Storrs – Forget about trying to survive Big East basketball battles.

The Huskies are just trying to survive practice.

UConn coach Dan Hurley continues to keep the intensity level high during workouts, including one at Gampel Pavilion on Monday held hours after the undefeated Huskies climbed to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

“A couple of guys had to get stitches,” Hurley said. “They’re all right. They’ll be fine. Getting ready for a Big East season. That happens when we practice, we practice hard.”

One of five remaining unbeaten teams left in the country as of Monday, UConn will try to extend its winning streak in its Big East home opener on Tuesday when Georgetown (5-7, 0-1) visits Gampel Pavilion at 6:30 p.m.. The Huskies (12-0, 1-0) are off to the program’s best start since the 1998-99 national championship season.

UConn’s average margin of victory is an eye-popping 26.2 points per game. The Huskies have yet to trail in the second half.

“We’re well-prepared,” Hurley said. “The players are ready to play these games.”

Junior Andre Jackson believes there’s room for improvement.

“I still think we have a lot of stuff to improve on,” Jackson said. “When I do watch the film back, there’s a lot of things that I see are wrong. That’s the same thing with everybody. Nobody is really 100 percent pleased where we are yet. I think it’s just continuing to grow every day.”

UConn’s next challenge is to not overlook a Georgetown team that’s dropped four of its last five.

It is UConn’s last game before a week-long Christmas break.

The Hoyas haven’t won a Big East regular season game since the 2020-21 season, going 0-19 last season and falling to Xavier, 102-89, in their league opener on Friday.

“Every Big East team is still going to be a challenge, no matter what their record is,” senior Nahiem Alleyne said.

The Hoyas are capable of piling up the points with four starters averaging in double figures. But they struggle on the defensive end, ranking last in the Big East in scoring defense, allowing 76.5 points per game.

“They have tremendous firepower at the guard spots and then even off the bench,” Hurley said. “Obviously, two really talented players, athletes, rim protectors (Qudus Wahab and Akok Akok) at the four and five.

“For us, if we get away from what makes us really good, things will change and unravel. We just have to continue to do the things that we do and really treat every Big East opponent with tremendous respect because there’s no givens in this league.”

The game will mark the return of Akok, who spent three seasons at UConn before transferring to Georgetown last spring. A starting forward, he’s averaging 6.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and two blocks.

Hurley praised Akok’s contribution to the program, but come game day the former Husky will be just another opponent trying to beat UConn.

“Just grateful that he’s doing well and playing a lot and playing well,” Hurley said. “And I’m grateful that he spent an important part of his life here and really helped our program. The time that he was here the program really improved a lot.

“But, that’s today. … I’m not sentimental. We’re in pursuit of a regular season championship and that’s very hard to do.”

UConn’s schedule will get considerably tougher following the Christmas break. The Huskies will host Villanova on Dec. 28 and then visit Xavier on Jan. 31.

The Huskies will have a better idea where they stand in the Big East after those two difficult match-ups.

They’re not surprised by anything that’s happened so far and that includes being ranked No. 2, their highest position since residing at No. 1 on March 2, 2009.

“I feel like we are where we’re supposed to be,” Alleyne said. “Like I said before in the summer, I thought we were a top five team. We’re going to continue to work, stay consistent and continue to play UConn basketball.”

In injury news, Hurley hopes to have forward Samson Johnson, who’s been sidelined with a foot injury and only appeared in the season opener, back for the Villanova game. Johnson has progressed to shooting jump shots in practice.

“He’s in the mix (for Villanova),” Hurley said. “Things have gotten better there, so that’s great news.”

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 2 UCONN VS. GEORGETOWN

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 6:30 p.m.

Records: UConn 12-0, 1-0; Georgetown 5-7, 0-1

Last game: UConn won at Butler, 68-46, Saturday; Georgetown lost to Xavier, 102-89, Friday

Probable starters; UConn, 6-5 sr. guard Tristen Newton (9.6 pts, 4.7 rebs, 4.3 assists), 6-6 jr. guard Andre Jackson (5.4 pts, 5.8 rebs, 4.8 assists), 6-5 so. guard Jordan Hawkins (14.2 pts), 6-8 r-fr. forward Alex Karaban (9.5 pts, 4.1 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Adama Sanogo (19 pts, 7.3 rebs)

Georgetown, 6-3 so. guard Primo Spears (17.6 pts, 3.3 rebs), 6-3 jr. guard Jay Heath (14.3 pts, 4.2 rebs), 6-5 so. guard Brandon Murray (15.1 pts, 3.6 rebs), 6-10 jr. forward Akok Akok (6.8 pts, 7.3 rebs, 2 blks), 6-11 sr. center Qudus Wahab (10.8 pts, 7.7 rebs)

Noteworthy: Series: UConn trails 36-34, sweeping last season’s meeting 96-73 at home and 86-77 on the road. Huskies won four straight. … Hoyas lost 20 straight Big East games dating back to the beginning of 2020-21 season during which they went 0-19. … Spears is from Hartford and graduated from Windsor High School. … Top reserve: 6-6 grad forward Bryson Mozone (6.1 pts, 3.3 rebs). … Associate head coach Kevin Nickelberry coached former Husky R.J. Cole at Howard. … Hot: Sanogo has scored in double figures in all but one game, going over the 20-point mark six times. Cold: Huskies held three of their last four foes to under 40 percent from the field. … UConn leads the Big East in scoring margin, scoring defense, FG percentage defense, rebounding margin, 3 pointers made per game and blocked shots. … Huskies riding a 15-game winning streak at Gampel. … Up next: UConn hosts Villanova on Wednesday, Dec. 28, in Hartford.

– Gavin Keefe