UConn's men's basketball team received the Big East's top preseason selections on Oct. 1, with Silas Demary Jr. named preseason player of the year and Colben Landrew named preseason freshman of the year.
The Huskies were picked to finish first, receiving eight first-place votes and 98 points in the coaches' poll. Braylon Mullins was a unanimous preseason first-team selection, while Na'jai Hines earned a place on the second team.
UConn said it was the conference's first sweep of the major preseason honors since Villanova in 2017-18. The Huskies last accomplished it in 2003, when Emeka Okafor and Charlie Villanueva received the player and freshman awards.
Demary averaged 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in his first UConn season after transferring from Georgia. He led the conference in assists and the Huskies in steals. UConn went 17-3 in Big East games last season and reached the conference tournament final.
The selections precede a schedule that begins with exhibitions against Syracuse at Mohegan Sun on Oct. 13 and Michigan State on the road Oct. 20. A Purdue exhibition follows Oct. 27.
The regular season opens against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 2. UConn's early schedule also includes Michigan in Boston on Nov. 6 and Ohio State on Nov. 13, followed by a road game at Arizona on Nov. 18.
Conference play begins against Georgetown on Dec. 23. Each Big East opponent appears twice in the 20-game league schedule, once at home and once away. The Huskies finish the regular season at Xavier on March 6, 2027. Coaches select the preseason honors and cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Sources:
https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2026/9/14/mens-basketball-big-east-announces-2026-27-mbb-schedule