UConn Basketball Returns to Hartford for High-Profile Doubleheader
Dan Hurley's team faces Gardner-Webb Monday night after defeating Cornell earlier in the evening, with the Huskies favored by 41.5 points by sportsbooks.
By Yuki Melnyk ·
UConn men's basketball will host Gardner-Webb at 9 p.m. ET on Monday at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. The game marks the second leg of a doubleheader event, as the Huskies defeated Cornell earlier that evening. Fans can watch the matchup on Peacock, which offers a Premium subscription for $12.99 per month or a Premium Plus plan for $19.99 per month.
The team's previous contest against Cornell ended quickly in their favor, with Geno Auriemma's squad dominating the game. Now, coach Dan Hurley looks to extend that momentum against the visiting Big South team. The two programs have a limited history, having met only twice in Division I competition, both times in November 2007. In those two games, UConn won 78-66 and 89-72.
Hurley announced his debut starting lineup for the new season, selecting veteran wing Jayden Ross over freshman Colben Landrew. The five-man group includes guards Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr., forwards Ross and Nik Khamenia, and center Na'jai Hines. Khamenia, a transfer from Duke, has shown impact in multiple areas of the game. In the earlier contest, he scored the first points of the game on a hook shot and assisted on a breakaway for Mullins.
Officials Matt Potter, Tim Smith, and Vasili Maillos will referee the Monday game. Potter is a Big East official who has a history with Hurley, having instructed the coach to return to his bench after a heated exchange during last year's game against Texas. The selection of this crew marks the first set of referees Hurley will face this season.
Sportsbooks have set UConn as 41.5-point favorites against Gardner-Webb. Prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket assign the Huskies a greater than 99% probability of winning the game. The doubleheader format brings together different groups of UConn basketball fans in Hartford, creating a large crowd for the evening's events.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET. Na'jai Hines won the opening tip in the previous game but missed on the team's first offensive possession. The Huskies led 6-0 after three minutes in that contest. The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs will attempt to limit the spread in what is expected to be a lopsided affair based on current odds.
The venue, PeoplesBank Arena, serves as the host site for the Big East basketball games this season. The event is part of the regular-season schedule for both teams. UConn's program has more than 100 years of history at the Division I level, while Gardner-Webb contributes to a combined total of nearly 150 years of experience between the two schools.
Source: New Canaan Advertiser (NCA)
