NCAA Basketball: Ranking final 18 unbeaten teams for 2023-24 season

3. Connecticut

Last season saw the Huskies cut down the nets with the national championship, cementing the amazing comeback that this program had experienced under head coach Dan Hurley. Gone are some of the major forces from that squad, but this year’s team is just as scary, with Tristen Newton back and jumps expected from sophomore bigs Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban.

It’s so far so good for Connecticut, though it hasn’t exactly been against the toughest of schedules. After three straight blowout wins over weak mid-majors, the Huskies won the Empire Classic with double-digit wins over Indiana and Texas, two teams that certainly look decent. Since then it’s been a couple more cupcakes on the schedule, though there’s no shame in seven straight wins no matter how they come.

The defending champions are a strong team; there’s no question about that. This team will also be tested considerable in the coming days alone. They’ll be playing at Kansas on Friday before a game against North Carolina just four days later and Gonzaga later in the month. Surviving all three of those games would be extremely impressive, and that’s just the beginning for a defending champion with a target on their back.