UConn women’s basketball hits the hardwood for its first preseason exhibition on Monday, squaring off against Syracuse at 6:30 p.m. from Mohegan Sun Arena. It’s the first time fans get a glimpse of what the Huskies have been grinding on during three weeks of intense practice, and senior guard Ashlynn Shade is fired up, saying they’re “just excited to play” and want to “produce our best basketball” even if the game doesn’t count on the record.
The “Glorified Practice” Reality
For coach Geno Auriemma, though, this isn’t exactly the big show. He’s got a pretty realistic view of what’s coming Monday, flat-out calling exhibitions “weird.” He sees it as “a glorified practice game against other people” instead of their usual teammates. Brutal honesty, right? But he’s not wrong. October is all about getting those new pieces into the system, experimenting with lineups, and building on last season’s foundation. It’s the longest stretch a team gets to itself all year, dedicated to just practice.
Even so, they’re treating this Syracuse game like the real deal. The team’s running through their normal pregame routine, staying over at Mohegan Sun the night before, and holding a shootaround to set that high UConn standard early. Auriemma’s focused on how they prepare for regular games, not just the outcome. He’s looking to see how this new team plays together, how they implement what they’ve been working on, and crucially, how they react against real competition. They want to get “a few things right” they’ve practiced, but he knows they “may look good doing it” or they “may look not good doing it.” It’s all part of the process, seeing what works and what doesn’t with different combinations.
Early Roster Shakes and Future Outlook
And listen, it’s not going to be a full-strength squad out there. The Huskies are already expected to be shorthanded. We’re stoked to see Morgan Cheli make her first appearance in over a year and a half after her ankle recovery. That’s huge! But Allie Ziebell (ankle), Blanca Quiñonez (shoulder), and freshman guard Marine Dursus (foot) are all expected to sit out while they continue their recoveries. That’s a blow, no doubt, and it means Auriemma’s got even more tinkering to do.
Don’t expect the team you see Monday to be the one crushing it in March, or even the one starting the regular season next month when the games actually count. Things might be a little rusty, a little discombobulated, and that’s perfectly fine. Players are still figuring out new roles, newcomers are still adjusting to the UConn system, and Auriemma is still playing around with those lineups to find the absolute best combinations. This is just the start, folks.
So, Monday isn’t about the scoreboard. It’s about learning, adjusting, and getting those first real game reps under their belt. What a fascinating start to the season for UConn, right? We’ll be watching closely to see what glimpses of greatness emerge from this “glorified practice” as they build towards a dominant season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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