UConn Men’s Basketball Gears Up for Maui Invitational

STORRS – Dan Hurley, head coach of the University of Connecticut (UConn) men’s basketball team, does not anticipate his second-ranked squad being a finished product as they prepare for the Maui Invitational. The Huskies have shown promising signs early in the season, winning their first four games with an average margin of 38.7 points.

«I think we’ll be tinkering for a while,» Hurley commented ahead of their match against East Texas A&M (formerly Texas A&M-Commerce). Speaking on Monday evening, he added, «We have so many new people. There have been pleasant surprises and some guys we need to get going. It’s hard to tell at this stage whom you like the most until you play tougher games.»

The early part of the season has been marked by what Hurley describes as an easy schedule, which they have navigated successfully. UConn is currently ranked seventh in both offensive and defensive efficiency. In contrast, East Texas A&M is ranked 352 out of 364 Division I programs, still adjusting in their third season at this level.

East Texas A&M, led by eighth-year head coach Omar McDakar, has faced challenges with a roster overhaul and a slow start to the season. The Lions held off Southern University with a standout performance by 6-foot-1 guard Khaliq Abdul-Mateen, but lost prior games to Iowa, South Dakota, and Texas A&M by an average of 20.7 points.

UConn aims to fine-tune their play style ahead of more competitive matchups at the Maui Invitational, which will feature games against formidable opponents such as Memphis, Colorado, or Michigan State. As Hurley put it, «The level of competition is going to significantly increase, and we’re ready for that.»

Team rotations remain a point of interest for the Huskies. «You definitely see it coming to form, but it’s early in the season,» noted X. «When we get to Maui and the bigger nonconference games, lineups can change.» Recent games have highlighted strengths at the center position, and more is expected from guards as they continue to build chemistry.

UConn’s match against East Texas A&M serves as a final opportunity to refine strategies before the high-profile Maui Invitational. The game will be played at Gampel Pavilion, broadcast on FS1 with John Fanta and Donny Marshall providing commentary.