Two perennial powers in college basketball face off in preparation for the 2025-26 season as the No. 4 UConn men’s basketball team welcomes the No. 22 Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday night.
The Huskies have faced Michigan State eight times since 1998, with each team winning four games. It started with a home-and-home during the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons, where the home team came out on top. This exhibition game will not count towards the all-time series.
Since then, the two programs have met at neutral sites, including the 2009 Final Four in Detroit (lost 82-73) and the 2014 Elite Eight in New York City (won 60-54). Since that Final Four-clinching win at Madison Square Garden 11 years ago, Michigan State has won the last two meetings (2017 and 2021). The most recent meeting is the only time current UConn head coach Dan Hurley has faced the Spartans, led by Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.
The Huskies are coming off a 71-52 exhibition win over Boston College at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 13. Alex Karaban, a preseason first-team All-Big East player, led the way with 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, but shot a dismal 6-16 from the field, including 3-10 from downtown. Solo Ball, also named to the preseason all-Big East first team, also notched double figures with 12 points on 5-13 shooting. While the Leesburg, Va. native is known to be one of college basketball’s top sharpshooters, Ball shot just 1-8 from long range.
The Huskies are not at full strength heading into the second exhibition game.
Braylon Mullins, the preseason Big East Freshman of the Year, will miss approximately six weeks due to an ankle injury suffered last week. The McDonald’s All-American started to get hot toward the end of the first exhibition game, finishing with 12 points and shooting 4-9 from the floor.
Silas Demary Jr. and Tarris Reed Jr. missed the win over Boston College due to a calf injury and a hamstring injury, respectively. It is uncertain if Demary, who was named to the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award on Monday, is able to play with no update as of writing. Hurley told the media following the first exhibition game that Reed was doubtful to play against Michigan State, but there has not been an update since, as of writing.
Michigan State is coming off a 75-66 exhibition win over Bowling Green on Oct. 23. Forward Coen Carr led the Spartans with 17 points, hitting 7-11 shots from the field. Center Jaxon Kohler will be a test for both Reed and Reibe as he is coming off a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Guard Jeremy Fears Jr. nearly finished with a double-double as well, with 12 points and a game-high nine assists. USA Today listed the three leading Spartans as preseason All-Big Ten honorable mention players.
Michigan State is coming off a terrific season, winning the Big Ten regular season title for the first time since the 2019-20 season. For the 27th-straight season, the Spartans made the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA recognizes that as the longest active streak in Division I. For the 11th time under Izzo, Michigan State made the Elite Eight, where they fell to top-seeded Auburn.
According to KenPom, Michigan State is expected to have the No. 37 offense and No. 15 defense in terms of adjusted efficiency. In the exhibition win over Bowling Green, the Spartans shot 41.5% from the floor, 32% from 3-point range (eight 3-pointers) and shot just 13-20 from the free-throw line.
UConn looks to be battle-tested ahead of a loaded non-conference regular season schedule, which begins in six days on Nov. 3 against New Haven.
The Huskies and Spartans tip off on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Conn. For those in Connecticut, the game will be available to watch on WFSB (Channel 3), but those outside the Nutmeg State will have to watch on UConn+, with a pay-per-view fee of $7.99.
