Storrs - During UConn's Big East glory days, nationally-ranked opponents regularly paraded through Gampel Pavilion.

The college basketball world has drastically changed since the Huskies entered the American Athletic Conference.

In the recent Associated Press top 25, No. 24 UConn is the only ranked AAC team.

The Huskies are strengthening their schedule by playing teams like No. 7 Texas (5-0), which visits Storrs at noon today for a non-conference showdown.

Given limited opportunities for resume-building victories this season, today's game carries extra weight for UConn (3-1).

"It's paramount that we establish ourselves," coach Kevin Ollie said. "If we lose to Texas, that doesn't mean our season is over with, but it definitely can bolster our season if we beat a top 10 team. … It would be a big time win for us."

After today, UConn has three more quality non-conference games remaining, playing No. 4 Duke Dec. 18 in New Jersey and traveling to No. 18 Florida on Jan. 3 and Stanford on Jan. 17.

The Huskies are fully aware of the importance of today's game.

"Getting these big wins in out of conference games helps our resume going into the tournament and helps our confidence to know that we can play against anybody in the country," senior Ryan Boatright said.

UConn is attempting to rebound from a 10-point loss to West Virginia Sunday in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship. The Huskies never lost more than two straight games last season.

"We know what adversity is like," said red-shirt sophomore Rodney Purvis. "That's one thing that coach Ollie instills in us, just how to bounce back. Everything isn't going to go good all the time.

"We'll see how tough we are mentally Sunday. We're definitely going to take full advantage of this opportunity."

The game will pit UConn's speed versus Texas' size.

Texas coach Rick Barnes is concerned about guarding ball screens that UConn uses so effectively to spring their perimeter players.

"I'm sure they're looking at their speed and quickness and opening the floor up," Barnes said. "We're going to have to be able to really guard the basketball and our ball screen defense will be very, very important. We've got to obviously help each other in that situation and finish possessions.

"Handling their quickness and speed will be a major thing for us."

With their entire starting five back from an NCAA tournament team, the Longhorns are experienced and deep. They've quickly adjusted to life without starting point guard Isaiah Taylor (broken wrist).

Their biggest edge is up front where they've dominated, out-rebounding opponents by an average of 14.2 and blocking 7.4 shots per game. Highly-regarded freshman reserve Myles Turner, a 6-11, 240-pound forward, has double-double potential in any given game.

A stingy defense has allowed just 52.2 points and 29.8 percent shooting from the field.

"They're a physical team and a great rebounding team, so we need to address that as soon as we get on the floor," sophomore Kentan Facey said.

The Huskies won the rebounding battle against a strong West Virginia frontcourt, but struggled in other areas, committing 19 turnovers and sinking only 50 percent (9-for-18) from the foul line. The latter two areas have been focal points during practice last week.

"We've just got to execute a little bit more on both ends of the floor and take care of the basketball," Boatright said.

Ollie continues to stress that his team needs time to develop and grow. Today's game will be a valuable learning experience, win or lose.

"This is a new group," Ollie said. "This group has never been in the pulpit before and preached. They've been in the pews sitting down just clapping and saying amen. Now they're in the pulpit and they're preaching now. We've got to understand that.

"They're going to keep learning as they go during the season and they're going to get better and better."

g.keefe@theday.com Twitter: @GavinKeefe