UConn Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Huskies
By Joey Loose
Season Outlook
College basketball can be a fickle sport and things have gone UConn’s way more often than not in recent years. Last season was really special and the pieces that remain will do whatever they can to replicate that magic. Remember that UConn didn’t even win the Big East title last season but really played their best ball when it mattered most in the NCAA Tournament.
Replacing Sanogo and Hawkins is no easy task; there’s no question about that. We didn’t even mention the other role players from that title-winning team that graduated or moved on. However, a nationally-ranked recruiting class is ready for the next chapter for the Huskies and we can’t ignore those pieces that do return.
The backcourt looks good, especially with Newton back for a final season of college ball. His leadership and explosive offensive play were a major part of that success last season, and those young pieces in the offense will certainly lean on him. Getting Spencer over from Rutgers helps fill some of the gap left by Hawkins and will be a major addition for the Huskies.
Clearly, much of their success is going to depend on those sophomore bigs, with both Karaban and Clingan expected to take massive steps forward in their second collegiate seasons. They’ve both already shown their talent on the national stage, but an entire offseason to develop together could have lethal results for the rest of the Big East. This is one of the best frontcourts in the nation, though the inexperience on the bench could be an issue later in the year.
Next. Top 25 team frontcourts for 2023-24 season. dark
Five freshmen boost this rotation, though you have to wonder if there will be growing pains. We know what to expect from those returning pieces in the starting rotation, but it’d be silly to expect the Huskies to just dominate people the way they did in the Big Dance. Winning the Big East title is a fantastic goal for UConn (and is certainly a possibility), but stretches like last January are certainly possible as this roster grows together. Know that there’s endless potential here and these Huskies remain hungry, talented, and explosive.