The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team is bracing for another significant game early on their schedule, as they’ll battle the Florida Gators in a rematch from the NCAA Tournament. The Gators bested UConn in that game on their way to winning the NCAA National Championship game behind a talented roster led by Walter Clayton Jr., now in the NBA.
With each Huskies game, anticipation builds for the team to showcase its full potential. However, that’s been tough to measure as they’ve rarely had the entire lineup available to play. In multiple games, freshman Braylon Mullins and big man Taris Reed Jr. have been out with injuries.
Mullins recently returned to the lineup and has already been a bright spot for the team, helping the team defeat the Kansas Jayhawks and earning Freshman of the Week honors last week.
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Meanwhile, Reed Jr. has been a glaring absence due to his ankle injury. Ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Huskies received an injury update with some major news on their big man.
According to Jon Rothstein, Reed is available to play in the game against the Gators. The Huskies center hasn’t played since Nov. 28 due to his ankle injury, but he provides a significant boost for the team.
Alex Karaban currently leads UConn with 5.8 rebounds per game, but Reed is known for recording impressive double-doubles and several blocks on his best nights.
The former Michigan player transferred to UConn last season and played backup to starting center Samson Johnson. However, many fans realized that Reed was a true asset for the team and hoped he’d return for the 2025-26 campaign, which he did.
The team’s only loss this season came at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats, who are now ranked No. 1. As one might expect, Reed was out for the game, and Arizona seemingly took advantage of the Huskies’ lack of Reed’s imposing interior presence and defensive abilities.
In his absence, freshman Eric Reibe has gained valuable experience and shown a promising skill set. With Reed returning, it could genuinely give the team a two-headed monster as the season moves forward.
While he’s reportedly available for the team, it’s unclear how much time Reed could spend on the court. When he last played on Nov. 28, he was limited to 15 minutes and finished with just two points, five rebounds, and a block.
In four games this season, Reed is averaging 15.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, two blocks, and 1.3 assists per game.
UConn enters Tuesday night’s game favored by 4.5 points at many sportsbooks, and Reed’s availability should add to fans’ confidence about their chances in this rematch against the Gators.
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