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Two recent national champions meet in New York when UConn and Florida square off at Madison Square Garden. The game headlines this year’s Jimmy V Classic and promises a physical, high-stakes matchup between top programs.
Big-picture matchup: Why this game matters
The Huskies arrive as a top-five team, while the Gators sit inside the Top 20. This contest pairs two programs with recent national success and tournament pedigree.
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- UConn is coming off an early-season test against Arizona and has since strung together key wins.
- Florida knocked off UConn in the 2025 NCAA Tournament en route to the title and will aim for revenge.
Both coaches will use this neutral-site showdown to measure roster depth and tune lineups before conference play.
Where to watch: TV and streaming details
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo (free trial available for new subscribers)
ESPN will carry the national broadcast. If you prefer streaming, Fubo includes ESPN in its lineup and often offers a trial window for new users.
Game timing and venue
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 9
- Tip-off: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City
The Madison Square Garden setting adds a classic stage to this early-season marquee matchup.
Listen live: radio broadcast options
- SiriusXM channel 81 — Florida broadcast
- SiriusXM channel 84 — UConn broadcast
SiriusXM will carry both team feeds. New subscribers can often take advantage of promotional access periods.
UConn schedule: remaining non-conference slate
Huskies upcoming dates to watch
- Dec. 9 — vs. Florida* — 9 p.m. ET
- Dec. 12 — vs. Texas — 8 p.m. ET
- Dec. 16 — vs. Butler — 8:30 p.m. ET
- Dec. 21 — at DePaul — 4:30 p.m. ET
- Dec. 31 — at Xavier — 5 p.m. ET
*Denotes neutral site game
Florida schedule: what’s next before SEC play
Gators upcoming matchups
- Dec. 9 — vs. UConn* — 9 p.m. ET
- Dec. 13 — vs. George Washington* — 2:30 p.m. ET
- Dec. 17 — vs. Saint Francis — 6:30 p.m. ET
- Dec. 21 — vs. Colgate — Noon ET
- Dec. 29 — vs. Dartmouth — 6 p.m. ET
*Denotes neutral site game
AP Top 25 snapshot (current rankings)
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Duke
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Purdue
- Houston
- Gonzaga
- Michigan State
- BYU
- Louisville
- Alabama
- Illinois
- North Carolina
- Vanderbilt
- Texas Tech
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Kansas
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- St. John’s
- Nebraska
- Virginia
- UCLA
More coverage to follow
- Latest college basketball news and analysis
- Scores, schedules and live result updates
- Updated Top 25 and poll movement
- How to stream and watch live college basketball
