- The UConn Daily
- Posts
- UConn Daily Digest: Big East Looking Mid
UConn Daily Digest: Big East Looking Mid
Also, the Huskies have a new QB!
Aman Kidwai
December 16, 2025
Welcome to this week’s UConn Daily, and thank you for being a subscriber. Happy Big East opener day!
You can also find our work in Storrs Central, the UConn Blog on SB Nation, the UConn WBB Weekly, UConn Hockey Hub, Hook C Baseball, and Husky Football Forum newsletters!
Shaka Smart, how do you respond to allegations of being mid?
Headlines
The Big East is…certainly a league
UConn went 10-1 through one of the toughest out-of-conference slates in the country, and now looks ahead to 20 games in the Big East.
The Jimmy V Classic lived up to the hype. Tarris Reed Jr. (12 points, five rebounds) made a poignant return with the game’s first two baskets and looked spry in 24 minutes. Solo Ball paced the Huskies with a team-high 19 points as UConn held off a late Florida comeback.
“For us, it was Braylon Mullins, with what he gave us in that spurt. It was Malachi (Smith) and what he was able to do in that second half,” Dan Hurley said postgame.
At the PeoplesBank Arena on Friday, UConn again handled business against Texas, riding a hot first half to an eight-point victory.
Karaban dropped 18 points and a huge late three, while Reed upped his minutes to 30 after Hurley said he was only “75%” against Florida.
The X-factor, Hurley said, was Jaylin Stewart. The junior scored 10 points off the bench in just 18 minutes.
“We are where we are going into conference play now, probably singularly, because of a guy like Jaylin Stewart,” he said. “He’s one of the most selfless, best human beings I’ve ever coached. Incredibly talented player. I just thought his performance here…the 10 huge points, his activity defensively… we win that game, and we’re where we’re at as a program because of men like Jaylin.”
UConn sits 5th in the AP Poll, 7th in KenPom, and 8th in the NCAA’s NET ratings.
Looking ahead, the Big East is noticeably weaker than in years past. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi noted the possibility of two teams receiving bids this year of just two NCAA Tournament bids for the league. UConn and St. John’s are the only teams in the top 25, while Villanova and Seton Hall also received votes. KenPom projects the Huskies to win all 20 of their league games.
On Tuesday night, Butler comes to town. The two squads will square off at the PeoplesBank Arena at 8:30 p.m. on Peacock/NBC Sports Network as the Huskies go for their seventh win in a row.
QB of the Future
The Jason Candle era is on the board with a new recruit from the class of 2026: three-star QB Bo Polston. The Indianapolis native flipped his commitment from Toledo to Storrs.
Polston had serious p4 offers and interest, and could be in line for playing time early in his career. UConn’s QB room is expected to clear out with Joe Fagnano’s eligibility lapsing and others likely to transfer amid the coaching turnover.
Neither Fagnano nor Skyler Bell will play in the Fenway Bowl vs. Army on Dec. 31. Running backs Cam Edwards and Victor Rosa have both hit the transfer portal, and while Edwards intends to play the bowl game, he could very easily change his mind in the coming weeks.
Bell’s final line in 2025 included 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 TDs. He was also named a First Team AP All-American, the first Husky to achieve the honor, but did not win the Biletnikoff Award, which went to USC’s Makai Lemon.
Crushing the Spartans
Geno Auriemma’s squad rocked No. 16 USC on Saturday, 79-51, behind great performances from Azzi Fudd, Ashlynn Shade, and Sarah Strong, each over 14 points, and an impactful 12 points from Blanca Quiñonez off the bench. Serah Williams also impressed with six points and nine rebounds.
The Huskies are 10-0 and first in the AP Poll. They have Marquette up next on Wednesday night, tipping off at 7 p.m. from PeoplesBank Arena.
Studio Quality. No Studio Required
When you use Riverside, it's like carrying an entire podcast studio in your laptop bag. They let podcasters capture, edit, and publish in one place with no gear, no lag, and no stress.
Weekly Rewind
Men’s Basketball
Husky ReView: Florida (12/09/25) ($) – The tale of the tape after beating the reigning national champs.
Preview: No. 5 UConn men’s basketball vs. Butler | 8:30 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN – The Huskies start their Big East slate.
UConn men’s hoops stays at No. 5 in AP Poll – No movement despite a 10-1 non-conference finish.
Florida Takeaways: Close to Full Strength & Crushing the Non-Con – Our staff reacts to the big win over the Gators.
Portal Prospect Profile: Caden Pierce ($) – The Princeton transfer is an intriguing potential fit.
Big East Non-Conference Wrapped ($) – Brian Kervick breaks down every team in the league.
Cam Spencer Talks Huskies and the NBA Season So Far – How has the NBA been treating Cam and his brother Pat?
Husky ReView: Texas (12/12/25) ($) – Brian Kervick’s analysis from the win over the Longhorns.
Women’s Basketball
UConn to play St. John’s at Madison Square Garden – The Huskies return to MSG for the first time in a decade.
What to make of Serah Williams' slow start with UConn – The Wisconsin transfer has yet to find her footing with the Huskies.
Blanca Quiñonez's ascent continues in win over USC: 'She dominated the game when she came in' ($) - Plus: Sarah Strong battles an illness while Serah Williams responds to Geno's challenge.
Kayleigh Heckel on her return to USC: 'Trying to think about it as a regular game' ($) - Heckel spent last season with the Trojans before transferring to UConn.
Football
Skyler Bell named First Team AP All-American – The best receiving year in UConn history gets its flowers.
Soccer
Chioma Okafor named All-American, signs with NC Courage – The Huskies' leading scorer turns pro.
Baseball
UConn baseball releases 2026 schedule – UConn looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year.
If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend or two - it would mean a lot to us!
Be sure to follow The UConn Blog!
Reply