Heading into the 2026-27 University of Connecticut men’s basketball season, much has been made about the group’s insanely challenging non-conference schedule.
And justifiably so. After getting to the national championship game last season, the Huskies have tasked themselves with a repeat matchup with Michigan, and then an Elite Eight rematch with Duke, as well as battles with Final Four teams in Arizona and Illinois. The Huskies will also see Kansas and Ohio State.
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However, not every single matchup can be of that caliber. For instance, we learned on Friday that the Huskies will play a non-conference game against Rider on Nov. 30.
Here’s what you need to know about that matchup.
Competing in the Metro Conference, Rider is coming off a dreadful 2025-26 season that saw them go 4-25 overall and just 3-17 in conference play. Rider was 0-16 on the road, meaning this should be a nice opportunity for UConn to find a rhythm after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Rider is coached by head coach Kevin Baggett, who has been the head coach for 14 seasons. He’s been the MAAC Coach of the Year twice. Rider has 321 wins in the last 20 years, which is the second-most in the MAAC in that time. The MAAC has been renamed the Metro Conference this year.
Well, we know that UConn got to the national title game a season ago, but this is a different group. Gone are Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. to the NBA, and gone is Solo Ball for the season to a wrist injury.
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UConn will return standouts Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins in the back court, while also bringing in multiple solid transfers, including Na’jai Hines from Seton Hall.
Hines recently received some praise from CBS Sports’ Insider Jon Rothstein, and we also think he’s a big part of this roster, given that one of the major questions for Dan Hurley is how he replaces Reed on the interior.
The guard play should be strong for the Huskies, but the post presences are limited, at least on paper in the early going.
The UConn football program held its annual Media Day on Thursday, with offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile speaking on the quarterback competition, and also weighing in on the versatile skillset of running back Cyncir Bowers, who recently transferred in from West Virginia.
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