In an electrifying start to the season, Alex Karaban led the reigning champion UConn men’s basketball team to a commanding 92-56 victory over Sacred Heart at Gampel Pavilion on Wednesday night, according to Fox61. With a sold-out crowd in attendance, the Huskies unveiled their second consecutive national championship banner just 30 minutes before tip-off, accompanied by video messages from NBA-bound former players Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton, and Cam Spencer.
Returning as the only starter from last season, Karaban showcased his skill and leadership, scoring 20 points, dishing seven assists, grabbing six rebounds, and blocking a career-high seven shots. “Alex played like an All-American, he played like a Big East Player of the Year type,” said coach Dan Hurley. “He kept us organized. But in games like this, that’s what you’re supposed to do… You should be efficient like that.”
Freshman forward Liam McNeeley, who recently recovered from a calf strain, made an impressive debut, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Although he air-balled his first 3-point attempt, McNeeley quickly found his rhythm, nailing his next two from deep. Reflecting on his debut, McNeeley said, “I’m super grateful and I feel very blessed to be here… Basketball is my joy, so when I get to play again, I was just so happy.”
The Huskies started strong, with Karaban setting the tone by blocking Sacred Heart’s first attempt, and Samson Johnson scoring off a coast-to-coast dunk. UConn capitalized on the momentum, jumping to a 7-0 lead, thrilling the home crowd. Sophomore guard Solo Ball added to the scoring surge, hitting four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points.
UConn’s defense showed resilience, with Karaban dominating inside, notching five blocks in the first half alone. The team’s rebounding and assist statistics reflected a well-coordinated effort: a 47-25 advantage on the boards and 25 assists on 32 made shots, told AP News. Despite a few opening-night jitters, Hurley was pleased with the performance, noting, “We’re gonna get drastically better throughout the year.”
Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. also made an impact, scoring seven straight points midway through the second half and finishing with a double-double—15 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
Although Sacred Heart put up a fight early, shooting 45.8% in the first half, UConn’s relentless pace wore them down. The Huskies wrapped up the game shooting 51.6% from the field and 13-for-31 from beyond the arc, with nine players contributing to the scoring.
Looking forward, Hurley expressed excitement for sophomore Jayden Ross’s return, emphasizing his potential impact: “It’s gonna be interesting when he’s healthy where we go that way… He just changes things for us.”
With a promising season underway, UConn fans have every reason to be optimistic about the Huskies’ prospects as they aim for another championship run. Sacred Heart, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 after their loss at Temple earlier this week.