Dan Hurley brought UConn back to the NCAA Championship for the third time in the last four seasons. After losing players such as Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., and Malachi Smith this offseason, many would think the Huskies would send out a less competitive team on floor when the season tips off this fall.
Unfortunately for the rest of the Big East, that is not the case.
UConn's returning players
As mentioned previously, UConn lost key players to their national runner-up team just this past season, so why will they still be a threat?
Despite losing a four-year starter in Alex Karaban, as well as a tank in Tarris Reed Jr., who will now be teamed up with Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, the Huskies will return a significant amount of talent.
To start off, Braylon Mullins, who was seen as a lottery pick in most mock drafts, ultimately decided to return to Hurley's Huskies for the 2026-27 season. Many remember Mullins from his legendary game winning shot against No. 1 Duke in this year's Elite Eight. The 6-foot-6 20-year-old from Greenfield, Indiana is looking to take charge and be a leader on this year's team. Moving on, Silas Demary Jr. decided that he will return to Connecticut for his final season. Demary Jr. showed people all across the country just how valuable of an asset he can be, posting 10 points, nearly five rebounds and almost six assists a game.
With the absence of Solo Ball this season, who will take a medical redshirt for the entire season following wrist surgery (and also would have given this team another reason to be deeply feared), Demary Jr. will look to control the backcourt for the first time. The last key returner to make note of would be Jayden Ross, a senior out of Long Island Lutheran. Despite starting in just one game in his three collegiate seasons, Ross has appeared in 98, which includes 38 games played last season. Although his numbers come with a small sample size, his percentages and averages are rather impressive. Dan Hurley is hoping that Ross can be an X-factor at the wing.
What other additions were made?
As if the returners by themselves were not already overwhelming for the Huskies opponents, Hurley also brought in transfers that are expected to make immediate impact.
UConn snagged up Duke transfer Nik Khamenia, a 6-foot-8 wing from Los Angeles. The Huskies got to see Khamenia play against themselves in this season's Elite Eight battle between the two teams. Khamenia dropped seven points on three of five shooting, but it is looking like he will have a larger role this time around as he enters his sophomore season.
Another significant transfer to make note of is Najai Hines, who is coming over from in-conference opponent Seton Hall after just one season. Hines is a 6-foot-10, 265 pound big who will likely be playing underneath this season. Looking back to last season, UConn capitalized on Tarris Reed Jr.'s rebounding ability, as well as his ability to move people around. It is unclear if Hurley will aim to have Hines fill the shoes of that role, but with a frame like his, as well as an exceptional rebounding ability, it is certainly in play.
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