In order to win a national championship you need to be good, and you need a little luck. The latter is already kicking in for the Huskies and the tournament hasn't even started.
The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket won't be revealed until this upcoming Sunday, but things are already starting to look up for the University of Connecticut in advance of the revelation.
At 27-4 overall heading into the Big East Tournament, the Huskies are ticketed for a top seed, and they could receive a No. 1 if they win the tournament championship at Madison Square Garden.
But no matter what happens in the league tournament, Dan Hurley's team will be a contender for the national championship. After all, they've won two of the last three titles as it is, and six overall. They have a mix of veteran experience (Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., Silas Demary, Solo Ball) and youthful talent (Braylon Mullins), as well as a solid mix of post and guard play to make another run this March.
And they are also getting a little bit of luck before the tournament even starts.
Now, you never want to benefit because of another teams misfortunes, but it's a reality of the sport. Two teams that UConn could see along the road to a title are now dealing with massive issues that hamper them - and help the Huskies.
Duke
The regular season champion in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Blue Devils are ticketed for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They likely wouldn't see Connecticut until the Elite Eight or Final Four, but if they play them, they may have to do it without guard Caleb Foster, who fractured his foot in the regular season finale.
The guard started 30 of 31 games for the Blue Devils this season, averaging 25 minutes a night. He scores 8.5 ppg and dishes out 3.6 assists. A junior who also brings a helpful amount of postseason experience, he would be a big loss for Jon Scheyer's team.
North Carolina
The No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament, the Tar Heels are ticketed for a seed that could pair them with UConn in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, should they make it that far. If the Huskies do see the talented Tar Heels, they'll see them without super freshman Caleb Wilson, who is out for the season with a broken thumb.
He's projected to be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft and is a major loss for the Tar Heels. However, his absence is a major gain for any team that plays them along the way.
UConn will open up its Big East Tournament on Thursday against the Wednesday winner of Marquette and Xavier.
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