SACRED HEART at UCONN

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Gampel Pavilion,

Storrs

Records: Sacred Heart 0-1, UConn (2018-19) 16-17

TV: SNY

Radio: UConn/IMG Sports Network, 97.9 FM-ESPN Hartford, WAVZ-New Haven (1300 AM), WICC-Brideport (600 AM), WINE-Danbury (940 AM), WGCH- Greenwich (1490 AM)

KEEP AN EYE ON

AKOK GAINING CONFIDENCE: If Akok Akok is in the starting lineup on Friday (as he was in the Huskies’ Oct. 30 exhibition win over Saint Michael’s) he’ll be the first UConn freshman to start in a season-opener since Tyler Polley, who’s currently a junior on the team.

PRAISE FOR PIONEERS ...

AND FRIARS?: Hurley’s first comment when asked what he learned watching Sacred Heart’s 106-60 loss at Providence on Tuesday night: “Providence is good.”

He also had some good words for the Pioneers. “They’re one of the top teams or two in their conference. Their starting four and five would have a chance to for us. They’d be competing for minutes in our frontcourt. They’ve got pretty good perimeter depth, really good offensively. But Providnece looked like a second-weekend team in the NCAA tournament. They looked sharp.” E.J. Anosike, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, led SHU with 20 points in the loss to Providence. Tyler Thomas, a former Amity High star expected to contribute to the Pioneers as a frosh, went scoreless with three rebounds in 16 minutes.

HISTORY LESSON: UConn is 6-0 all-time against Sacred Heart, its most recent win on Dec. 2, 2015 at XL Center.