Villanova Basketball: 3 biggest threats in non-conference play

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats instructs his team against the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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3. Dec. 22 vs. UConn (neutral)

Out with the old and in with the new for the UConn Huskies as Dan Hurley takes over as their new head coach. Hurley becomes the leader of the Huskies after leading the Rhode Island Rams to a 113-82 record (.579) in six seasons. After leading them to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018, he makes the jump to the American Athletic Conference.

The Villanova Wildcats and UConn will meet for the 65th time on Dec. 22 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Villanova owns a 33-31 record in the overall series. The teams met on Jan. 20 last season and the Wildcats won rather easily, 81-61. Villanova has won two of the last three meetings in the matchup, but things should change with Dan Hurley at the helm.

Hurley will have the addition of grad transfers Tarin Smith (Duquesne) and Kassoum Yakwe (St. John’s) to shoulder some of the load in the early going, if all goes well. Smith joins the squad after averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game last season for the Duquesne Dukes. Yakwe hit a rough patch last season due to injury appearing in just 24 games and looks to regain his footing with the Hurley and the Huskies.