UConn Daily Digest: Hello New Huskies

We saw a bunch of new Huskies live for the first time this week, while others recently announced their verbal commitments.

Author

Aman Kidwai
October 17, 2025

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Welcome to this week’s UConn Daily, and thank you for being a subscriber. Can you believe it’s the halfway point of football season already?

You can find our coverage in Storrs Central, The UConn Blog on SB Nation, and the UConn WBB Weekly, UConn Hockey Hub, Hook C Baseball, and Husky Football Forum newsletters!

The opening tip-off of the 2025-26 season.

Headlines

Colben Landrew commits to UConn MBB

UConn men’s basketball team landed its second Class of 2026 verbal commitment on Wednesday. Colben Landrew, a four-star versatile small forward, announced his decision live on CBS Sports, joining four-star Junior County as the second member of the Huskies’ 2026 freshman class. 

Landrew is the nation’s No. 21 overall senior prospect according to 247sports. He chose UConn over offers from Louisville, Purdue, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M.

Storrs Central’s Brian Kervick has this a piece detailing what the newest commit can bring to the Huskies.  

Our MBB podcast, The UConn Fast Break, also covered this commitment, as well as Junior County and the Huskies’ exhibition opener in the latest episode out yesterday.

You can subscribe on Substack, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

First Looks at the New Squad

Thoughts after the Boston College exhibition plus a discussion on the rotation and the latest recruiting news.

theuconnfastbreak.substack.com/p/first-looks-at-the-new-squad

MBB exhibition recap

We had our first look at the 2025-26 version of Dan Hurley’s squad on Monday night, ending in a successful 19-point win for the Huskies over Boston College at Mohegan Sun.

Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. did not play as Alex Karaban led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Solo Ball added 12. Two freshmen started in Braylon Mullins and Erice Reibe, while Malachi Smith and Dwayne Koroma delivered good minutes as well.

Mullins scored 12 points, getting seven of those in the final minutes as he got off to a cold start along with the entire team. Reibe recorded eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes, putting a unique skillset on display for the first time. 

The offseason hype roared for months as the Huskies regrouped and revamped their roster to try to wash away the pain of an uncharacteristic early-tournament exit last year. With the preseason KenPom and AP Poll projections quantifying UConn’s high hopes for this season, it felt good to watch the team in action for the first time. And though the game doesn’t officially count, the Huskies’ defensive effort is already promising.

Hurley said: “Last year, we were so easy to play against. The team just got catches wherever they wanted to get catches. … We were not disruptive. We had no discipline and fouled a lot while being a really soft team that let their opponent catch it wherever they wanted... Now, we're pressuring people. We're pressuring catches. We're making the opponent uncomfortable. Now we just have to get the discipline to not foul.”

Smith, who knows Husky WR Skyler Bell from back home, by the way, displayed two-way effectiveness and playmaking. Hurley said he expects the experienced transfer guard from Dayton to play “starter-like minutes” and that the rotation may be as large as nine or ten deep.

“We want to play nine or ten players,” Hurley said postgame. “I see a second unit being a group that’s going to come into the game, when we’re at full strength, being able to press, man, zone pressure, but always making the opponents uncomfortable. I think that’s kind of my roots as a coach. We’ve got a talented and athletic roster that can do it.” 

The Huskies will be in action again on Oct. 28. for their final exhibition, against Michigan State in Hartford. Reed is not likely to play in this game either, Hurley indicated, as the Huskies host Tom Izzo and the Spartans at the PeoplesBank Arena at 7:30 p.m.

WBB exhibition recap

Not to be outdone, the defending national champs and AP preseason No. 1 team went out and got themselves a win in their own exhibition against BC. 

The usual suspects led the way for Geno Auriemma’s squad. Azzi Fudd rode a 15-point third quarter to a game-high 20 points, followed closely by Sarah Strong’s 17 points.

Strong stuffed the stat sheet, adding five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and two steals to her line. She did all that in just 22 minutes, but we were right to expect this from her as she enters her sophomore campaign. 

Also leading the charge, and surprising many along the way, was Serah Williams. Her 15 points and five rebounds proved she has what it takes to be a major contributor.

The win was perfect by no means, but that is no surprise in just the first game of the season. The Huskies will be in action again next Sunday, Oct. 26, against SCSU at PeoplesBank Arena with tip-off at 1 p.m.

Boston College Preview

UConn’s bye came at an interesting time. The team has extra days to prepare for a big matchup against Boston College and one more week to live in the memory of rolling through FIU two weekends ago in its most polished performance on both sides of the ball all year. They should be able to hit the field well-rested but still feeling some momentum as they head to Boston College for Saturday’s noon matchup. 

The Huskies (4-2) are meeting a spiraling Boston College side that has lost five straight after beating FCS Fordham to open the season. UConn is 1-13-2 all-time against the Eagles, getting its first win under Jim Mora in 2022. This rivalry spans more than a century and predates World War I, with two ties coming in 1908 and 1910.

BC opened as a slight favorite, but now UConn is slightly favored. Most recently, Clemson routed the Eagles by 31 points in a demoralizing effort for head coach Bill O’Brien. Yes, the same Bill O’Brien who coached the Houston Texans and Penn State. It will be a battle of former NFL head coaches at Alumni Stadium.

Under center for the Eagles will be Dylan Lonergan, who has been struggling so much as of late that there is talk of him being benched. He had decent numbers in a few games earlier in the season, at least.

Feature back Turbo Richard is a dual-threat out of the backfield, having already nearly surpassed 600 all-purpose yards with seven touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving). The receiving core is fronted by senior Lewis Bond, who leads the team in catches (45), yards (436), and yards/game (72.7). 

Defensively, UConn will have to gameplan for defensive linemen Quintayvious Hutchins and Illinois transfer Sedarius McConell, who lead the team with two sacks and four QB hits apiece. The Eagles' defense has not shown much promise this season, backed by their conference-worst 33.2 points allowed per game. 

UConn captured its first win ever against the Eagles with a 13-3 win at the Rent. Can the Huskies claim their first road win in this rivalry? They’ll have as good a chance as ever this week.

Kick-off is slated for noon Saturday on ACC Network and ESPN+.

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Weekly Rewind

Men’s Basketball

Colbin Landrew Commits to UConn – The Georgia native will soon call Connecticut home.

2026 four-star wing Colben Landrew commits to UConn men’s basketball – Landrew joins Junior County as the second recruit in next year’s Husky freshman class. 

Coach Mike Nardi Live Q&A (Varsity) – The new Husky assistant coach fielded questions from Storrs Central members on the status of the team and the upcoming season. 

UConn men’s basketball ranked No. 4 in Preseason AP Top 25 – The Huskies are ranked in the top 10 for the third-straight season. 

UConn Tops Boston College in Exhibition Opener, 71-52 – Fans got their first look at this year’s Husky team in the win. 

No. 4 UConn men’s basketball defeats Boston College in exhibition, 71-52 – Alex Karaban led the way with a team-high 17 points. 

BC Post-Game Wrap: Newcomers Shine in Strong Defensive Effort ($) – With Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. sitting out, Eric Reibe and Braylon Mullins got a start.

UConn MBB Postgame Availability - Boston College (10.13.25) – Dan Hurley, Solo Ball, Alex Karaban, and Malachi Smith all spoke after the win. 

Takeaways from UConn men’s basketball’s exhibition win over BC – The UConn Blog staff gives its two cents from UConn’s season opener Monday night. 

Podcast: First Looks at New Squad – Takeaways from the BC exhibition, rotation predictions, thoughts on the two new commitments, and more.

Women’s Basketball

Why UConn is willing to let Blanca Quiñonez play through early mistakes – The freshman had her stumbles in the exhibition opener.

UConn women’s basketball ranked No. 1 in AP Preseason Poll – The Huskies check in atop the list.

UConn WBB Postgame Media Availability - Boston College (10.13.25) – Geno Auriemma, Sarah Strong, and Azzi Fudd after the win. 

The good (and bad) from UConn’s exhibition opener ($) – Despite the win, UConn uncovered some issues it’ll have to clean up.

Football

UConn vs Boston College: What to Watch for Week 8 ($) – A guide to this Saturday’s matchup.

UConn Football Midseason Report Card ($) – Grading all of the position groups’ performance thus far. 

How Did UConn Football Opponents Fare in Week 7? – The Huskies were on the bye, but many of their future opponents hit the field.

UConn Football Week 5 Media Availabilities (Hansen, Branch & Mora) – Hear from the team ahead of its matchup against Boston College.

UConn’s Passing Game Takes Off ($) – Joe Fagnano and his receiving core may have found their groove.

UConn football vs. BC: TV info, point spread, what to watch for – Everything you need ahead of Saturday’s action. 

Hockey

Mike Cavanaugh Zoom Media Availability - 10.15.25 – The Huskies’ head coach spoke ahead of the team’s weekend series with Ohio State.

Preview: No. 12 UConn vs. No. 16 Ohio State - The Huskies have their home opener this weekend.

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