UConn Is a 2-Seed and Nobody Is Counting Them Out

Two years after winning back-to-back titles, the Huskies are back on the 2-line and positioned for a deep March run.

What we're watching: Dan Hurley's program has reloaded again. After a second-round exit last year, UConn returned to the top tier of college basketball. A 2-seed gives them a path to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Published: March 11, 2026

The cycle at UConn keeps repeating: lose key players, reload, and compete for a title.

Two years ago, the Huskies won their second straight championship with a historically dominant tournament run. Last year, they lost in the second round to eventual champion Florida. This year, they're back as a projected 2-seed with a roster that can match up with anyone.

Dan Hurley has turned UConn into the sport's most consistent program. Since arriving in Storrs in 2018, he's built the Huskies from a Big East also-ran into a two-time champion. The 2026 edition doesn't have the overwhelming depth of the 2023 and 2024 teams, but they've been strong enough to earn a top-eight seed in a loaded field.

UConn's strength this season has been guard play. Their backcourt has been one of the best in the Big East, and their ability to space the floor and shoot from deep makes them a tough matchup in tournament settings where half-court offense matters more than regular-season games.

The Big East sent three teams to the tournament in most projections - UConn, St. John's, and Marquette. UConn won the conference tournament after a tight semifinal, giving them momentum heading into the bracket reveal.

A 2-seed means UConn would likely see a 7-seed in the second round and potentially a 3-seed in the Sweet 16 before facing a 1-seed in the Elite Eight. That's a manageable path for a team with championship experience on the coaching staff and in the locker room.

The question with UConn is always the same: can they find another gear in March? The answer in 2023 and 2024 was an emphatic yes. In 2025, it was no. This year's team falls somewhere in between those extremes - good enough to make a run, not so dominant that they're the clear favorite.

But nobody who has watched college basketball over the last three years wants to draw UConn in their region. Hurley's teams play their best basketball when the stakes are highest. And Indianapolis, where the Final Four will be played this year, isn't far from Big East country.

In short: UConn is projected as a 2-seed for the 2026 tournament after bouncing back from last year's early exit. Dan Hurley's program has reloaded once again and enters March with enough talent and experience to make another deep run.