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.
Playing fewer non-conference home games, against local teams, makes sense in a number of ways. Although the price of socalled “buy games” — the amount of money highmajor teams pay mid-majors to play at their home court — is expected to be significantly reduced this season, with COVID-19 likely to keep most or all fans out of games. UConn is looking at multipe ways to cut costs. Fewer “buy games,” at a better price, is one way to do that.
Playing instate opponents also helps logistically in terms of testing protocols and other issued related to COVID-19.
“As it relates to the nonconference, the closer in proximity that you can make those games, the more likely it is to happen,” UConn athletic director David Benedict told Hearst Connecticut Media. “If we’re able to have games with people that are all from the state of Connecticut, now you’re guaranteeing that there’s no state restrictions in travel. We have control of the virus, to a degree, in our state. Those people, most likely, would have to get on a bus, versus having to fly in from somewhere.”
The games would likely be played some time be
tween 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.
“At this point in time, we’re somewhat committed to trying to execute what we would refer to as the ‘travel model,’ which is the normal travel that you encounter during the season,” Benedict said. “But, things could change, and we’ll obviously have to have options. But, the bubble
situation would certainly be more costly than what the normal travel model would be. There would be some offsets there. You wouldn’t be traveling as much.”
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.
“Much like you’re seeing in football now, things are changing on a fairly consistent and regular basis, relative to this stuff across the country,” Benedict said. “Obviously, it’s our intent to play that game right now, but there are still things we have to work through to make sure that happens. I haven’t heard any announcements out of the SEC. I know they’re planning on more league games, I think. Things can change, but it’s our intent to play that game.”
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.”