The Connecticut Huskies have had a season full of ups and downs, but they’ll have a chance to start their postseason on a high note when they face the Villanova Wildcats in the Big East tournament on Thursday at 9:30 p.

The UConn men’s basketball program is home to the Big East Freshman of the Year for the second year in a row with Liam McNeeley named the league’s top rookie.

McNeeley becomes the seventh freshman in program history and the second-consecutive Uconn player to win the prestigious award, as Stephon Castle took home the honors in 2024. He now joins a list of multiple Huskies' greats that features Rudy Gay in 2005 and Khalid El-Amin in 1998.