the BIG EAST as a founding member in 1979, the Huskies have built a legacy of dominance, claiming 11 regular season titles and eight tournament crowns.
They rejoined the league in 2020 after a seven-year hiatus and haven’t looked back. Since their return, UConn owns a 69-27 record in conference regular season play, good for a .719 winning percentage-the best in the league over that span.
The Huskies enter league play battle-tested. Their non-conference slate has been one of the toughest in the nation, and they’ve emerged from it with a 10-1 record and four Quad 1 wins-tied for the most in the country.
That kind of résumé doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s the product of a team that knows how to win in different ways, against different styles, and under pressure.
Tuesday’s opponent, Butler, is no stranger to UConn, though the history between the two programs is still relatively young. Their first meeting came on the biggest stage possible-the 2011 national championship game, where UConn secured its third title with a gritty 53-41 win.
Since then, the two teams have become regular foes following UConn’s return to the BIG EAST in 2020-21. The Huskies have owned the series, going 11-0 all-time against the Bulldogs and sweeping the regular season matchups in each of the last five years.
Last season’s meetings were anything but easy for UConn. The Huskies edged out a 78-74 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse in December, then needed overtime to survive a thriller in Hartford, 80-78. So while the record says dominance, the recent games say this one could be tight.
UConn rolls into this one fresh off a 71-63 win over Texas on Friday night in Hartford-a game that marked the program’s 22nd straight victory in the city. The Huskies were sharp, shooting 54.7% from the field and controlling the game from start to finish.
Alex Karaban led the way with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Tarris Reed Jr. turned in one of his most complete performances of the season-12 points, six boards, five assists, and four blocks. Braylon Mullins and Jaylin Stewart each chipped in 10, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
Karaban continues to be a steady force for UConn, averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting a crisp 51.4% from the field, 44.0% from deep, and 84.2% from the line. His all-around game and efficiency have been critical to the Huskies’ early success.
Solo Ball leads the team in scoring among qualified players, averaging 14.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per night. And while Reed Jr. has missed five games, he’s been a difference-maker when available, putting up 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game.
Butler enters the contest with some momentum of its own after outlasting Providence in a wild double-overtime opener, 113-110. The Bulldogs are 8-2 overall and have already notched quality wins over South Carolina and Virginia.
Michael Ajayi has been a standout, averaging a double-double with 17.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Finley Bizjack, meanwhile, leads the team in scoring at 18.8 points per game and has shown the ability to take over stretches offensively.
This is the kind of early conference matchup that can set the tone. For UConn, it’s a chance to flex its muscle against a team it’s historically dominated, but one that’s clearly capable of making things interesting. For Butler, it’s an opportunity to prove they belong in the upper tier of the BIG EAST conversation.
Expect a physical, high-level game between two teams that know each other well-and know what's at stake. Conference play is here, and UConn looks ready to defend its crown.