Huskies expected to host CCSU, Sacred Heart
UConn is expected to play just three non-conference home games this season, and it will likely be against instate opponents.
Although nothing is official yet, Central Connectiut State, coached by Husky legend Donyell Marshall, and Sacred Heart are expected to be two of the foes. It’s not clear who the third opponent would be. Sources have indicated that it is unlikely to be either Quinnipiac or Hartford, although things can change on a dime during these unprecedented times. Since the Ivy League has canceled all sports until after Jan. 1, it won’t be Yale.
Bryant University, located in Rhode Island, has been in touch with UConn about playing, but a source said that’s not likely to happen, either.
The games would likely be played some time between Nov. 25, the official start of the college basketball season, and Dec. 12, when Big East play is expected to begin.
The current plan is for the league to play games at on-campus arenas (i.e., Gampel Pavilion), and not in some sort of bubble, as has been
proposed.
Any type of Big East bubble would more likely occur around mid-January, when residential students begin returning to campuses for spring semester. UConn’s spring semester begins on Jan. 19.
UConn is also slated to play in the Legends Classic, which will be held Dec. 2-3 at Mohegan Sun Arena. USC, Vanderbilt and BYU will also be on-hand. The Huskies are expected to play two of those teams.
UConn was slated to play at Florida this season in early December. That game hasn’t been canceled yet, but as evidenced by the UConn women’s team postponing its game with Notre Dame this season, it certainly could be.
UConn is scheduled to begin official practices on Friday. The NCAA set Wednesday as the first official day for teams to begin practicing, but UConn has opted to wait a couple of days. Teams are allowed 30 practices before the official start of the season on Nov. 25.
UConn Athletic Director David Benedict said he hopes to have a clear answer on whether fans will be able to attend UConn’s home games by the end of October.
“That will give us enough time to communicate to our people as to what we’re going to be able to do, or not do,” he said. “We’ll go from there.”