Report: UConn Men’s Basketball to Play Auburn

In February, David Benedict was hired as UConn’s Athletic Director from his post as Auburn’s Chief Operating Officer - a new position created for him. In December, his new school and his old school will do battle on the basketball court.

Multiple reports are saying that the Tigers and the Huskies will be meeting in Hartford on December 23. Auburn will already be in the area, as they are scheduled for a neutral site game with the University of Oklahoma two days earlier at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

UConn and Auburn have squared off once before, on November 26, 1989 in the Great Alaskan Shootout. The Huskies prevailed, 95-81.

Auburn is losing a lot of talent from last year’s 11-20 team, including leading scorers Kareem Canty (18.3 points per game) and Tyler Harris (13.9 points per game), who was a graduate transfer from Providence. However, the Tigers are bringing in a strong recruiting class, including two highly-ranked incoming freshmen: Mustapha Heron (#19), who hails from Connecticut, and Jared Harper (#56).

Auburn will also have a graduate transfer from Houston, Ronnie Johnson. He averaged 9.4 points per game as a Cougar last season and scored 10 points against the Huskies in a win at Gampel Pavilion last season, hitting 3-of-4 free throws late to clinch the game for the Cougars.