One thing about the UConn head coach is that he’s not ducking the smoke! After a second-round exit against the Florida Gators, we could see Dan Hurley reflecting and plotting for the challenges to come. You don’t take a team to the promised land two years in a row just to take a loss like that lying down, especially not with Hurley’s competitive drive. So what did he come up with in the off-season? How does he plan to reclaim the national championship? Well, he’s not looking that far ahead just yet! On the contrary, Dan Hurley is making sure that his team follows the process to the Tee. Every championship season requires some great competition to start it off, and he has arranged for just that. The Huskies are all set to face six high-major opponents, all projected to be ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. Or to put it simply, Hurley is getting his army ready for war.On CBS Sports’ Eye on College Basketball, Matt Norlander discussed the gravity of this schedule for Dan Hurley. “You will play 20 in the Big East, 6 high majors, and the other five will be at home against mid-majors,” he pointed out, and it sounds like quite the task for the Huskies! Their schedule isn’t light with teams like Kansas, Florida, and BYU gracing the high-major part of it. And the revamped roster will be up against the likes of AJ Dybantsa, Jaden Bradley, Alex Condon, and Darryn Peterson.It seems like the Huskies are going to be left in the jungle with only one objective: eat or be eaten. But on the contrary, let’s look at one of UConn’s competitors in the Big 12 conference–Kansas. “They have only one game against a high-major non-conference team, only one, and it’s the UConn game,” Norlander said. Bill Self’s planning seems to be the exact opposite of Hurley’s. Keeping a relatively light and breezy non-conference schedule gives Self’s team a chance to hit the ground running and maintain momentum heading into conference play.And that’s the beauty of non-conference games, isn’t it? Coaches can pick and choose which team they want to play, when they want to play them, and why they want to play them. You can look at Hurley’s approach, which is focused on toughening his team before the real battles, or Self’s approach of allowing his team some confidence and fluidity. But one thing’s for certain, whichever way you might look at the non-conference schedules–college basketball is headed in the right direction! Coaches are getting out of their shells, experimenting with different matchups, and creating a spectacle for the viewers! Norlander agreed, issuing a bold claim about the current state of NCAA basketball. “I find more of them [college coaches] are more willing now than what the tenor and environment was seven, eight years ago… The college basketball season and the non-conference in the first six weeks of the season are extremely good.” And we get it!And as for UConn and Kansas? Well, they are certainly adding to the excitement with their announcements and plans for the season. What do Bill Self and Dan Hurley have in store for us fans? Let’s find out!Dan Hurley and Bill Self sign off on major non-conference seriesUConn basketball is back, baby! After a tough second-round loss to the Gators, Dan Hurley and his Huskies are ready to dominate once again. Sure, they might have lost Liam McNeeley to the NBA draft, but after retaining Alex Karaban and adding DeMary Jr, they’re looking quite stacked! In his pursuit of another natty, however, Hurley is taking the competition to the next level!And taking the competition to the next level has inevitably led UConn to Bill Self and his Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas is one opponent that UConn has not been able to best thus far. Hurley’s team stands a humiliating 0-4 against them, and getting over that hump is not going to be simple!Jan 21, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts with forward Alex Karaban (11) after scoring against the Butler Bulldogs in overtime at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn ImagesIt seems like Dan Hurley saw this, however, as he made sure to keep them front and center for his upcoming non-conference scheduling! The Huskies and the Jayhawks have agreed to a home-and-home series, commencing on Dec 2nd in the Phogg Allen Fieldhouse. Without a doubt, this is an attempt by UConn to cover any flaws in their game style, and also get a psychological advantage! Getting past an opponent that you’ve never managed to beat before is a euphoric feeling, and there’s a solid chance that Dan Hurley and his Huskies might be experiencing it first hand in December. It will be interesting to see how this series pans out with all of the history, and all of the narratives behind the blue-blooded matchup. The post Dan Hurley Opts Harder Path Than Bill Self as CBS Sports Drops Bold College Basketball Claim appeared first on EssentiallySports.