Storrs — The curiosity factor is running high entering the 2016-17 UConn men's basketball season.

Everybody is wondering just how good the talented but young Huskies will be this winter.

Associated Press Top 25 voters ranked them 18th in the preseason poll. American Athletic Conference coaches selected them second. They're projected to return to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season.

UConn has tried to ignore all that preseason chatter. The Huskies prefer to author their own story starting with Friday's regular-season opener against Wagner at Gampel Pavilion (7 p.m., SNY).

"We have a chip on our shoulder," fifth-year senior Rodney Purvis said on Thursday. "We haven't done anything yet. A lot of people are doing a lot of talking with the rankings and different things of that nature. We're really not paying that stuff too much mind. ... The performances are what matter most."

Two exhibition performances offered a promising sneak preview. The Huskies are blessed with athleticism, speed and versatility. They've shown flashes of brilliance and also revealed some rough edges. Coach Kevin Ollie would like fewer turnovers and more rebounds than he saw during the preseason wins.

There will definitely be some growing pains for a team that will rely on eight underclassmen, including five freshmen from a top 10 recruiting class, and lost three of its top four scorers and two best rebounders. Electrifying guard Alterique Gilbert, the AAC preseason rookie of the year, will be fun to watch. Versatile redshirt sophomore Terry Larrier, a transfer with skills similar to former Husky Daniel Hamilton, will play a prominent role.

"I'm definitely excited," Larrier said about making his UConn debut. "I'm just ready to get out there and be with my teammates and put on a show for the fans."

Ollie has another kind of show in mind. A show of UConn's brotherhood.

You'll hear Ollie talk a lot about his Huskies staying connected this season. He's big on unselfish play and playing as a cohesive unit, so that's what he's most curious to see against Wagner.

"We've got a talented group," Ollie said. "But we have to be connected. You've got to think about your brother on the left and right of you and play for him. I think it will be a good night and we'll all go home pretty happy if they stay connected."

Wagner should provide a decent opening night challenge. The Seahawks return eight players from a team that captured a Northeast Conference regular-season title and reached the second round of the NIT last season.

"They're not a mid-major to me," Ollie  said. "They've got eight players coming back and they've been through the wars. They had a successful season, winning 23 games. I expect a dogfight. We're going to come out and try to play UConn basketball."

It is imperative that UConn gets off to successful start to the season, opening with home games against Wagner and Northeastern (on Monday). After that, the Huskies embark on a long road trip that begins at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Nov. 17 and then heads to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, which features an elite field.

That road trip is far from entering UConn's radar right now. Ollie prefers to focus on the daily improvement of his team and not what lies ahead this season.

"I just go day to day," Ollie said. "We'll get to goals when we get to them. Our goal is just to be connected. ... It's playing for us."

Purvis, the top returning scorer, believes the Huskies could be in for a joy ride this season. It will take strong seasons from veterans like Purvis, seniors Amida Brimah and Kentan Facey as well as a superb sophomore season from Jalen Adams to accomplish their goals.

"I think we can be really good," Purvis said. "We have a great group of guys, not only talent, just great guys off the court as well. That camaraderie and chemistry will be huge for us in the long run. Guys are still learning on the fly just because we have like a new team. I think we'll be really good as long as we stay together. There will be some highs and lows.

"... When somebody is watching the film, they should be able to easily say, 'Dang, those guys are together.' That's what it's been with the last couple of great teams. Just like Cleveland and Golden State, teams of that nature, the great teams, all those guys are together and they've got each others' back and they just have the overall love for one another."

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 18 UCONN vs WAGNER

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 7 p.m. (SNY)

Last year's records: UConn 25-11, Wagner 23-11

Probable starters: UConn, 6-3 so. guard Jalen Adams, 6-4 r-sr. guard Rodney Purvis,r-so. forward Terry Larrier, 6-10 sr. forward Kentan Facey, 7-0 sr. center Amida Brimah

Wagner, 6-3 jr. guard Corey Henson, 6-3 jr. guard Romone Saunders, 6-5 sr. guard Michael Carey, 6-7 jr. forward Shack Scott, 6-8 r-sr. forward Mike Aman

Noteworthy: Season-opener for both teams. ... Huskies undefeated (4-0) in season openers under coach Kevin Ollie. Last loss in opener came in 1999 vs. Iowa in Coaches vs. Cancer at MSG. ... Wagner, the defending Northeast Conference regular-season champion, picked to place second in NEC preseason poll. Returns eight players, including top two scorers in Henson (13.3) and Carey (12.6), both preseason all-conference selections. Advanced to NIT second round last season. ... Series: UConn leads 5-0, posting a 78-66 decision in last meeting Nov. 2011 in Storrs. ... UConn debut for five freshmen and Larrier, a transfer from VCU. ... Ollie needs three wins to reach 100 in his career. ... Stat to watch: rebounds. Ollie is placing a major emphasis on that area. ... Larrier (13.5), Purvis (14.5), Adams (13.5) were leading scorers in two exhibition games. ... Huskies have hit a 3-pointer in 245 straight games, dating back almost seven years. ... UConn 32-6 all-time vs. NEC teams, Wagner 1-9 vs. AAC programs. ...  Up next: UConn hosts Northeastern Monday (7 p.m.) in Storrs.