College basketball 2026-27: Season tips Nov. 2; UConn picked to win Big East

The 2026-27 men's college basketball season is two weeks away. The first official game tips off at midnight on Monday, Nov. 2, when High Point plays Liberty in Rock Hill, S.C. Visit York County, the event's host, says that game opens a daylong marathon of games.

The first night has a marquee game too. According to ESPN, Florida hosts Miami at 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. Florida is No. 1 in ESPN's "Way-Too-Early" Top 25, with Duke No. 2. Those two meet Dec. 1 in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Early dates to circle

Source: ESPN/SEC schedule release, Oct. 7.

UConn the Big East pick

The Big East's coaches picked UConn to win the league, according to the Associated Press. Guard Silas Demary Jr. was named preseason player of the year. The Huskies have reached three of the last four national championship games.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that UConn got 98 points and eight first-place votes. Defending champion St. John's was second with 90 points, followed by Villanova, Marquette and Providence. WFSB reported that sophomore Braylon Mullins was a unanimous first-team all-conference pick.

The Associated Press preseason Top 25 had not appeared in the sources reviewed for this story. Preseason picks for Boston College and Harvard were also not available.