No. 6 UConn Men's Basketball Faces Butler in Big East Matchup

Huskies look to bounce back after first Big East loss of the season

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The No. 6 ranked UConn men's basketball team will travel to Indianapolis to take on Butler in a Big East conference matchup. The Huskies are coming off their first Big East loss of the season, an 81-72 defeat to St. John's, and will be looking to start a new winning streak. Butler, led by head coach Thad Matta, features the Big East's leading scorer and 3-point shooter in Finley Bizjack as well as the league's top rebounder in Michael Ajayi.

Why it matters

This game represents a rare Quad 1 opportunity for UConn in Big East play, as road wins against teams ranked 1-75 in the NET are considered Quad 1. However, Butler's current NET ranking of 73 means this game could potentially drop to a Quad 2 contest if the Bulldogs slip in the rankings. The Huskies will be looking to bounce back from their first conference loss and maintain their position atop the Big East standings.

The details

UConn head coach Dan Hurley was not pleased with his team's performance in the loss to St. John's, citing 15 turnovers and a lack of toughness on the boards. The Huskies beat Butler 79-60 in their Big East season opener back in December, but Hurley expects the Bulldogs to be more prepared for the rematch, especially playing at home in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler's Finley Bizjack leads the Big East in scoring and 3-point shooting, while Michael Ajayi paces the conference in rebounding.

  • UConn beat Butler 79-60 in their Big East season opener on December 16, 2025.
  • The rematch will take place on Wednesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM.

The players

Dan Hurley

The head coach of the UConn men's basketball team.

Finley Bizjack

The leading scorer and 3-point shooter in the Big East, playing for Butler.

Michael Ajayi

The leading rebounder in the Big East, also playing for Butler.

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What they’re saying

“When you experience the way that we just played that game and watch the film and see the things we saw, you're not thinking about the Big East standings, Quad 1, Quad 2, Quad anything. You see the things that just went on with your team that have your total attention and addressing so many of these things internally.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach (greenwichtime.com)

“Butler's a well-coached team, they gave us a run the first time we played them. I definitely expect the second time around, especially at home, them being more prepared and coming with an even better game plan. We've got to come ready and do what we need to do to get the win.”

— Silas Demary Jr., UConn Player (greenwichtime.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game represents an important Quad 1 opportunity for UConn as they look to bounce back from their first Big East loss of the season. However, Butler's strong offensive duo of Finley Bizjack and Michael Ajayi will present a tough challenge, especially playing at home in the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.