By Michael Letendre
Early last week, Donovan Clingan and the UConn men’s basketball team learned a little more about its non-conference 2023-24 schedule as the defending National Champions have another loaded slate.
Clingan, the All-State and CIAC Division II champ from Bristol Central, will lead the charge as the season – and title defense – commences on Monday, November 6.
The Huskies open up against Northern Arizona on November 6 from either Gampel Pavilion or the XL Central in Hartford.
Once again, the program will split time between the venues in Storrs and Hartford this season.
In fact, UConn will play its first few games at home – a slate of three games over an eight-day span.
From there, the non-conference schedule really starts to heat up.
On November 19, the Huskies travel to New York to take part of the Empire Classic from Madison Square Garden.
UConn opens tournament play against Indiana and then the following day, the Huskies will draw either Texas or Louisville.
The locals continue with that New York theme on November 24, hosting a showdown against Manhattan which is program former St. Paul All-Stater Carey Edwards once suited up for.
On November 24, the University of New Hampshire invades the Nutmeg State but the stakes truly increase to open the month of December.
On December 1, UConn takes part of a BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle.
The Huskies travel to Kansas for a huge main event challenge and after that showdown, UConn will get four days off before a trip back to New York is in order.
The Huskies have been invited to partake in the annual Jimmy V Classic and from MSG on December 5, it’s a date against ACC power North Carolina.
On December 9, an unusual opponent comes to Connecticut in the form of Arkansas-Pine-Bluff and finally on December 15, UConn plays in its final non-conference game.
And it’s going to be a good one as the Huskies square off against Gonzaga, a superior regular season opponent, in an epic showdown from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
The non-conference schedule is loaded and that’s before the Huskies truly get involved with its slate of Big East Games.
From Stonehill to Gonzaga, the Huskies will be battling programs with several different talent levels, styles, and abilities.
Bristol’s center of attention
After going 31-8 overall and adding the program’s fifth National Title, Clingan is poised to have a big season for the team.
And if he shows the growth everyone expects, due to increased playing time, the 7-foot-2 center might not be around Storrs for much longer.
Last season, Clingan posted nearly seven points and 5.6 rebounds-per-game in just 13.0 minutes.
He nearly canned two out of every three field goals he took and easily led the program in blocks with 70 (1.8 blocks-per-game).
Clingan will be flashing up some three-pointers this season and display more of an all-around game NBA scouts will be interested in.
But one thing at a time as the Huskies hit the court for its first official game just over two months away with Clingan and company itching to defend its 2022-23 championship.
At the Rent
Clingan and his teammates were on hand for UConn’s football game on Friday night, displaying a certain National Championship trophy to the delight of 36,000 adoring fans (rumor has it that Donovan held the championship trophy the entire evening…).
Clingan was also cheering on former Bristol Central basketball teammate Victor Rosa as he scored two touchdowns and nearly rushed for 100 yards in the Huskies 24-14 setback to N.C. State.
UConn Men’s Basketball 2023-24 Non-Conference Schedule*
Monday, November 6 – Northern Arizona (Home)
Saturday, November 11 – Stonehill (Home)
Tuesday, November 14 – Mississippi Valley State (Home)
Sunday, November 19 – vs. Indiana (Empire Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Monday, November 20 – vs. Texas/Louisville (Empire Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Friday, November 24 – Manhattan (Home)
Monday, November 27 – New Hampshire (Home)
Friday, December 1 – at Kansas (BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle)
Tuesday, December 5 – vs. North Carolina (Jimmy V Classic, Madison Square Garden)
Saturday, December 9 – Arkansas-Pine-Bluff (Home)
Friday, December 15 – vs. Gonzaga (Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle)
