Rugged Start Will Reveal A Lot About Huskies

The American Athletic Conference released its men's basketball schedule on Wednesday, finalizing the set of challenges that will face UConn and new coach Dan Hurley.

The Huskies' nonconference schedule will be challenging, with a home game against Arizona and neutral site games against Syracuse and either Oregon or Iowa in the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden, Florida State in Newark, N.J., and defending national champ Villanova at the Garden.

But UConn did avoid any long trips in nonconference play, and will not have to get on a plane before the first AAC game in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 2.

The alignment of conference opponents, released in June, will have UConn playing twice against Cincinnati and Wichita State, both NCAA Tournament teams last season, and home-and-away against Central Florida, South Florida, SMU, East Carolina and Temple.

The Huskies will play Houston, the conference's other 2018 NCAA team, and Tulane at home only. They will play Memphis and Tulsa

only on the road. Now that the Conference set the dates and tentative times, here’s what you need to know about the schedule:

Games To Circle

Nov. 8 — The season opens against Morehead State, part of the 2K event, a mid-major to break in The Hurley Way.

Nov. 15-16 — Back to the “home away from home,” Madison Square Garden, scene of so many of UConn’s great moments. They play old Big East rival Syracuse in the 2K semifinals, the first big test, then either Oregon or Iowa the following night.

Dec. 2 — UConn went out to Arizona last December. The Wildcats will be at the XL Center for a Sunday game.

Dec. 8 — Homecoming for Hurley, Jersey Guy. The Huskies play Florida State at the Prudential Center. This will be an important week for resume-building.

Dec. 22 — Back to the Big East. UConn continues its three-year series with Villanova, this time at MSG. The eventual national champs humiliated the Huskies in Hartford last season.

Jan 2 — Conference opener at South Florida

Jan. 5 — UCF at the XL Center Jan. 10 — SMU at Gampel Pavilion.

7 — Temple at Gampel Pavilion, last game for seniors.

Best Matchups Against AAC Opponents

Wichita State (at Gampel Jan. 28; at Wichita Feb. 26) — Last year: Huskies lost by 10 in Hartford, by 21 at Wichita.

Cincinnati (at Cincy Jan. 12; at XL Center Feb. 24) — Last year: Huskies lost by eight at Gampel, by 25 on the road.

Houston (at XL Center Feb. 14) — Last year: UConn lost by 10 at Houston.

In Need of A Breakthrough

Since the AAC was formed in 2013, UConn has yet to win at

Tulsa (0-4), Cincinnati (0-5), Wichita State (0-1) or SMU (0-4). A couple of wins in those houses of horrors would do wonders for conference tournament seeding.

Late Starts

At UCF (9 p.m., Jan. 31), at SMU (9 p.m., Feb. 21)

Down The Stretch

UConn finishes the regular season with games against USF and Temple at home, then at East Carolina on March 10. It could be a tricky stretch if the Huskies are on the bubble.