The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Villanova, Florida highlight nonleague schedule
Another bout with former (and future) Big East rival Villanova, as well one game — and possibly two — against Florida highlight UConn’s nonconference schedule, released by the school on Monday.
The Huskies will also appear in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden for a fourth time, and compete in the Charleston Classic the week before Thanksgiving.
The 13game, nonconference schedule will combine with an 18game American Athletic Conference slate to form a 31game regularseason schedule. The dates of the AAC conference games, as well as game times, venues, and television coverage of the entire schedule will be announced in the coming months.
UConn and SEC powerhouse Florida will be renewing a rivalry on Nov. 17 that was last played in January, 2015, in Gainesville, a 6359 UConn victory. The Huskies own a 31 edge in the alltime series, including a 6353 triumph in the 2014 NCAA National Semifinals in Arlington, Texas, when the Gators were ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Florida should be a consensus national top10 pick, especially with the recent addition of grad transfer Kerry Blackshear from Virginia Tech. The Gators also have a pair of fivestar recruits joining the team.
UConn could face Florida again a week later in the Charleston Classic.
It will be the third consecutive season that UConn challenges Villanova, with the Huskies traveling to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia ( Jan. 18) for the first time since February, 2012, when UConn captured a thrilling 7370 victory by virtue of an overtime buzzerbeater by guard Shabazz Napier. It will be the 67th meeting overall between the schools on the
basketball court.
The Wildcats figure to be a top15 team this season, as well.
The Jimmy V Classic will bring UConn to Madison Square Garden for the fourth straight season and its 120th appearance overall at the World’s Most Famous Arena. The Huskies will take on Indiana on Dec. 10 as part of the Jimmy V Classic doubleheader, which will also feature Louisville vs. Texas Tech.
The Huskies will open their regular season on Friday, Nov. 8, facing instate rival Sacred Heart, the first game between the schools in four years. On Wednesday, Nov. 13, UConn will play host to St. Joseph’s, the first meeting between the teams since UConn’s memorable 8981 overtime victory in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Championship. That game will also count as the unbracketed fourth game of the Charleston Classic.
The game against Florida follows on Sunday, Nov. 17.
UConn will face Buffalo, formerly coached by Dan Hurley’s older brother, Bobby, in the first round of the Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston on Thursday, Nov. 21, and will play either Xavier (a future Big East rival) or Towson on Friday, Nov. 22. Following a day off on Saturday, the Huskies finish the tournament on Sunday, Nov. 24, against an opponent from among Florida, St. Joseph’s, Missouri State or Miami (Fla.).
On Saturday, Nov. 30, UConn plays host to longtime foe Maine in the 101st meeting between the teams. On Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Huskies will entertain Iona for the first time in 10 years. Iona is led by Hartford’s E.J. Crawford, who played two seasons at Simsbury High.
The Jimmy V Classic game against Indiana at Madison Square Garden takes place on Tuesday, Dec.
10. The Huskies take on St. Peter’s for the first time in 33 years on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and continue a longstanding series against New Hampshire on Sunday, Dec.
22. A firstever game against NJIT takes place on Sunday, Dec. 29, and – after AAC Conference play has begun – the Huskies will finish their nonconference slate at Villanova on Saturday, Jan.
18.
Still to be announced is the Huskies’ public exhibition game.