(Photo credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images)

Fourth-ranked UConn looks to rebound from what is considered a down year by head coach Dan Hurley's standards when it opens the season against in-state foe New Haven on Monday in Storrs, Conn.

The Huskies followed up back-to-back NCAA titles by bowing out of the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

'Having a year like we just had, which was very challenging, it took me to a point where I did think about taking a gap year or being done,' Hurley told CBS Sports. 'I had a s--- year. I didn't coach my best, I didn't lead my best. I didn't put together a group that could compete for the things we wanted to compete for.'

That might be different this season for Hurley, whose team is bolstered by the addition of Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr. to a backcourt that also features All-Big East Conference First-Team star Solo Ball and conference preseason freshman of the year Braylon Mullins.

Mullins, however, suffered an ankle injury in practice this week and will miss about six weeks, the school said.

'He was fortunate,' Hurley said of Mullins. 'It could've been far worse for him. We'll count our blessing on that.'

A 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Mullins was the No. 15 overall recruit in the Class of 2026, per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Demary was named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Bob Cousy Award, presented annually by the Naismith Hall of Fame to the country's top point guard. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season with the Bulldogs.

Dayton transfer Malachi Smith has fared well in the preseason and could see considerable minutes in the absence of Mullins.

All-Conference Second Team members Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. return to the fold for UConn, which was picked to finish second this season by the league's coaches.

Karaban entered the 2024 and 2025 NBA Drafts before opting to withdraw his name. The 6-8 forward boasted career-best averages in points (14.3), rebounds (5.3) and assists (2.8) in 33 games (all starts) last season.

New Haven is entering its inaugural season as a Div. I member after making its mark in Div. II, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2022-23.

The newcoming Chargers are selected to finish 10th (read: last) in the Northeast Conference. They are coming off a season in which they posted a 12-17 record overall and 7-13 mark in the Northeast-10.

'It's been a lot of fun, you know it's generated a lot of excitement, not with just our own roster but with people off campus, people in the community, a lot of alums.' New Haven coach Ted Hotaling said of the upcoming season.

Ted Hotaling's new-look team will need to find some offense after losing its top scorers from last season. All-NEC-10 Second Team player Jah'Likai King is now at UMBC and Ethan Simmon transferred to Stony Brook.

Najimi George likely will be looked to shoulder a bigger load after averaging 8.1 points per game last season.

Albany transfer Kheni Briggs will look to make an impact after averaging 7.3 points last season.

--Field Level Media