Storrs, CT – The UConn men’s basketball team (23-10) is heading to its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament, securing an at-large bid as the No. 8 seed in the West Region.
The Huskies will face No. 9 seed Oklahoma (20-13) on Friday, March 21, in Raleigh, N.C. Tip-off time and TV network details will be announced later.
This marks just the third time in program history that UConn has made the tournament in five straight seasons, tying runs from 2002-06 under Jim Calhoun and 1956-60 under Hugh Greer.
Head coach Dan Hurley has now taken seven teams to the NCAA Tournament, holding a 14-4 record in his 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
The Huskies enter March Madness following a run to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals and wins in five of their last six games.
They finished third in the conference with a 14-6 league record and secured marquee victories over Baylor, Gonzaga, Texas, Marquette, and Creighton.
Oklahoma received an at-large bid from the SEC despite a 6-12 conference record.
The Sooners rank 43rd in NET and are 11-12 in Quads 1 and 2 matchups.
Historically, Oklahoma leads the all-time series against UConn 3-1, with the Huskies’ lone win coming at Gampel Pavilion in 2004. The teams have never met on a neutral court.
UConn boasts one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, ranking among the top 15 in KenPom offensive efficiency.
The Huskies are top-20 nationally in assists per game, assist/turnover ratio, free throw percentage, and assist rate. They also lead the BIG EAST in field goal percentage.
Solo Ball leads the team with 14.6 points per game and is one of the nation’s most efficient three-point shooters, hitting 42.2% from deep.
Liam McNeeley, the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, averages 14.5 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 86.1% from the free-throw line. Alex Karaban, an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, contributes 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
The Huskies lead the country in blocked shots, averaging 6.4 per game. Center Samson Johnson shoots 77.1% from the field, ranking fifth nationally, while BIG EAST Sixth Man of the Year Tarris Reed Jr. adds 9.7 points, a team-high 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
The winner of UConn vs. Oklahoma will face either top-seeded Florida (30-4) or No. 16 seed Norfolk State (24-10) on Sunday, March 23. Tip-off details for that game will be announced after Friday’s matchups.
