After getting knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago, the pundits are high on Dan Hurley's team heading into 2025-26.

The University of Connecticut men's basketball team earned the No. 4 ranking in the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the season, which was released on Monday.

Purdue is the preseason No. 1, with Houston at No. 2. Defending champion Florida, who knocked Connecticut out the NCAA Tournament a season ago, is at No. 3. St. Johns, led by Rick Pitino, is at No. 5.

Rounding out the Top 25 is Duke, Michigan, BYU, Kentucky, Texas Tech, Louisville, UCLA, Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa State, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas, Auburn, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Creighton, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

UConn is one of three Big East teams to get ranked, alongside Creighton and St. John's. The Big 10 has the most ranked teams with six.

How UConn fared last season

After winning the national championship in 2023-24, the Huskies again had a successful run in '24-25, going 24-11 overall. They also went 14-2 in league play, but were upended by Florida in the NCAA Tournament as the Gators won the title.

While it was a good season for Dan Hurley's crew, it paled in comparison to the UConn women, who won the National Championship again under Geno Auriemma.

Up ahead

The Huskies will begin their exhibition season on Monday night when they take on Boston College at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. They will also play Michigan State on Oct. 28 before beginning the regular season on Nov. 3 against Division II New Haven.

The Huskies have a challenging non-conference schedule that features matchups against BYU, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Florida, and Texas.

They'll open up Big East play against Butler on Dec. 16.