The wait is over: it's basketball time

The college basketball season has begun at UConn and students have never been more excited to cheer on the Huskies.

The men's team begins its season on Wednesday, Nov. 6 against Sacred Heart after two straight seasons of national championship victories, and fans have only one thing on their minds: more wins.

“It would be nice to go three times in a row,” says CJ Ryan ’25 (BUS).

Keanu Gomez '28 (CLAS) wants “double championships.” He expects the men's and women's teams to dominate the field and hopes both take home national titles like they did in 2004 and 2014. UConn remains the only school where both men and women have won national titles in the same year.

The UConn women's season begins with a game against Boston University on Thursday, November 7 at the XL Center in Hartford.

Gomez has only been to the XL Center for games. Nick Guidi '28 (ENG) has never been to a game. These freshmen are excited to finally experience a game on campus. “I watch all the games on TV, so it will be cool to finally see Gampel in real life,” says Guidi.

Gomez and Guidi say basketball and the teams' recent success were one of the reasons they chose UConn.

Gampel Pavillion has been the home field of 17 national championship teams. Eleven championships from the women's team and six from the men's team. The championship pedigree creates an exciting atmosphere on campus for students.

“It’s loud, everyone agrees. We’re all a team, we’re all Huskies,” said Ryan Anderson ’26 (BUS).

All 9,882 seats in Gampel are fully booked on match days as students brave the freezing winter temperatures while waiting for tickets. The students dominate the crowd and create one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college basketball for opposing teams.

“It makes you feel at home,” says Mike Fenton ’26 (CLAS).

UConn students can request tickets for free. This encourages support for the programs and ensures there is a full house at every game in Storrs. It's this atmosphere that allows a small town in Connecticut to lay claim to the title of “Basketball Capital of the World.”

“With wins comes fans, and fans bring atmosphere, and that just brings a culture to the entire campus and creates an atmosphere.” Guidi says.

On game days, the atmosphere on campus is always present and positive. “There’s a lot more energy in the air, whether you’re at home or away,” Ryan says.

UConn basketball's winning culture dates back to the days of coach Hugh Greer, who led seven teams to NCAA Tournament appearances in the 1950s and 1960s. But when future coaching legends Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun arrived in the 1980s, they developed two programs that made winning a way of life.

Auriemma will soon be 40Th Season with the women's program. During that time, en route to 11 national championships, he only posted a losing record in one season: his first.

Jim Calhoun built the men's program into the blueblood it is today, winning national titles in 1999, 2004 and 2011. Coach Dan Hurley has continued that winning tradition, leading the men to NCAA titles in 2023 and 2024.

“It’s just been a good basketball school for years, with programs for men and women,” Ryan said. “And that kind of drives people.”