You never like to get an advantage as a result of someone else's disadvantage, but that's what happened for the Huskies.
The UConn men's basketball team got a big break on Tuesday, as Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Michigan's Brandon McCoy will miss the entire season with an ACL injury, meaning he won't play when the Huskies play the Wolverines in a championship rematch on Nov. 6.
Of course, you never want to get a break as a result of someone else's injury, but it's undeniable that this is an advantage for the Huskies. McCoy, a freshman, was a Top-20 ranked player by ESPN. Thamel reports that he was expected to have a big impact for the Huskies, who are the defending national champions.
He injured the knee during an exhibition in Croatia.
In addition to losing McCoy, the Wolverines lost three first-round draft picks to the NBA. Head coach Dusty May also left for the NBA, leaving to take on the Dallas Mavericks job. But despite all that turmoil, the Wolverines still figure to be a very solid team in a highly-competitive Big Ten, and they are just one of several A-list programs that Dan Hurley's team will face in 2026-27.
yran Stokes (4) with Brandon McCoy Jr (0) during the McDonalds All American Boys Game at Desert Diamond Arena. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesThe Huskies will also face Arizona, Kansas, Duke, Illinois and Arizona. In Arizona and Illinois, along with Michigan, they will face all three other Final Four teams from a season ago.
With a starting backcourt of Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, the Huskies also figure to be very good again this season. But with a challenging schedule, and the losses of Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban to the NBA, there will be some learning curves along the way.
The season begins on Nov. 2, but the Huskies will be in action before that as they take on Syracuse in an exhibition contest on Oct. 13. They'll also play Purdue on Oct. 27.
Elsewhere in UConn athletics
We are just five days away from the start of the UConn football season as the Huskies take on Lafayette on Saturday at noon ET.
Coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, the Huskies are set to begin the Jason Candle era after he took over for previous head coach Jim Mora. Candle previously spent 10 years at Toledo and comes in highly regarded, however, the team has yet to name a starting quarterback with just days to go.
It appears to be a three-QB race for the position, and a decision is expected soon. You can read more on the battle here.
