What is the biggest sign
that the UConn Huskies are on the cusp of basketball season?
The Big East’s Basketball
Media Day is Thursday, with the league the first among the basketball power
conferences to hold the annual event.
Coaches and players
from the 11 men’s and 11 women’s conference teams will gather at the Marriott Marquis in Times
Square in New York to answer questions about the upcoming season.
'Unfinished business'?
A question bound
to be asked – or something similar – of UConn’s Dan Hurley and Geno Auriemma
and their players: “You reached the Final Four last season and fell short of
the championship. Do you feel you have unfinished business?”
Sure, they do. The
goal at the end of the season in the Basketball Capital of America is always to
hoist the trophy in April.
The UConn men
lost 69-63 to Michigan in the 2026 NCAA championship game. The women, riding a
38-0 season record into their semifinal against South Carolina, were stunned
62-48 and fell short of reaching the title game.
The UConn men
will be pursuing their 40th NCAA Tournament, ninth Final Four and
seventh championship (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and 2024) when their season
opens Nov. 2 against Gardner-Webb.
The UConn women
were thwarted last season in their quest for back-to-back championships, which
would have been their 13th. Auriemma has led the program to all 37 of
its tournament appearances and all 25 Final Fours. The Huskies won the NCAA
championship in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
and 2025.
Their first game
is Nov. 2 against Cornell.
Will Big East
Media Day be on television?
Peacock will
stream the event live on Thursday. The men’s portion of Media Day will begin at
9 a.m. ET, with the women’s basketball show set to follow at 12:30 p.m.
Who will
represent the teams at Media Day?
The UConn men
and women will have similar player lineups joining their coaches: the
unquestioned leader, standout sophomores who are being counted on for big things,
and veterans vital to the program.
For the men:
Silas Demary Jr., Braylon Mullins and Jayden Ross. For the women, it’s Sarah
Strong, Blanca Quiñonez and KK Arnold.
Here’s the list
of the remaining Media
Day player attendees.
Men's basketball
Butler: Jalen Jackson, Drayton Jones, Asim Djulovic, Eduardo Klafke
Creighton: Jasen Green, Jackson McAndrew, Wes Enis
DePaul: Layden Blocker, Noah Meeusen, Théo Pierre-Justin
Georgetown: Chol Machot, Kayvaun Mulready, Josiah Parker, Jaland Lowe, Elmarko
Jackson
Marquette: Nigel James Jr., Royce Parham, Sananda Fru, Adrien Stevens
Providence: Malik Mack, Miles Byrd
St. John’s: Ian Jackson, Ruben Prey
Seton Hall: Roddie Anderson, Simeon Wilcher
Villanova: Tyler Perkins, Kwame Evans Jr.
Xavier: Jovan Milicevic, Mike Nwoko
Women's basketball
Butler: Tamar Singer, Lili Krasovec, Nevaeh Jackson, Saniya Jackson
Creighton: Neleigh Gessert, Ava Zediker, Nia Holloway
DePaul: Kate Clarke, Zoey Ward, Louis Volker
Georgetown: Brianna Byars, Khia Miller, Destiny Agubata, Bo Frost
Marquette: Halle Vice, Jordan Meulemans, MacKenzie Givens
Providence: Orlagh Gormley, Princess Moody
St. John’s: Brooke Moore, Sa’Mya Wyatt, Daniela Abies
Seton Hall: Savannah Catalon, Ja’Kahla Craft, Shailyn Pinkney, Ari Woodard
Villanova: Jasmine Bascoe, Kennedy Henry, Dani Ceseretti
Xavier: Meri Kanerva, Mya Moore