# 2023–24 UConn Huskies men's basketball team

The 2023–24 UConn Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Huskies were led by sixth-year head coach Dan Hurley in the team's fourth season since their return to the Big East Conference. The Huskies played their home games at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut and the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. The UConn Huskies men's basketball team drew an average home attendance of 12,733 in 16 games in 2023-24.
The Huskies finished the season 37–3, 18–2 in Big East play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Xavier, St. John's, and Marquette to win the Big East tournament, receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Receiving the No. 1 overall seed, they returned to the National Championship game for the second straight year and defeated Purdue to become the first back-to-back National Champions since Florida (who won the tournament in 2006 and 2007).
The season was marked by a number of records at both the program and national level. UConn set a program record for regular season wins (28) and total wins (37) in a season, and became the first Big East team to win 18 conference games. In the postseason, they became the first team since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 (therefore requiring six victories to win the championship) to win every game by at least 14 points, breaking their own record of winning every game by 13 points set the previous year. They set additional records in the NCAA tournament for largest combined margin of victory in all their games with 140 points; and by extension, the largest average margin of victory of 23.3 points per game. This has led many to call them the best team in UConn history and among the best college basketball teams of all time.

## Previous season

The Huskies finished the season 31–8, 13–7 in Big East play to finish in a tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big East tournament, they defeated Providence in the quarterfinals before losing to Marquette in the semifinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 4 seed in the West region. They defeated Iona, Saint Mary's, Arkansas, and Gonzaga to advance to the school's sixth Final Four and first since 2014. They defeated Miami and San Diego State to win the national championship, the school's fifth title since 1999, and were only the fifth men's team to win all six of its games by 10 points or more.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Joey Calcaterra | 3 | G | 6'3" | 180 | GS Senior | Novato, CA | Graduated |
| Nahiem Alleyne | 4 | G | 6'4" | 195 | Senior | Buford, GA | Graduate transferred to St. John's |
| Richie Springs | 13 | F | 6'9" | 235 | RS Junior | Brooklyn, NY | Transferred to Quinnipiac |
| Adama Sanogo | 21 | F | 6'9" | 245 | Junior | Bamako, Mali | Declare for 2023 NBA draft/undrafted; signed with Chicago Bulls |
| Jordan Hawkins | 24 | G | 6'5" | 195 | Sophomore | Gaithersburg, MD | Declare for 2023 NBA draft; selected 14th overall by New Orleans Pelicans |
| Yarin Hasson | 30 | F | 6'9" | 205 | Freshman | Gan Tavne, Israel | Transferred to Southern Indiana |
| Emmett Hendry | 41 | G | 6'3" | 155 | Freshman | Brooklyn, NY | Walk-on; transferred to Cloud County Community |
| Andre Jackson Jr. | 44 | G | 6'6" | 210 | Junior | Amsterdam, NY | Declare for 2023 NBA draft; selected 36th overall by Orlando Magic |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous school |
| Cam Spencer | 12 | G | 6'4" | 207 | GS Senior | Davidsonville, MD | Rutgers |

### Recruiting classes
#### 2023 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Stephon Castle #5 PG | Covington, GA | Newton High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Nov 19, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 92 ||||||
| Solomon Ball #1 SG | Leesburg, VA | Brewster Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jul 1, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 ||||||
| Jayden Ross #23 SF | Bristow, VA | Long Island Lutheran High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 27, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| Jaylin Stewart #3 SF | Seattle, WA | Garfield High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Sep 16, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Youssouf Singare #24 C | Bronx, NY | Our Savior Lutheran High School | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Sep 21, 2022 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 4 247Sports: 4 ESPN: 5 ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2023 UConn Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023. "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023. ||||||

#### 2024 recruiting class

College recruiting information (2024) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Liam McNeeley #10 SF | Richardson, TX | Montverde Academy | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Apr 26, 2024 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 93 |||||||
| Ahmad Nowell #10 PG | Philadelphia, PA | Imhotep Institute Charter High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jul 23, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 |||||||
| Isaiah Abraham #24 PF | Fairfax, VA | Paul VI High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jul 14, 2023 |
| Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 10 247Sports: 11 |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2024 UConn Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024. "2024 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024. |||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 6, 2023* 6:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 6 | Northern Arizona | W 95–52 | 1–0 | 22 – Karaban | 8 – Clingan | 5 – Spencer | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| November 11, 2023* 12:00 p.m., FS2 | No. 6 | Stonehill | W 107–67 | 2–0 | 22 – Newton | 8 – Castle | 6 – Spencer | XL Center (14,606) Hartford, CT |
| November 14, 2023* 7:00 p.m., FS2 | No. 5 | Mississippi Valley State | W 87–53 | 3–0 | 25 – Spencer | 8 – Newton | 7 – Newton | XL Center (13,298) Hartford, CT |
| November 19, 2023* 1:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 5 | vs. Indiana Empire Classic semifinals | W 77–57 | 4–0 | 23 – Newton | 11 – Newton | 6 – 2 tied | Madison Square Garden (17,647) New York, NY |
| November 20, 2023* 7:00 p.m., ESPNU | No. 5 | vs. No. 15 Texas Empire Classic Championship | W 81–71 | 5–0 | 20 – Karaban | 8 – S. Johnson | 8 – Newton | Madison Square Garden (10,988) New York, NY |
| November 24, 2023* 2:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 5 | Manhattan | W 90–60 | 6–0 | 18 – Spencer | 10 – Newton | 13 – Newton | XL Center (15,006) Hartford, CT |
| November 27, 2023* 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 4 | New Hampshire | W 84–64 | 7–0 | 29 – Clingan | 10 – Newton | 7 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| December 1, 2023* 9:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 4 | at No. 5 Kansas Big East–Big 12 Battle | L 65–69 | 7–1 | 31 – Newton | 7 – Clingan | 2 – 4 tied | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| December 5, 2023* 9:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 5 | vs. No. 9 North Carolina Jimmy V Classic | W 87–76 | 8–1 | 23 – Spencer | 9 – Karaban | 6 – Spencer | Madison Square Garden (17,873) New York, NY |
| December 9, 2023* 12:00 p.m., FS2 | No. 5 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | W 101–63 | 9–1 | 26 – Karaban | 7 – Tied | 6 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| December 15, 2023* 10:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 5 | vs. No. 10 Gonzaga Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off | W 76–63 | 10–1 | 21 – Clingan | 8 – Clingan | 5 – Newton | Climate Pledge Arena (16,405) Seattle, WA |
| Big East regular season |||||||||
| December 20, 2023 7:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 5 | at Seton Hall | L 60–75 | 10–2 (0–1) | 16 – Newton | 8 – Karaban | 3 – Tied | Prudential Center (9,441) Newark, NJ |
| December 23, 2023 8:00 p.m., FOX | No. 5 | St. John's | W 69–65 | 11–2 (1–1) | 16 – S. Johnson | 9 – Newton | 6 – Newton | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| January 2, 2024 6:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | DePaul | W 85–56 | 12–2 (2–1) | 20 – Spencer | 7 – Karaban | 7 – Tied | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| January 5, 2024 6:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | at Butler | W 88–81 | 13–2 (3–1) | 20 – Karaban | 9 – Castle | 5 – Newton | Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,162) Indianapolis, IN |
| January 10, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 4 | at Xavier | W 80–75 | 14–2 (4–1) | 19 – Spencer | 6 – 3 tied | 11 – Newton | Cintas Center (10,335) Cincinnati, OH |
| January 14, 2024 12:00 p.m., FOX | No. 4 | Georgetown Rivalry | W 80–67 | 15–2 (5–1) | 26 – Karaban | 7 – Tied | 8 – Newton | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| January 17, 2024 7:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | No. 18 Creighton | W 62–48 | 16–2 (6–1) | 16 – Newton | 8 – Tied | 5 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| January 20, 2024 8:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | at Villanova | W 66–65 | 17–2 (7–1) | 25 – Newton | 7 – Clingan | 3 – 3 tied | Wells Fargo Center (18,966) Philadelphia, PA |
| January 28, 2024 12:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | Xavier | W 99–56 | 18–2 (8–1) | 22 – Newton | 8 – Clingan | 6 – Spencer | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| January 31, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | Providence | W 74–65 | 19–2 (9–1) | 20 – Castle | 11 – Newton | 3 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| February 3, 2024 12:00 p.m., FOX | No. 1 | at St. John's | W 77–64 | 20–2 (10–1) | 23 – Spencer | 10 – Newton | 7 – Newton | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| February 6, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | Butler | W 71–62 | 21–2 (11–1) | 20 – Spencer | 14 – Clingan | 3 – 4 tied | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| February 10, 2024 12:00 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | at Georgetown Rivalry | W 89–64 | 22–2 (12–1) | 25 – Karaban | 6 – Tied | 9 – Newton | Capital One Arena (13,040) Washington, D.C. |
| February 14, 2024 9:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 1 | at DePaul | W 101–65 | 23–2 (13–1) | 21 – Karaban | 8 – Newton | 6 – Castle | Wintrust Arena (3,465) Chicago, IL |
| February 17, 2024 3:00 p.m., FOX | No. 1 | No. 4 Marquette | W 81–53 | 24–2 (14–1) | 17 – Clingan | 10 – Clingan | 8 – Newton | XL Center (15,684) Hartford, CT |
| February 20, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 1 | at No. 15 Creighton | L 66–85 | 24–3 (14–2) | 27 – Newton | 12 – Newton | 4 – Newton | CHI Health Center Omaha (18,071) Omaha, NE |
| February 24, 2024 8:00 p.m., FOX | No. 1 | Villanova College GameDay | W 78–54 | 25–3 (15–2) | 25 – Spencer | 16 – Newton | 10 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| March 3, 2024 12:00 p.m., CBS | No. 3 | Seton Hall | W 91–61 | 26–3 (16–2) | 21 – Castle | 11 – Clingan | 10 – Newton | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,299) Storrs, CT |
| March 6, 2024 8:30 p.m., FS1 | No. 2 | at No. 8 Marquette | W 74–67 | 27–3 (17–2) | 23 – Karaban | 12 – Clingan | 6 – Spencer | Fiserv Forum (17,837) Milwaukee, WI |
| March 9, 2024 8:00 p.m., FOX | No. 2 | at Providence | W 74–60 | 28–3 (18–2) | 16 – Karaban | 8 – Newton | 5 – Tied | Amica Mutual Pavilion (12,608) Providence, RI |
| Big East tournament |||||||||
| March 14, 2024 12:00 p.m., FS1 | (1) No. 2 | vs. (9) Xavier Quarterfinals | W 87–60 | 29–3 | 13 – Tied | 8 – Castle | 8 – Spencer | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| March 15, 2024 5:30 p.m., FOX | (1) No. 2 | vs. (5) St. John's Semifinals | W 95–90 | 30–3 | 25 – Newton | 6 – Tied | 9 – Tied | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| March 16, 2024 6:30 p.m., FOX | (1) No. 2 | vs. (3) No. 10 Marquette Championship | W 73–57 | 31–3 | 22 – Clingan | 16 – Clingan | 10 – Newton | Madison Square Garden (19,812) New York, NY |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 22, 2024* 2:45 p.m., CBS | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (16 E) Stetson First Round | W 91–52 | 32–3 | 19 – Clingan | 8 – Clingan | 8 – Newton | Barclays Center (17,183) Brooklyn, NY |
| March 24, 2024* 7:45 p.m., TruTV | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (9 E) Northwestern Second Round | W 75–58 | 33–3 | 20 – Newton | 14 – Clingan | 10 – Newton | Barclays Center (17,505) Brooklyn, NY |
| March 28, 2024 7:39 p.m., TBS/TruTV | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (5 E) No. 24 San Diego State Sweet Sixteen | W 82–52 | 34–3 | 18 – Spencer | 11 – Castle | 4 – Tied | TD Garden (19,144) Boston, MA |
| March 30, 2024 6:09 p.m., TBS/TruTV | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (3 E) No. 10 Illinois Elite Eight | W 77–52 | 35–3 | 22 – Clingan | 12 – Spencer | 5 – 3 tied | TD Garden (19,181) Boston, MA |
| April 6, 2024 8:49 p.m., TBS/TNT/TruTV | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (4 W) No. 19 Alabama Final Four | W 86–72 | 36–3 | 21 – Castle | 8 – Tied | 9 – Newton | State Farm Stadium (74,720) Glendale, AZ |
| April 8, 2024 9:20 p.m., TBS/TNT/TruTV | (1 E) No. 1 | vs. (1 MW) No. 3 Purdue National Championship | W 75–60 | 37–3 | 20 – Newton | 8 – Spencer | 7 – Newton | State Farm Stadium (74,423) Glendale, AZ |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East. W=West. MW=Midwest. All times are in Eastern Time. |||||||||
Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | 6 (2) | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 4 (2) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 (39) | 1 (44) | 1 (48) | 1 (45) | 1 (45) | 1 (62) | 3 (5) | 2 (6) | 2 (6) | 1 (61) | 1 (58) |
| Coaches | 5 (1) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 (20) | 1 (24) | 1 (23) | 1 (25) | 1 (24) | 1 (32) | 2 (3) | 2 (3) | 2 | 1 (32) | 1 (32) |
*No poll released