UConn Gets Back to Work, Prepares for Gritty Big East Stretch Starting with Villanova
STORRS - After a grueling stretch of five games in 13 days, the UConn men’s basketball team finally got a breather. And they didn’t waste it. The brief break gave the Huskies a chance to recharge physically, reset mentally, and zero in on what’s coming next - a high-stakes showdown with Villanova that kicks off a much tougher portion of their Big East schedule.
This matchup marks UConn’s first test against a top-four team in the conference standings this season. And it’s just the beginning - road trips to Creighton and St.
John’s are looming. So yeah, the margin for error is about to shrink.
Villanova rolls into Hartford at 15-4 overall and 6-2 in league play, a team that’s quietly built itself into a real threat under Kevin Willard. In just his first year at the helm, Willard - the former Seton Hall and Maryland coach - has used the transfer portal like a seasoned roster architect.
The result? A balanced, dangerous team that’s already picked up a signature overtime win against Wisconsin and pushed BYU to the brink.
“These conference games, they’re just different,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said after Friday’s practice. “Everyone knows your stuff, the games are stacked, and the better teams - like Villanova - they’re just better across the board.
Offense, defense, personnel. You see it on film.”
Scouting the Wildcats
Villanova doesn’t just have depth - they’ve got weapons. Bryce Lindsay, a James Madison transfer, leads the Big East in three-point shooting at a blistering 40% clip.
He’s the kind of shooter you can’t leave for even a second. Duke Brennan, the 6-foot-10 forward who started his college career under Bobby Hurley at Arizona State, is averaging a double-double - 12.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game - and plays with a physical edge that Hurley didn’t hesitate to acknowledge.
“He’s an ass-kicker,” Hurley said. “And we need Tarris Reed Jr. to rise to that level.”
Villanova’s versatility doesn’t stop there. Tyler Perkins is another do-it-all threat, putting up 12.3 points per game while shooting 35.1% from deep and causing havoc on the defensive end. And then there’s Devin Askew, a sixth-year point guard who’s been around the block - five schools, in fact - and now brings veteran savvy off the bench.
But perhaps the most intriguing piece is freshman Acaden Lewis. The 6-2 combo guard was once a top-50 recruit and a UConn target before choosing Kentucky, then flipping to Villanova. Now, he’s making a serious push for Big East Freshman of the Year honors with averages of 12.3 points, 5.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game.
“You watch him and the game just comes easy to him,” Hurley said. “He’s got a genius with the ball.
We’ve got to make it tough on him - give him different looks in the ball screen game. Because he’s going to be a first-round pick at some point.”
Freshman of the Year Race Heating Up
UConn has claimed the Big East Freshman of the Year award two years running - Stephon Castle and Liam McNeeley - but this year’s race is wide open. Alongside Lewis, UConn’s own Braylon Mullins and Providence’s Jamier Jones are making strong cases. Mullins, in particular, has started to hit his stride as the Huskies have faced tighter games and tougher opponents.
That’s good news for a UConn team that’s still searching for its identity on offense. Hurley is looking for more grit, more edge, and - in his words - more “violence” from his group.
Time to Get Mean
“We’ve got great guys, a great culture,” Hurley said. “But the downside is sometimes you wish they had an alter ego when the game starts - that they’d turn into killers.”
That edge starts in the paint. Hurley made it clear he wants to see more from his frontcourt, especially Reed, who knows the responsibility is his to shoulder.
“I feel like it starts with me and Silas (Demary Jr.), the point guard and the center,” Reed said. “I’ve got to take a lot of responsibility.
That killer instinct - putting teams away. Saturday’s a great opportunity against a really good Villanova squad to show we can do it.”
Off-Court Banter, On-Court Focus
Off the court, Hurley had a moment of hesitation when reacting to Alabama’s recent roster shake-up involving G League player Charles Bediako. He intended to call his friend, Alabama head coach Nate Oats, before posting a movie clip from Back to School as a tongue-in-cheek response to the situation. But superstition got the better of him.
“I hadn’t talked to him since we’ve been on a winning streak, so I just hung up,” Hurley said with a grin. “Then he called me back and I didn’t answer.”
Despite the lighthearted moment, Hurley made it clear where he stands on the current state of college basketball.
“It’s a (bleep) show,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of issues, and everyone pretending this is normal - what are we doing?”
Hurley doubled down on UConn’s approach: recruit high school players, develop them, retain them, and use the portal selectively. If the sport shifts too far away from that model?
“Either I’ll get out of college coaching or… I don’t know,” he said.
The Stage is Set
Saturday’s game tips off at 12:30 p.m. at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. It’s the 79th meeting between UConn and Villanova, with the Wildcats holding a narrow 40-38 edge in the all-time series.
But this one’s not about history - it’s about what’s next. For UConn, it’s a chance to prove they’ve got the toughness to match their talent. For Villanova, it’s a statement game in a wide-open Big East.
Buckle up.