The stage is set for a heavyweight battle between the last three national champions. The No. 5 UConn Huskies and the No. 18 Florida Gators will meet Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, a rematch of last March’s NCAA Tournament second-round thriller where Florida ended UConn’s quest for a three-peat. The Huskies, with an 8-1 record, are looking for revenge, while the 5-3 Gators aim to prove their early-season struggles are behind them. The game tips off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This matchup is steeped in recent history and personal motivation. In Raleigh last March, Florida rallied from a six-point second-half deficit to win 77-75, propelled by a game-high 23 points from Walter Clayton Jr. The Huskies have not forgotten. “The rematch with Florida is circled on my calendar. I didn’t play the way I wanted to,” said UConn junior guard Solo Ball. UConn’s path to this point has been impressive, navigating a stretch without its leading scorer and rebounder, Tarris Reed Jr. The 6-foot-11 center has missed the last two games with an ankle injury but is a game-time decision for Tuesday after participating in recent practices. In his absence, 7-foot freshman Eric Reibe has been a revelation, stepping up notably in a landmark road win at Kansas.
The Gators present a massive challenge, literally. They are the nation’s second-best rebounding team, averaging 47.6 boards per game, led by center Rueben Chinyelu (11.2 rebounds per game) and All-American candidate Alex Condon (15.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg). UConn coach Dan Hurley compared Florida’s frontcourt size to the legendary Boston Celtics trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. While Florida returned its size, its backcourt has been overhauled. Kentucky transfer Boogie Fland (12.5 ppg) and Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee (8.4 ppg) have replaced the departed Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Alijah Martin. Lee, in particular, has struggled with the jump to high-major competition, shooting just 24.7% from the field.
Hurley is banking on a resurgence from his own backcourt. He predicts a major surge for Solo Ball, whose three-point shooting has dipped below 30% this season after a breakout year. “I think Solo is going to get hot, and his three-point numbers, when it’s all said and done, are going to look like they did last year,” Hurley said, noting that Ball will likely be tasked with guarding either Fland or Lee. The coach pointed to a revamped defense as the key to UConn’s early success. Led by guard Silas Demary Jr., the Huskies are holding opponents to 60.4 points per game and a 37.4% field goal percentage. “We’re bringing a defense to the court that can sustain us when we have off shooting nights,” Hurley stated.
The Jimmy V Classic also serves as a tribute to the event’s namesake, the late Jim Valvano. The charismatic coach, famous for his 1983 NCAA title run with NC State and his inspirational “Don’t Give Up” speech, spent two seasons (1970-72) as an assistant on Dee Rowe’s staff at UConn. Though the Huskies went a combined 18-31 in those years, it was at UConn where Valvano first displayed the infectious personality that would make him a college basketball icon. Former UConn coach Jim Calhoun recalled him as “a one-man show” and “one of the funniest people you’re ever going to meet.”
Tuesday’s clash is more than a non-conference showcase; it’s a pivotal moment for both teams’ identities. For Florida, a win at the Garden against a top-five opponent would silence doubts and re-establish their championship pedigree. For UConn, it’s a chance to avenge a painful tournament exit, showcase their defensive growth, and potentially welcome back a key star in Reed. Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, with the spirit of Jimmy V hovering, two college basketball bluebloods will write the next chapter in their burgeoning rivalry.