In 2023, UConn won the NCAA Tournament, but lost five of their eight top scorers. Despite this setback, Adama Sanogo, the leading scorer and Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, helped to position the team as legitimate candidates for another national championship. The core of Donovan Clingan, Alex Karaban, and Tristen Newton was joined by a top-five recruiting class to make up a strong roster.
The Huskies proved their potential early in the season with a dominant victory over Indiana in their first four games. With Tristen Newton scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds in one game and Stephon Castle averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds prior to his injury, UConn was able to overcome any obstacles that came their way. Even with Castle sidelined for 2-4 weeks after a minor knee procedure, UConn still secured a 20-point victory over Indiana.
UConn’s dominance over Indiana was noteworthy given that they were ranked No.7 in Monday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings. Next on their schedule is a title game against Texas in the Empire Classic on Monday night, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and prove themselves once again as legitimate national champions.