STORRS — One of UConn’s all-time best players, guard Ben Gordon, said Friday night that it seemed like it was a lifetime ago when he helped lead the Huskies to the 2004 national championship.

With four starters selected in the 2024 NBA Draft and an injury sidelining talented freshman Liam McNeeley, UConn had to battle its way through every game in January. The No. 19 Huskies needed ...