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The American Conference released its conference matchups for each women’s basketball, meaning we now know home and away conference slate for Geno Auriemma’s Huskies.
UConn will play two games against UCF, Memphis, USF, Temple and Tulane, one on the road and one at home. With multiple games against USF and Temple, the second and third best teams in the AAC, the Huskies will maximize whatever value they can from the conference slate. They are also guaranteed a trip back to Devlin Fieldhouse, where the Green Wave nearly pulled off a huge upset last season.
The home schedule includes Jamelle Elliot’s Cincinnati squad, conference newcomers Wichita State, and Tulsa. With the Bearcats coming to Connecticut, the Huskies will not have to play at the 1,000-seat St. Ursula Academy that is serving as Cincinnati’s temporary home while Fifth Thirds Arena undergoes renovations.
However, UConn will be playing at a new venue for their trip to Texas. Houston is also renovating their arena, meaning both Cougar basketball teams will play at the Toyota Center, the home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Their other matchups feature SMU and East Carolina.
Overall, the matchups are the best Husky fans can hope for. UConn will play the best teams in the conference twice and avoid a trip to a high school gym (although the school would likely find an alternate site for the game).
Even though the conference schedule will likely be another cakewalk for what should be a loaded and motivated team, having more games with better teams opens the door for more competitive contests and the possibility of an upset.