College basketball has officially made its way back, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame helped kick things off with a preseason exhibition between UConn and Syracuse at Mohegan Sun.
The Huskies walked away with an 88-60 victory, but the night was about more than the final score. For both programs, it was an opportunity to get back into a competitive environment, experiment with new players and lineups, and see how their preparation translated on the court.
UConn came out tough, establishing an quick lead with familiar faces like Sarah Strong and KK Arnold. The fans also got first look at some of the Huskie’s newest additions, including Jovana Popovic and Olivia Vukosa, who each made an impression in their initial debuts.
Popovic, who joined the team from Serbia, seamlessly earned a spot in the starting lineup and caught everyone’s attention. During the postgame press conference, Geno Auriemma discussed the level of experience international players can bring to a program, particularly those who have already competed alongside older athletes overseas. With international recruiting continuing to play a role in college basketball, Popovic’s early performance showed a glimpse of what that experience can bring to UConn’s roster.
Syracuse had plenty to take away from this exhibition matchup as well. With eight newcomers entering the program this year, the team is still working towards building chemistry and finding their identity.
Despite a difficult opening quarter, Syracuse came back stronger in the second quarter, cutting UConn’s lead to only nine by the half. It was a reminder that even against a program like UConn, there are opportunities to find momentum and build up confidence.
And that’s exactly why these exhibition games are so valuable to have implemented.
There is only so much a team can learn from practicing against each other or their practice players. Facing another program in a game’s environment brings a different level of competition and motivation, allowing coaches to see what’s working, what still needs improvement, and how the players respond when things don’t go according to plan.
For UConn, it was a sight into how its tenured leaders and new faces meshed together. For Syracuse, it was a chance to test a new roster against one of the most established programs in women’s college basketball.
The Basketball Hall of Fame’s event also gave fans an early taste of the college basketball atmosphere they’ve been itching for since the end of the last NCAA tournament. Bringing two teams back together to compete at Mohegan Sun created a setting to welcome college ball back, even if the results don’t count toward the team’s official record.
Ultimately, preseason games aren’t about having everything figured out. They’re about discovering what comes next and getting back to that competitive nature.
Both UConn and Syracuse left Mohegan Sun Arena with a better understanding of where they stand, and with the regular season right around the corner, those lessons may prove more valuable than the final score.
Cover photo by Diana Alushaj