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UConn Daily Digest: Best in Class
UConn boasts the best hockey teams in Connecticut, and is clearly the top hooping school in the country.
Aman Kidwai
January 29, 2026
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Photo: Ian Bethune
Best in Connecticut
For the second consecutive year, UConn men’s hockey has earned the right to be called Connecticut’s top Division I program.
The Huskies beat Yale in the semifinal on Friday before pulling out an impressive win over No. 6 Quinnipiac in the championship game Saturday.
Ryan Tattle, the hero in last year’s semifinal, became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with three points against Yale as the Huskies breezed past the Bulldogs, 5-2.
Saturday’s test against the Bobcats also carried huge NCAA Tournament implications for both sides. After scoring the first goal, the Huskies trailed 2-1 heading into the third period, but notched two unanswered goals and an empty-netter to claim the title.
The game-winner was netted by Jake Percival, a Connecticut native.
Mike Cavanaugh’s squad has moved up one spot to No. 12 in the latest USCHO poll, with the Huskies firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble heading into the last full month of the regular season.
The weekend was not as favorable for the women’s team, which lost two to conference-leading Northeastern, 4-2 on Friday and 1-0 on Saturday. It marked the first time this season the Huskies lost both games in a weekend series as the team’s losing streak ballooned to three games.
Now 18-6-2, they’ve fallen two spots in the rankings to No. 7, though their tournament aspirations remain high. They will look to get back on track this weekend with a home-and-home vs. UNH, while the men will bring their newfound momentum into a single-game weekend at Northeastern.
Major Football Updates
UConn football has confirmed its home schedule, which will feature seven games in 2026. It includes three P4 schools and a 2025 College Football Playoff participant.
After starting with an FCS visitor, the Huskies will host Maryland for their first Big Ten opponent since visiting Maryland to start the 2024 season, a brutal blowout loss. After some time away, they’ll be looking for their first win over Syracuse since 2011, currently on a six-game losing streak against the Orange, including an overtime heartbreaker last season.
In late October, the Huskies will host UMass, who they’ve defeated three times in a row, with the last meeting occurring late in the 2024 season.
In the first week of November, UConn will welcome Bill Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels to Rentschler Field before hosting James Madison, the Sun Belt power that recently moved up to FBS but just made the College Football Playoff. The home slate will end with another Sun Belt opponent, Old Dominion.
9/5 - Lafayette
9/12 - Maryland
10/3 - Syracuse
10/24 - UMass
11/7 - UNC
11/14 - James Madison
11/ 21 - Old Dominion
The team has also confirmed the addition of 64 new players after the transfer portal window. The group includes 57 transfers, seven early-enrollee freshmen, with 29 players on offense and 32 on defense, with 21 guys coming from power conference programs, including Ohio State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, USC, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Iowa, Syracuse, Michigan State, Texas, and West Virginia.
More Reibe? Mali Back?
UConn men’s basketball won another close one on Tuesday night, taking down Providence to earn a season sweep of the Friars in their eighth straight win over PC.
With Braylon Mullins out, Jaylin Stewart stepped into the starting lineup, a role he filled earlier in the season as well. He got into some early foul trouble, as did Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr., contributing to the tightness of the contest, though the Huskies did not trail in the second half.
After the game, Hurley noted the resurgence of Smith and acknowledged that he may need to put Reibe on the court more. He also pointed out that the 2023 and 2024 championship seasons may have warped the expectations around any UConn team going forward. Those expecting Hurley’s Huskies to begin an Alabama football or UConn women’s basketball circa 2015-style era of dominance are sure to be disappointed.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been more consternation for a 20-1 team that’s won 16 in a row. This is the monster that we’ve created,” Hurley said. “The monster that we created was obviously the ‘23 and the ‘24 teams, so everyone wants to see this ‘26 team play like the ‘24 team. We’re just not there yet.”
Allie Ziebell Drops 34 in Xavier Rout
UConn women’s basketball is still undefeated, and Allie Ziebell just broke through in a big way. The sophomore scored a career-high 34 and tied a program record with 10 three-pointers. It was the highest single-game total by a Husky this season and Ziebell’s third double-digit scoring performance vs. Xavier, against whom she is averaging 22.3 PPG.
The Huskies bested Georgetown on Thursday and Seton Hall on Saturday. Their bout with the Pirates was moved from Sunday to account for the weekend’s wild winter storm, which spurred postponements and cancellations all across the country. Geno Auriemma’s toughest battle during this time was with pizza quality.
After crushing Xavier, though the game got a little close in the first quarter, the Huskies are gearing up to host No. 15 Tennessee this weekend. The Lady Vols are rolling under head coach Kim Caldwell, 14-3 on the year and 6-0 in the SEC, winners of their last seven straight leading up to their midweek matchup against Mississippi State on Thursday.
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Weekly Rewind
Men’s Basketball
SC Exclusive Interview with Coach Kimani Young – Aman Kidwai sits down with the UConn associate head coach to discuss the season thus far, the guard crew that he works with closely, and more.
No. 2 UConn men’s basketball takes down Providence, 87-81 – UConn sweeps the regular season series against the Friars.
Notes & Quotes: Pushing Past Providence and Adversity – The Huskies were without a starter and had foul trouble and shooting woes across the lineup, but still found a way to win.
Cam double-double with more minutes coming? Newton 30+ Point streak continues – Checking in on the latest of UConn’s alumni in the pros.
Notes and Quotes: The Streak and the Scares Continue ($) – Issues continue to plague this team, though the wins keep piling up.
UConn men’s hoops remains at No. 2 in AP Poll – The Huskies keep winning while other teams lose.
No. 2 UConn claws out another nail-biter in 75-67 OT win over Villanova - You have to hand it to Kevin Willard, Villanova is decent.
Women’s Basketball
UConn women’s basketball overcomes slow start to beat Seton Hall, 92-52 – The Huskies battled hard Saturday, with the game moved due to the winter storm.
Blanca Quiñonez digs UConn out of early hole in 95-52 win at Seton Hall – The freshman turned around UConn’s largest deficit of the season en route to a win.
UConn women’s basketball drubs Georgetown, 83-42 – The Huskies’ 36th straight win marks their longest streak since 2017-18
Geno not worried about UConn’s nine-point quarter against Georgetown – Why a 1-10 shooting stretch to start the frame did not bother UConn’s head coach.
Paige Bueckers set to play in Hartford this summer – The Husky legend will take on the Connecticut Sun at PeoplesBank Arena in July.
Football
Postseason Perspective - Skyler Bell | 2026 NFL Draft – Checking in with the former standout WR as he prepares to turn pro.
Hockey
Connecticut native Jake Percival’s game-winning goal lifts UConn to CT Ice championship ($) – The Avon native lit the lamp when the Huskies needed it most.
UConn captures second straight CT Ice title with comeback win over Quinnipiac – The Bobcats were no match for the Huskies’ monster third period.
CT Ice: UConn moves past Yale, 5-2 – The Huskies win marked five straight appearances in the tournament’s final round.
Ryan Tattle, fully rested, continues to start in CT Ice – Tattle had little sleep before scoring a huge goal last year. This year, he continued to dominate the tournament
What does the future hold for Connecticut Ice? – The agreement between the four schools expired last weekend, with no current plans for renewal.
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