UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The 2024-25 UConn men's basketball team (0-0) will face its first official tune-up on its quest for history on Monday night when it faces Rhode Island (0-0) in the Inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Game. The charity exhibition benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer will tip off at 6 p.m. from Mohegan Sun Arena. The contest will air on NBC Sports Boston and UConn+ with Brendan Glasheen, Tim Welsh and Kayla Burton on the call.

The defending back-to-back national champions will take the court on Monday evening for an open exhibition for the first time since hosting Saint Michael's prior to the 2019-20 season, and first time against a D1 foe since facing Providence at Mohegan Sun in October 2017 in a charity game for hurricane relief.

Rhode Island is UConn's most-played opponent. The former Yankee Conference rivals have met on the hardwood since 1906-07, last facing off in 2000. While Monday's exhibition won't count towards the overall series record, UConn holds a 77-68 lead in the series. The two sides also share an obvious connection through Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley, who led the Rams for six seasons and won NCAA Tournament games in back-to-back campaigns before taking over in Storrs.

The Huskies return one starter from the last two National Championship squads in redshirt-junior forward Alex Karaban (Southborough, Mass.), who will open the season on a slew of Preseason All-America teams. Karaban is a career double-figure scorer who posted career-highs of 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season. Karaban has started 77 of the 78 career games he has played in and helped the Huskies to a staggering 66-11 record (.857) in those starts.

Other key returners for the Huskies include Hassan Diarra (Queens, N.Y.) and Samson Johnson (Lome, Togo), Connecticut's top two reserves a season ago who played a critical role in UConn's 37-3 record. Solo Ball (Leesburg, Va.), Jayden Ross (Bristow, Va.), Youssouf Singare (Bamako, Mali) and Jaylin Stewart (Seattle, Wash.) form a strong sophomore core that gained valuable experience a year ago and will look to level up this season.

Joining the mix for Connecticut this season are five newcomers, with transfers Aidan Mahaney (Lafayette, Calif.) and Tarris Reed Jr. (St. Louis, Mo.) coming in as juniors after two-year runs at Saint Mary's and Michigan, respectively. Mahaney was a two-time All-WCC pick for the Gaels while Reed Jr. was a regular started in the B1G for Michigan a season ago. UConn's stellar incoming freshman class includes McDonald's All-American Liam McNeeley (Richardson, Texas) along with high-level prospects Ahmad Nowell (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Isaiah Abraham (Gainesville, Va.).

Rhode Island enters the 2024-25 season after going 12-20 a season ago. David Green and Jaden House both return for the Rams after averaging over 14.0 points per game apiece in 2023-24. Archie Miller is in his third season as the Rhody head coach.

Following Monday's exhibition the Huskies will return to the practice court ahead of the season opener on Nov. 6 against Sacred Heart at Gampel.