Previewing UConn: The offense should sizzle, but will the Huskies reclaim their defensive identity?

On paper, this has the makings of a scary UConn team.

Cohesion in the era of roster turnover? Check.

An offense with shooters surrounding a punishing post presence? Yep.

Improved point guard play? Sure looks that way.

Connecticut also has an extra-motivated Dan Hurley. The head coach seems dead set on returning his team to the top of the Big East and back into the thick national title picture after his three-peat bid ended in the round of 32 last March.

The story of the 2024-25 Huskies could vary, depending on your vantage point. Despite their defense taking a step back, relatively average point guard play, and losing star freshman Liam McNeeley for a few critical weeks, UConn was in position to knock off eventual national champion Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

And for all that was made about last season being a step back, their 14 conference wins were one more than they notched in their national title season of 2022-23.

Conversely, the Huskies were swept out of Maui in November, saw significant defensive slippage, and never cracked the AP Top 25 after bowing out in early February.

UConn enters the 2025-26 season ranked fourth in the preseason AP Poll with understandably high expectations. Let’s break down why there is so much optimism and address the biggest questions Hurley and his group will face this season.

Cohesion and Dan Hurley’s Offense: A Lethal Combination

Hurley and his coaching staff have found a sweet spot when it comes to player retention and supplementing their roster via the portal.

They return a pair of 2nd Team All-Big East performers from a season ago in Alex Karaban (a starter on two national title teams) and perhaps the most dangerous shooter in the college game in junior Solo Ball.

Karaban struggled with his shot at times last year (34% from 3), but he’ll go down as one of the all-time winners in college basketball history. He averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season — numbers he should be able to replicate, or improve on, as a redshirt senior.

Ball is this writer’s pick as Preseason Big East Player of the Year. He stuck with Hurley and UConn after serving as a bit player two years ago (11 minutes and 3.3 points per game), but exploded as a sophomore. Ball is a lethal catch-and-shoot gunner with good athleticism. He was relatively flawless last season until his jumper eluded him against the Gators in the tourney.

Ball could be on an NBA roster today, but chose to return and improve his stock.

Tarris Reed is a physically punishing center who returns after averaging 9.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in just 19 minutes per game. Reed split time with veteran Samson Johnson, and he really started to emerge late in the year. He shot 67% from the field and rebounded at a high rate.

Reed and Hurley didn’t look to be on the same page early last year, but that changed in conference play. Friar fans don’t need to be reminded of his 24-point, 18-rebound, 6-block domination at the AMP.

Connecticut also welcomes back a pair of junior wings looking to meet the lofty expectations set when they arrived in Storrs. Jaylin Stewart was supposed to be a key piece last year, but faltered a bit (5.4 points, 36% from 3), while Hurley continues to praise the upside of Jayden Ross, as Husky fans await the next step in his development.

The experience and continuity this quintet brings is significant, and should make UConn quite a formidable group as other programs are still introducing players to one another.

Hurley’s teams run complicated sets filled with dizzying levels of cuts, screens, and outstanding ball movement. The Huskies will be refining their offense, while most of their opponents will be filled with players who have never seen it before.

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