UConn Survives Early Test Against Ohio State Despite Key Injury

UConn commenced its most difficult sequence of the season on Friday night by securing a decisive victory over Ohio State. The 84-68 win marked the opening of a seven-game stretch that includes five matchups against power-conference opponents who are projected to qualify for the 2027 NCAA Tournament. Four of these upcoming rivals are currently placed in the updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings released on Saturday morning.

The Huskies entered this gauntlet with a significant roster concern. They must navigate the coming weeks without Nik Khamenia, the 6-foot-8 transfer from Duke, who sustained a left-foot injury during Monday's victory over Wagner. Prior to facing the Buckeyes, I was asked on CBS Sports HQ to predict how Dan Hurley's team would perform over this demanding span. My forecast was a 5-2 record for UConn.

According to data from KenPom.com, achieving that 5-2 mark would require the Huskies to secure at least one win in this stretch that they are not currently projected to win. The potential upsets would need to come in one of three games: at Arizona on Wednesday, against Duke a week later, or versus Illinois on December 12 in Chicago. While the task appears formidable, the team got off to a strong start with Friday's performance.

Braylon Mullins, who emerged as a hero in the Elite Eight, led all scorers with 22 points. He achieved this total on 7-of-13 shooting, including five successful three-point attempts. The strong offensive display helped UConn build a 16-point lead over Ohio State, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the schedule.

Head coach Dan Hurley addressed the media after the game, speaking to TNT's Andy Katz about the team's resilience despite medical setbacks. "We're UConn," Hurley stated. "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." His comments highlighted the program's established identity and its ability to overcome individual absences.

This situation is not unfamiliar to the program. As noted by David Cobb in a recent analysis, this is the fourth consecutive season in which UConn has had to manage an extended period without a crucial new player. In the three previous years, the team has averaged 31.7 wins and advanced to the Final Four on two occasions, with one of those runs culminating in a national championship. History suggests that this established culture will continue to support the team through Khamenia's absence.

In the latest rankings, UConn holds the No. 2 spot. Florida retains the No. 1 position after improving to a perfect 4-0 record with an 83-54 win over Merrimack on Friday. These two programs have combined to claim three of the last four national titles. Their sustained success was further recognized in CBS Sports' latest ranking of the best college basketball coaches, where Hurley was voted No. 1 and Florida's Todd Golden was placed at No. 4.

The updated Top 25 And 1 rankings also saw a change in the middle of the list. Texas A&M moved into the rankings, while North Carolina fell out. As UConn prepares for its next challenge, the focus remains on maintaining the momentum gained from Friday's win over the Buckeyes.