NEW YORK — With every passing moment in the second half of the Connecticut Huskies’ 75-60 victory over Purdue last April, the team edged closer to being part of college basketball lore.

After bagging their fifth national title the previous year, UConn secured back-to-back championships by dominating the NCAA tournament, winning by an average of 23.3 points each game, culminating in an impressive showdown against Purdue. This feat placed the Huskies among an elite group, as they became only the eighth team in history to win consecutive championships since the tournament began in 1939.

Among these teams, only UCLA, under the legendary coach John Wooden, achieved a historic three-peat by claiming seven consecutive titles from 1967 to 1973.

The ongoing college basketball season is filled with captivating narratives, but UConn’s drive to join UCLA in the record books stands out prominently.

“The upcoming season presents a unique opportunity for us,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley at the Big East media day.

Achieving this significant milestone hinges on how Hurley bolsters a roster that has lost four players to the NBA draft, including two who were chosen in the top seven picks.

Moreover, there are concerns regarding whether any team can replicate this success in a landscape characterized by deeper conferences, a rise in competitive balance, widespread player movement through the transfer portal, and an enlarged tournament format — challenges absent during Wooden’s era at UCLA.

Rebuilding with a New Core

Last season demonstrated the remarkable ability of Hurley and the Huskies to refresh their roster quickly.

Critical players like Jordan Hawkins, Andre Jackson, and Adama Sanogo have moved on, leaving UConn to construct a team primarily around a talented yet largely untested group of returnees.

This combination of potential and inexperience was epitomized by former center Donovan Clingan, who had an impressive debut season as a backup but is now stepping into a significantly larger role. Supporting Clingan are returning players like guard Tristen Newton and forward Alex Karaban, along with promising newcomers such as freshman Stephon Castle and Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer.

Unlike the previous season, when the Huskies surged in March, last year’s squad held the No. 1 ranking in the Coaches Poll for seven consecutive weeks before the final rankings were released and clinched the Big East regular-season and tournament titles for the first time since 2002. Their dominance throughout the NCAA tournament further solidified UConn’s position among the elite teams in recent memory.

Hurley now faces the challenge of building a competitive team once again to maintain UConn’s status among the nation’s top programs.

“We’re basically returning no one,” he remarked. “It’s remarkable how many players we’ve cycled through in just two years.”

With Clingan and the others now gone, Karaban, a junior, is back as a third-year starter after considering the NBA draft. Senior guard Hassan Diarra and senior forward Samson Johnson are set to transition from supporting roles to starting positions, joining Karaban along with impressive sophomores Jaylin Stewart and Solomon Ball.

“That was a key reason I decided to return,” Karaban stated, “because I believe we have a great opportunity to pursue a three-peat and make history.”

UConn enhanced this returning group through traditional recruiting efforts and the transfer portal. Five-star freshman forward Liam McNeeley is anticipated to receive substantial playing time. Former Michigan forward Tarris Reed and former Saint Mary’s guard Aidan Mahaney, both juniors, are expected to contribute significantly off the bench.

Most importantly, the Huskies retain Hurley, who briefly entertained an offer from the Los Angeles Lakers this summer before deciding to stay at UConn with a lucrative six-year contract extension worth $50 million, lasting until the 2029-30 season.

“This contract validates the journey I’ve undertaken,” Hurley reflected. “I take immense pride in the path I’ve traveled.”

Recent Attempts at a Championship Three-Peat

Out of the seven teams in NCAA history that have won back-to-back national championships, five achieved this before the tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975. The two teams that have attempted to three-peat since the 64-team format was introduced in 1985 either did not progress far into the playoffs or didn’t qualify for the tournament at all:

After their victories in 1991 and 1992, Duke had a roster featuring four future NBA draft selections, such as guard Bobby Hurley and forward Grant Hill. Despite high expectations, the Blue Devils ended up tying for third in the ACC, were eliminated in the quarterfinals of their conference tournament, and lost to California in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Florida clinched championships in 2006 and 2007 under coach Billy Donovan with a seasoned roster that included six eventual NBA draft picks, like forward Al Horford and center Joakim Noah. However, suffering significant offseason player losses, the Gators did not qualify for the next two NCAA tournaments and couldn’t get past the opening round until 2011.

History certainly poses challenges for the Huskies. However, Duke provides an intriguing comparison: The 1993 squad, similar to this year’s Huskies, lost crucial starters (including standout forward Christian Laettner) but still retained enough skill and experience to be perceived as favorites for the national title at the start of the season.

“We definitely had the goal of achieving a three-peat in mind,” Hill recalled. “We believed we could do it.”

Ultimately, the Blue Devils faced setbacks due to injuries, the pressure of being at the top, and the challenges of sustaining a championship-caliber performance with a reshuffled lineup.

“In some ways, it was easier being the hunter rather than the hunted,” Hill explained. “The difference between our first and second years was that we maintained the same core group of players. Transitioning from year two to year three while pursuing that third title posed a whole new set of challenges.”

Seizing the Chance to Create History

The factors that troubled the Blue Devils have become even more pronounced in today’s college basketball landscape. A significant issue has been the high player turnover through the transfer portal, which complicates efforts to maintain success, even for consistently elite programs.

“Every season feels like a fresh start in today’s college basketball environment,” Hill stated. “It’s a completely different atmosphere.”

Nevertheless, many aspects at UConn remain unchanged.

One constant is the intensity of the Huskies. Hurley has been coaching this team “harder than I’ve ever coached any other squad,” motivated by the aim of achieving something historic.

Another constant is the attitude of the Huskies, which remains undeterred, if not more pronounced, despite their back-to-back titles. Even with a roster brimming with top-tier recruits and impactful transfers, UConn continues to adopt a mentality of “us-against-the-world” that has driven the program to remarkable heights.

“We carry that chip on our shoulders every single day, and we approach things the right way,” Diara shared. “It’s all about the motivation to win that third title. We refuse to be complacent.”

Expectations remain high. Understanding how rare this opportunity is, the Huskies are fully committed to making history.

“I consistently emphasize the historic significance of our season because it’s the undeniable fact we must confront,” Hurley remarked. “You can’t overlook this chance.”