The University of Connecticut men's basketball program will look much different in 2026-27. Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban have graduated and will test their fortunes in the NBA, while Eric Reibe (USC) and Jaylin Stewart (SMU) have left via the transfer portal.

Solo Ball is out for the entirety of the upcoming season because of wrist surgery, leaving another hole in Dan Hurley's backcourt.

And it looks senior transfer Nils Machowski is going to be part of the puzzle to fill that hole. The transfer from Wofford visited over the weekend and committed to the Huskies on Tuesday afternoon.

A 6'3 junior from Berlin, Germany, he averaged 17.2 ppg this past season for the Terriers while also securing 5.7 rebounds and dishing out 2.6 assists. He shot 38.2 percent from three-point range.

He played in 32 games after starting his career at Central Florida. In those two years, he averaged only 2.9 ppg.

1) First off, you can never have enough complete players on a roster. It's that simple. Machowski can score and rebound from the guard position. That's valuable - especially in a physical conference like the Big East. The Huskies finished second in the league in 2025-26, losing out to St. John's. They need to be able to match the Red Storm's energy and intensity.

2) Second off, Machowski should have an easier time getting looks at UConn than he did at Wofford, presumably, which should help him get a rhythm offensively. Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins will both be bigger focuses from defenses, which should free Machowski up for some open looks, which he can clearly knock down.

3) With Ball hurt and out for the year, the Huskies need help at the guard position. Machowski will be a senior who can provide it, and then he'll exit as Ball is ready to come back in 2027-28. Hurley already said that Ball will be back in 2027-28.

Machowski played in the Big 12, and didn't register much of an impact in two years. Is that because of UCF's system? Roster? Coaching? Youth? Inexperience? All of the above?

Or, is it because his skillset didn't translate as well to a power conference school and he's best suited for a smaller league?

Hurley is clearly banking on the former while hoping that he'll be a big part of the Huskies path back to the national title game.

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