2026-2027 Non con schedule

[BFieldHusky]

We are not doing this because we want to. We are playing this kind of schedule because we are in the weakest major conference. We play 20 conference games and 14 of them are weak. 8 are mid-major level.

Might be better this year, but this was true last year.

A lot of the reason we are scheduling like this is because of the $$$ we are getting.

 

[RuffRuff]

It's all just going to be brands and money. Conference teams are already only playing each other once because the conferences are so huge and unwieldy. The big brands who can get their own TV deals will get them. Outside of Ohio State/Michigan, Duke/UNC and a few others rivalries the rivalries are gone because of all the shifting. Teams are going to play less at home because TV wants these big neutral site matchups. They'll start pushing more basketball games in football stadiums if they think they can squeeze more money out of it. At some point conference teams will have other teams in their conference who don't even make their schedule.

It’s all moving to a format where the biggest brands play each other regularly. Fans want to see top programs play.

We have to hope UConn is invited to the conference party - the overall state of athletics could not be better, so hopeful.

 

[JB75]

UVA will absolutely bring fans to this game. it wouldn't be a surprise if it was a 50/50 spilt. Huge alumni base in NYC.

I remember last time we played Maryland at the Garden (Ollie years) and the other game was Virginia vs. West Virginia and the fan support was split fairly evenly between UConn, Maryland and Virginia with some WVU fans.

One for the Maryland fans sarcastically said to me, "how far away is Connecticut from MSG again? You would think there would be more UConn fans here?"

I said, "Ma'am, this is just another Tuesday night for us, this is your super bowl."

No, I don’t disagree. UVA‘s alumni basis is strong I had a buddy that went to Virginia, but I’m just saying nationally they don’t really move the needle but they will most likely bring a good crowd to msg. I’m mean nationally they don’t have any popular coaches or players and their program is not gonna bring eyeballs to the TV sets/ plus I believe they still run that same boring style that they did with Bennett. Hope we get Arkansas instead.

 

[superjohn]

It’s all moving to a format where the biggest brands play each other regularly. Fans want to see top programs play.

We have to hope UConn is invited to the conference party - the overall state of athletics could not be better, so hopeful.

We're a major national brand so we can still make it work despite the conference. Obviously I want an invite though.

 

[RuffRuff]

We're a major national brand so we can still make it work despite the conference. Obviously I want an invite though.

I'm optimistically thinking we'll find a place, especially if the new FB coach has a couple solid seasons.

 

[Eric K]

Rutgers-Fordham sounds like a decent local opener.

How about UConn v. Rutgers at Gampel? Steve Pikiell appreciation night? Make him a Husky of Honor then blow his team out by 30...

 

[Inyatkin]

How about UConn v. Rutgers at Gampel? Steve Pikiell appreciation night? Make him a Husky of Honor then blow his team out by 30...

I wonder how many people would be on the list for the wall before him. Maybe 100?

 

[Cballman82]

Sick schedule so far. I agree tho, we should try to scheduler a hotter team at msg than Virginia. They don’t really move needle

Double edge sword possibly

Based on what I’m hearing our non con may end up being

Kansas in CT
At Arizona
Illinois in Chicago
Duke in vegas
Virginia msg
Arkansas msg
Michigan boston
Purdue in Indiana

If that’s the case we need to play our A- game to win any of those games, maybe b+ vs. kansas

Last year non con grades u would guve

BYU B-
Arizona B
Kansas B+
Illinois A-
Florida B
Texas B

Play the same level of game we may go 2-6

My point is two fold

1. Need at least a couple games we can win with an off night to help seeding. These games may be much harder as a whole than last year

2. Virginia is projected to be a top ten team

From what I’m seeing our two weakest games may be home to Kansas and vs. Purdue in Indiana

 

[RashadRay11]

Double edge sword possibly

Based on what I’m hearing our non con may end up being

Kansas in CT
At Arizona
Illinois in Chicago
Duke in vegas
Virginia msg
Arkansas msg
Michigan boston
Purdue in Indiana

If that’s the case we need to play our A- game to win any of those games, maybe b+ vs. kansas

Last year non con grades u would guve

BYU B-
Arizona B
Kansas B+
Illinois A-
Florida B
Texas B

Play the same level of game we may go 2-6

My point is two fold

1. Need at least a couple games we can win with an off night to help seeding. These games may be much harder as a whole than last year

2. Virginia is projected to be a top ten team

From what I’m seeing our two weakest games may be home to Kansas and vs. Purdue in Indiana

Damn the season is seven months away and we already have people doubting lol

 

[Cballman82]

Damn the season is seven months away and we already have people doubting lol

Doubting what? That we are capable of winning the majority of those games?

That non con may be 6 top 10 teams and Purdue and Kansas (literally could be talking about 6 top 3 seeds and all top 6 seeds, that blows away last year

We have a smaller team so far (especially front line)

We are going into the post karaban world (a world where we are 0-2 in the NCAA’s)

Last year 5 of the 6 games were within 100 miles of campus. This year it’s 4 of 8.

With the current team I got us 4-4

If we get another big 6-2

Off topic but a thought?

Something I just asked a friend. I wonder if an intention of this scheduling is to try to get us into a power 4 conference. This non con would BLOW AWAY anything in UConn history and I think undoubtably preseason be the best in the sport.

So part of the doubt is not just the names are big, but they are in tough places and looking at the rosters they are building I don’t think those teams underperform during the season.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Double edge sword possibly

Based on what I’m hearing our non con may end up being

Kansas in CT
At Arizona
Illinois in Chicago
Duke in vegas
Virginia msg
Arkansas msg
Michigan boston
Purdue in Indiana

If that’s the case we need to play our A- game to win any of those games, maybe b+ vs. kansas

Last year non con grades u would guve

BYU B-
Arizona B
Kansas B+
Illinois A-
Florida B
Texas B

Play the same level of game we may go 2-6

My point is two fold

1. Need at least a couple games we can win with an off night to help seeding. These games may be much harder as a whole than last year

2. Virginia is projected to be a top ten team

From what I’m seeing our two weakest games may be home to Kansas and vs. Purdue in Indiana

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought we were working on Virginia or Arkansas at MSG.

 

[RashadRay11]

Doubting what? That we are capable of winning the majority of those games?

That non con may be 6 top 10 teams and Purdue and Kansas (literally could be talking about 6 top 3 seeds and all top 6 seeds, that blows away last year

We have a smaller team so far (especially front line)

We are going into the post karaban world (a world where we are 0-2 in the NCAA’s)

Last year 5 of the 6 games were within 100 miles of campus. This year it’s 4 of 8.

With the current team I got us 4-4

If we get another big 6-2

Off topic but a thought?

Something I just asked a friend. I wonder if an intention of this scheduling is to try to get us into a power 4 conference. This non con would BLOW AWAY anything in UConn history and I think undoubtably preseason be the best in the sport.

So part of the doubt is not just the names are big, but they are in tough places and looking at the rosters they are building I don’t think those teams underperform during the season.

Doubting a LOT it seems.

 

[Cballman82]

Doubting a LOT it seems.

Yes but for very good reasons

 

[RuffRuff]

Doubting what? That we are capable of winning the majority of those games?

That non con may be 6 top 10 teams and Purdue and Kansas (literally could be talking about 6 top 3 seeds and all top 6 seeds, that blows away last year

We have a smaller team so far (especially front line)

We are going into the post karaban world (a world where we are 0-2 in the NCAA’s)

Last year 5 of the 6 games were within 100 miles of campus. This year it’s 4 of 8.

With the current team I got us 4-4

If we get another big 6-2

Off topic but a thought?

Something I just asked a friend. I wonder if an intention of this scheduling is to try to get us into a power 4 conference. This non con would BLOW AWAY anything in UConn history and I think undoubtably preseason be the best in the sport.

So part of the doubt is not just the names are big, but they are in tough places and looking at the rosters they are building I don’t think those teams underperform during the season.

I do think a secondary aspect of scheduling like this is to connect the brand with conferences we want to be in - would not be surprised.

 

[UConn Dan]

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought we were working on Virginia or Arkansas at MSG.

I thought we were working on Arkansas home and home.

 

[Cballman82]

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought we were working on Virginia or Arkansas at MSG.

Great question

I interpreted as their talking about doing both at msg, i see doing one or the other

I went with and for two reasons

1. My understanding is UConn can play 3 there and play in the east regional there

2. Hurley said he wanted to go 7-8 big games

Definitely room for both, I’m hoping so but we’ll see

 

[Cballman82]

I thought we were working on Arkansas home and home.

That would be awesome where did you hear that?

If we play 7-8 big games it would be awesome to get 2 in CT

 

[alexd]

That would be awesome where did you hear that?

If we play 7-8 big games it would be awesome to get 2 in CT

Kansas is one.

 

[Fishy]

How about UConn v. Rutgers at Gampel? Steve Pikiell appreciation night? Make him a Husky of Honor then blow his team out by 30...

What instead of doing that, we just didn’t do it and then never entertained the idea ever again?

I wonder how many people would be on the list for the wall before him. Maybe 100?

I’m like 50 spots ahead of him.

The staff is torn on that. Reason being you have to give up a conference bye to play a OOC in Jan/February. With the Big East looking better this year, the preference right now is to just to play Big East games once conference starts.

Calhoun loved to throw a big OOC game in mid-conference season to mix things up. Generally worked out.

 

[willie99]

Damn the season is seven months away and we already have people doubting lol

They act like we're PC or something. Maybe they don’t know any better. Or maybe Ed Cooley was right about us, at least the spoiled part.

I don't understand how you can't find absolute joy in our program and how Hurley has mastered the portal

I look at our schedule and I see win win and win

In all seriousness, does anyone think Illinois fans look at our game with them and count it as a win? LOL

Or Dookies?

Or anyone coming to MSG?

We're pretty good in Boston too, we just don't have the history yet. After we beat Michigan this year, our history there will be solidified

 

[willie99]

I need the schedule, so I can start making reservations

PS: I'm more concerned about James Breeding than I am any of our opponents

 

[Tenspro2002]

Double edge sword possibly

Based on what I’m hearing our non con may end up being

Kansas in CT
At Arizona
Illinois in Chicago
Duke in vegas
Virginia msg
Arkansas msg
Michigan boston
Purdue in Indiana

If that’s the case we need to play our A- game to win any of those games, maybe b+ vs. kansas

Last year non con grades u would guve

BYU B-
Arizona B
Kansas B+
Illinois A-
Florida B
Texas B

Play the same level of game we may go 2-6

My point is two fold

1. Need at least a couple games we can win with an off night to help seeding. These games may be much harder as a whole than last year

2. Virginia is projected to be a top ten team

From what I’m seeing our two weakest games may be home to Kansas and vs. Purdue in Indiana

Next year will be a big test for our perception.

All year we heard about how we have to give mid-tier P4 teams the benefit of the doubt because of their tough schedule despite a mediocre record. Will they extend us the same courtesy if we have a so-so record in an absolute gauntlet of an OOC?

 

[Waquoit]

Calhoun loved to throw a big OOC game in mid-conference season to mix things up. Generally worked out.

1999 they played and won at #4 Stanford during conference season. With Rip sitting out, iirc. That was the game right after thir first loss of the season.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Next year will be a big test for our perception.

All year we heard about how we have to give mid-tier P4 teams the benefit of the doubt because of their tough schedule despite a mediocre record. Will they extend us the same courtesy if we have a so-so record in an absolute gauntlet of an OOC?

UConn or the Big East?

I think it's pretty simple you win or lose and are seeded accordingly +/- a seed line perhaps.

Everyone whined about St Johns being a 5, well, they had a poor OOC showing. I don't think they would have been much higher if they swapped out those losses for wins vs Wagner Manhattan or LIU.

 

[Chief00]

Michigan has been rumored to be in Boston. Not sure if that is where the game ends up.

Duke in Vegas. Illinois in Chicago. Arizona on the road. Michigan State on the road (exhibition). Kansas at home. And then rumors of Virginia at MSG. That's 6 great games plus a solid exhibition game.

Great for strength of schedule, not a passing grade @ home.