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Next Step Before Basketball Season for UConn: Big East Media Day
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- Next Step Before Basketball Season for UConn: Big East Media Day
What is the biggest signthat the UConn Huskies are on the cusp of basketball season?
The Big East's BasketballMedia Day is Thursday, with the league the first among the basketball powerconferences to hold the annual event.
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Coaches and playersfrom the 11 men's and 11 women's conference teams will gather at the Marriott Marquis in TimesSquare in New York to answer questions about the upcoming season.
Coaches Shaka Smart (left) of Marquette and Dan Hurley of UConn chat before their teams meet in March at Milwaukee. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
'Unfinished business'?
A question boundto be asked – or something similar – of UConn's Dan Hurley and Geno Auriemmaand their players: "You reached the Final Four last season and fell short ofthe championship. Do you feel you have unfinished business?"
Sure, they do. Thegoal at the end of the season in the Basketball Capital of America is always tohoist the trophy in April.
The UConn menlost 69-63 to Michigan in the 2026 NCAA championship game. The women, riding a38-0 season record into their semifinal against South Carolina , were stunned62-48 and fell short of reaching the title game.
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The UConn menwill be pursuing their 40th NCAA Tournament, ninth Final Four andseventh championship (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023 and 2024) when their seasonopens Nov. 2 against Gardner-Webb .
UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) defends against South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson (5) during the semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament on April 3 in Phoenix. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The UConn womenwere thwarted last season in their quest for back-to-back championships, whichwould have been their 13th. Auriemma has led the program to all 37 ofits tournament appearances and all 25 Final Fours. The Huskies won the NCAAchampionship in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016and 2025.
Their first gameis Nov. 2 against Cornell .
Will Big EastMedia Day be on television?
Peacock willstream the event live on Thursday. The men's portion of Media Day will begin at9 a.m. ET, with the women's basketball show set to follow at 12:30 p.m.
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Who willrepresent the teams at Media Day?
The UConn menand women will have similar player lineups joining their coaches: theunquestioned leader, standout sophomores who are being counted on for big things,and veterans vital to the program.
For the men:Silas Demary Jr., Braylon Mullins and Jayden Ross. For the women, it's SarahStrong, Blanca Quiñonez and KK Arnold.
UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) and Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) battle for the ball with Duke center Patrick Ngongba (21) and Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer (2) in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 29 in Washington, D.C. Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Here's the listof the remaining MediaDay player attendees .
Men's basketball
Butler: Jalen Jackson, Drayton Jones, Asim Djulovic, Eduardo Klafke
Creighton: Jasen Green, Jackson McAndrew, Wes Enis
DePaul: Layden Blocker, Noah Meeusen, Théo Pierre-Justin
Georgetown: Chol Machot, Kayvaun Mulready, Josiah Parker, Jaland Lowe, ElmarkoJackson
Marquette
: Nigel James Jr., Royce Parham, Sananda Fru, Adrien Stevens
Providence: Malik Mack, Miles ByrdSt. John's: Ian Jackson, Ruben Prey
Seton Hall
: Roddie Anderson, Simeon Wilcher
Villanova: Tyler Perkins, Kwame Evans Jr.
Xavier: Jovan Milicevic, Mike Nwoko
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Women's basketball
Butler: Tamar Singer, Lili Krasovec, Nevaeh Jackson, Saniya Jackson
Creighton: Neleigh Gessert, Ava Zediker, Nia Holloway
DePaul: Kate Clarke, Zoey Ward, Louis Volker
Georgetown: Brianna Byars, Khia Miller, Destiny Agubata, Bo Frost
Marquette: Halle Vice, Jordan Meulemans, MacKenzie Givens
Providence: Orlagh Gormley, Princess Moody
St. John's: Brooke Moore, Sa'Mya Wyatt, Daniela Abies
Seton Hall: Savannah Catalon, Ja'Kahla Craft, Shailyn Pinkney, Ari Woodard
Villanova: Jasmine Bascoe, Kennedy Henry, Dani Ceseretti
Xavier: Meri Kanerva, Mya Moore
