UConn will participate in the NCAA men’s national championship game for the fifth time in the history of the program after wiping out UMiami 72–59.
UConn has won all six of its games in the NCAA tournament and is the sixth men’s collegiate basketball team to go to the championship game.
Before Miami was able to make up a 20-point second-half lead which was just enough to make the Huskies’ final score more acceptable, no opponent had ever even come close to the Huskies’ 15–point advantage.
San Diego State is a seasoned squad that has battled to three consecutive comeback victories.
UConn holds an average margin of victory in the NCAA tournament of 20.6.
In late December, the UConn team appeared to be unstoppable as it marched to a 14–0 record. At the PK85 tournament in Portland, those Huskies destroyed every rival they encountered including teams like Oregon, Alabama, and Iowa State.
A tough period followed, sending the Huskies into this NCAA tournament as an overlooked No. 4 seed after they had fallen to the outside of the AP Top 25. Six of their eight games ended in defeats.
But don’t worry, the UConn of November and December is back in action. Some might even say better.
The Huskies team is without a doubt very well composed. They have an intimidating mix of height, length, quickness, and outside shooting that has made five of their opponents in the NCAA tournament appear overmatched.
Having not one, but two excellent centers is one of the things that makes UConn unique. A powerful presence in the low post and a force on the offensive boards, Adama Sanogo is one of the most effective big players in college basketball.
Donovan Clingan is another star player; he is a quick 7-foot freshman that holds great space defense and per-minute productivity that could lead to a future in the NBA.
Jordan Hawkins’ 3-pointer from only 14 seconds into the game and two more 3-pointers from Sanogo gave UConn the game’s opening nine points. In contrast to Sanogo, who had hit just 17 three-pointers in his first 37 games of the season, Hawkins demolished any impression that he was unproductive after suffering from a stomach virus the previous two days. Two excellent indications for the Huskies.
For the remainder of the first half, we saw Hawkins was more silent while Sanogo kept up his pace and did not slow down. With a final tally of 21 points and 10 rebounds, the
UConn center helped the Huskies climb to 20–0.