5. Connecticut (11-1)
Dan Hurley isn’t a 2-time national champion for no reason. His Huskies weren’t just a talented bunch during those seasons but well coached and in position to be successful. After a down year, this UConn team looks just as potent as it did, with 2-time champion Alex Karaban now leading the charge. They’ve stockpiled impressive wins like BYU, Illinois, and Kansas and look like the runaway favorite in the Big East.
Few will be surprised to hear that this team got Big East play started on the right foot this week, getting a 79-60 win at home over Butler earlier this week. Solo Ball stood tall with 26 points, Tarris Reed Jr. added 16 points, and Silas Demary Jr. dished 11 assists as the Huskies took care of the Bulldogs for a 1-0 start in league play.
UConn now boasts a 7-game winning streak that includes some great performances. As one of just two ranked teams in the Big East, it won’t be a surprised when they’re favored in many of their remaining games this season. Let’s not act like it’s all easy sailing, as the Huskies will get the best shot from their league rivals but Hurley knows how to win these games. The next one comes at DePaul on Sunday before a lengthy Christmas break.