University of Connecticut (UConn) will not renew its basketball rivalry with Yale University this season, opting instead to face the University of New Haven on Monday night. This matchup marks a significant shift in the Connecticut basketball landscape, as UConn takes on a newly promoted Division I team instead of its traditional rival, the Bulldogs.
The rivalry between UConn and Yale, which saw 14 matchups between 1987 and 2014, came to an unexpected halt following a stunning upset in December 2014. Yale defeated UConn 45-44 with a buzzer-beater, but since then, the teams have not met on the court. Yale head coach James Jones expressed frustration over UConn’s decision not to schedule games against them, claiming that the Huskies prefer to avoid competition from teams like Yale, which, while not a marquee name, poses a significant challenge.
New Haven’s Ascension to Division I
The University of New Haven, located in West Haven, Connecticut, is making its Division I debut after a successful stint in Division II. Promoted last spring, the Chargers now face the formidable task of competing against elite programs, starting with the highly ranked UConn, currently sitting at No. 4 in the nation. The Chargers have been assigned a challenging schedule, including games against well-known teams such as Penn State, Vanderbilt, Boston College, and Seton Hall.
According to KenPom.com, New Haven enters the matchup against UConn with a minimal chance of victory, estimated at just 0.04 percent. Despite this daunting statistic, New Haven head coach Ted Hotaling sees the benefits of playing these high-profile games, stating that they provide significant financial impact and recognition for the program. The Chargers will earn a part of the approximately $305,000 UConn is paying to lesser-ranked opponents this season.
Yale’s Limited High-Profile Schedule
Yale, coming off consecutive appearances in the NCAA March Madness tournament, including a notable upset over No. 4 seed Auburn in 2024, has managed to secure only one high-profile opponent this season: No. 15 Alabama. The Bulldogs typically arrange one or two games against high-major teams each year, often relying on personal relationships between coaches to facilitate these matchups. Yale will earn $85,000 for their trip to Alabama, benefiting from the financial arrangements that allow programs like Alabama to capitalize on visiting teams.
Despite the Bulldogs’ success and rising profile, UConn has consistently chosen not to schedule them since the 2014 upset. Jones articulated that UConn’s hesitance reflects the “curse of the mid-major,” as teams like Yale are often viewed as risky opponents that do not guarantee a win or the same level of media attention as larger programs.
Although the University of New Haven and Yale were originally scheduled to compete this season, New Haven canceled that matchup, further complicating the landscape of Connecticut college basketball. As UConn prepares to face New Haven, the future of the Yale-UConn rivalry remains uncertain. Jones humorously noted that a return to the rivalry would require Yale to return to a less competitive state.
The game against New Haven will take place at the Jeffery P. Hazell Athletic Center, marking a new chapter for the Chargers in their first Division I season. As the competition heats up, both UConn and New Haven are poised to make their marks in this evolving basketball narrative.
