During a recent episode of “The Field of 68” podcast, analyst Rob Dauster was not shy in his evaluation of UConn’s defense last campaign, going into the 2025-26 season.
“The X-factor for me for this group is the defensive end of the floor,” Dauster said, referencing lingering concerns that date back to the beginning of the previous season. “They got much better at the end of last season than they were at the start of last season. It was, for a while, a mess on that end.”
Dauster, in particular, pointed to the loss of Hassan Diarra as a big blow.
“I would argue that Hassan Diarra was their best on-ball defender last year, and he’s gone,” he added.
The biggest X-factor for UConn will be on the defensive end, explains @RobDauster 👀
“It was a mess at times last season. And it’s still a potential red flag…”
🔗 https://t.co/I1ORPq5Fc3 pic.twitter.com/s4IY260CVg
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) August 7, 2025
Diarra’s defense and pressure on the perimeter aided UConn’s late-season run. His departure creates a gap that the coaching staff is hoping that one of the new additions will fill.
Dauster continued that incoming freshman Braylon Mullins might be a force down the road, but most freshmen are not constructed to be defensive stoppers. He concluded by saying that the past elite UConn teams had a nasty defensive identity, which this group has not demonstrated.
UConn Reloads Amid Losses, Preparing for a Grueling 2025–26 Schedule
UConn has been busy in the transfer portal, trying to fill holes. The Huskies acquired Alec Millender (IU Indianapolis), who is likely to strengthen the rotation. On the same podcast, analyst John Fanta claimed that returning players were “pissed off” about last year’s early exit.
The 2025-26 schedule will not be easy. UConn will start its season against Florida at Madison Square Garden and face Arizona, Kansas, and Michigan State before Big East play. They should have plenty of opportunities to establish a tournament resume early, and their defensive ceiling will likely dictate how far they can go.
The looming question seems to be whether this team will be able to have that same intimidating presence that previous squads did. “The Field of 68” observed that returning players such as Solo Ball and Alex Karaban will be required to lead the defense in establishing the tone. Should UConn be able to define itself early in the season on that side of the court, Dauster and Fanta believe they will be well poised to compete in March.
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