UConn Men Open Season Against Gardner-Webb at 9 p.m. Monday

The No. 4 UConn men's basketball team begins its 2026-27 campaign on Monday night at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. The game serves as the nightcap for a separate-admission doubleheader event featuring both the men's and women's programs.

The Huskies are scheduled to tip off against Gardner-Webb at 9 p.m. The women's team will take the floor earlier in the evening for a 5 p.m. contest against Cornell. Broadcast coverage of the men's game will air on Peacock and NBCSN, while audio coverage will stream on the UConn Sports Network.

UConn enters the season with a healthy roster, though one key player remains in limbo. Guard Braylon Mullins returned to action against Purdue after missing the first two exhibition games due to an undisclosed injury. The team appears ready to play, except for Solo Ball, who is still deciding whether to return this season following off-season wrist surgery.

The probable starting lineup for UConn includes forward Nik Khamenia, guard Silas Demary Jr., center Na'jai Hines, forward Jayden Ross, and guard Braylon Mullins. Mullins led the group in scoring last season with 12.0 points per game, while Demary Jr. averaged 10.5.

Gardner-Webb will field a lineup featuring guard Jacob Hudson, who averaged 10.7 points per game in the 2025-26 season. Other probable starters for the Runnin' Bulldogs include guard Jamias Ferere, forward Mikhail Pocknett, guard Ace Talbert, and center Brave Rutsindura.