UConn, still locked in at No. 2 in Saturday’s Top 25 And 1 rankings, just kicked off their absolute toughest seven-game gauntlet of the season. Braylon Mullins, that guy who showed up huge in the Elite Eight, absolutely exploded for a game-high 22 points. He drained five massive three-pointers, going 7-of-13 from the field, as the Huskies powered past Ohio State with an 84-68 victory on Friday. It was a statement win, but boy, is this stretch just getting started.
Mullins Stepped Up, But The Huskies Are Already Banged Up
Mullins’ incredible performance, where he also added three assists, was exactly what the Huskies needed. They secured a 16-point victory to start this brutal run off right. But even with that kind of firepower, UConn is already dealing with some serious blows. Nik Khamenia, the 6-foot-8 transfer from Duke, is out with a left-foot injury he picked up in Monday’s win over Wagner. This isn’t new territory for Dan Hurley’s squad. This is the fourth season in a row they’ve had to navigate an extended period without a key newcomer. What’s wild is that in the previous three years, they’ve still averaged a ridiculous 31.7 wins, made two trips to the Final Four, and even snagged a national championship.
Coach Hurley wasn’t shy about it after the win, telling TNT’s Andy Katz, “We’re UConn. We’re UConn. We’re dealing with some medical stuff, [and] not just with Nik. But, you know, we’ve just got a culture and a mindset.” And history backs him up. That culture and mindset is exactly what’s kept them elite, even when the injury bug bites.
This Seven-Game Gauntlet Is No Joke
Hurley isn’t kidding about this being a tough stretch. Five of these next seven games are against power-conference opponents, teams projected to make the 2027 NCAA Tournament. Four of them are even ranked in the current Top 25 And 1. Hurley himself predicted a 5-2 record for the Huskies over this period. That’s a huge ask, especially when KenPom.com projections say they’ll need to snag at least one win they aren’t currently favored to get. We’re talking about road trips like Wednesday at Arizona, or a clash with Duke a week later, or even facing Illinois on December 12 in Chicago. This is where that famed UConn culture really gets put to the test.
Florida Is Still Rolling, Huskies Face Arizona Next
While UConn is battling through it, Florida remains the No. 1 team in the rankings, crushing Merrimack 83-54 on Friday to improve to 4-0. Alex Condon put up 16 points and six rebounds for the Gators in that dominant performance. It’s a testament to the elite programs when you remember that Florida and UConn have combined to win three of the last four national championships. Plus, Coach Hurley is ranked No. 1 among college basketball’s best coaches, with Florida’s Todd Golden right there at No. 4. Meanwhile, Texas A&M moved into the rankings this week, pushing North Carolina out.
UConn’s next challenge is Wednesday, a brutal road game at Arizona. This tough stretch has just begun, and every single game is going to feel like a heavyweight fight. Can their culture and mindset carry them through this gauntlet, or will the injuries prove too much? It’s going to be a wild ride, and we can’t wait to see how they respond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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