STORRS, Conn. – Alex Karaban had 20 points, seven assists, seven blocks and six rebounds as No. 3 UConn opened the season with a 92-56 win over Sacred Heart on Wednesday night.

Liam McNeeley added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Huskies as they sought their third straight NCAA championship. Solo Ball scored 16.

Tarris Reed Jr. finished the game with 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench as Connecticut defeated Sacred Heart 47-25.

Huskies coach Dan Hurley raved about Karaban's performance after the game.

“That’s what great players do, high-level players, guys who are ready for the season to start,” he said. “Alex played like an All-American. He played like a Big East Player of the Year.

Amiri Stewart had 13 points and Bryce Johnson added 10 for the Pioneers (0-2).

Tanner Thomas, who scored 22 points in Sacred Heart's season-opening loss to Temple, had just six points against UConn (1-0).

Before the game, the Huskies unveiled their 2023-24 national championship banner. UConn had four starters in the NBA draft last summer. Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer all had video messages for fans at Gampel Pavilion.

Hurley alluded to last year's title team and that fans should have some patience early on with this year's version before making the inevitable comparisons.

“We’re going to get drastically better as the year goes on,” Hurley said. “I think when you look at the team and people imagine what the team looked like last year, you can't compare what we looked like last year. The last time you saw us play, and then you see us tonight and go, “Wait, they don't look as good as the last time I saw them in Phoenix.” Well, it has It took us a while to get this good.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.