During UConn’s victory over Alabama on Saturday night, there was one particular play that perfectly exemplified the Huskies’ journey towards securing consecutive national championships. It wasn’t a blocked shot by Donovan Clingan or a transition 3-pointer by Alex Karaban.
One of the factors that sets the Huskies apart is their unflappable nature, along with their status as the nation’s top offensive team and a formidable top-five defensive team. They exude unwavering confidence in their game plan, knowing that their shots will eventually find the mark and their opponents’ shooting will return to average. In the end, it’s the superior team that emerges victorious, and this year, UConn has consistently proven to be just that.
On Saturday night, the Huskies, who entered the game as the top seed, once again showcased their dominance by defeating Alabama with a score of 86-72. This victory secured their spot in the national championship game for the second consecutive year.
“We don’t fall apart,” Clingan confidently stated. “In basketball, there are always ups and downs. We remain composed, united as a team, and continue playing our game. We know they won’t make every shot.”
UConn is set to take on Purdue, another 1-seed, in the national title game on Monday. Purdue secured their spot in the final by defeating NC State in the first Final Four matchup. As reported by ESPN BET, UConn has been given a 6.5-point advantage as the favorite against the Boilermakers.
UConn’s remarkable 30-0 run against Illinois last week served as a shining example of their relentless attacking style, which has been a prevailing theme throughout this season. The Huskies simply refuse to let up, and it often leaves their opponents gasping for air long before UConn shows any signs of slowing down.
Coach Dan Hurley emphasized the team’s unwavering identity, stating, “We strive to maintain a relentless approach.” He acknowledged that although it may take some time, whether it be 18 minutes or 25 minutes, the team’s high-level performance on both ends of the court and on the backboard makes it increasingly difficult for the opposing team to keep up.
In the opening minutes of the second half on Saturday, both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle. It was clear that whoever failed to respond to their opponent’s scoring would likely end up on the losing side. The Huskies started the half strong, scoring four consecutive points to secure their largest lead of the game, an eight-point advantage. However, Alabama quickly answered with a 7-0 run. Not to be outdone, UConn retaliated with a 7-0 run of their own. But just as the Huskies thought they had gained the upper hand, Alabama fired back with another 7-0 run, ultimately leveling the score at 56 with 12:41 left on the clock.
After UConn scored the next eight points, Alabama struggled to close the gap and never came within six points for the remainder of the game.
According to Hurley, the key to success is to keep pushing forward and not giving up. He compares the challenges they face to body blows, but emphasizes the importance of persevering and staying focused. By maintaining a strong defense, rebounding effectively, and executing their offense, they can create opportunities to break through and achieve their goals. Hurley believes that in a tournament like this, there will be moments where the tide turns in their favor, and it’s crucial to be ready to seize those opportunities.
Hurley expressed his belief that the other team may find it disheartening, as they have witnessed his team’s repeated success in executing the particular move.
Alabama presented a significant obstacle for UConn, proving to be the toughest opponent the Huskies encountered in this year’s NCAA tournament. The Crimson Tide executed a strong offensive game plan, finding success with their shots early on. This forced UConn’s defense to constantly adjust, particularly when their talented center, Clingan, was off the court. Clingan’s impact was evident from the start, as he not only blocked a shot on Alabama’s first possession but also established dominance in the paint throughout the game, contributing 18 points and four blocks.
When he stepped onto the bench, Alabama capitalized on the opportunity, scoring 10 points in rapid succession on their first four possessions. Unlike their previous four games in this year’s NCAA tournament, UConn found themselves trailing for nearly five minutes during the first half of Saturday’s game. Furthermore, the Huskies faced their biggest deficit of the tournament when the Tide surged ahead with an impressive 23-18 lead and 11:09 left on the clock in the first half.
“It’s a game that requires perseverance. We need to maintain a balanced mindset,” stated Karaban, who contributed 14 points and made two crucial blocks against Alabama’s standout, Mark Sears. “Even if our shots aren’t falling, we must remain focused and determined. We understand our team’s potential, as well as our opponents’. We were prepared for their surges; it was essential for us to counter with our own.”
Alabama has proudly embraced its identity and the key factor that propelled the team to the Final Four: their exceptional 3-point shooting. In the regional final against Clemson, the Crimson Tide displayed their prowess by sinking 16 shots from behind the arc. Notably, they have consistently showcased their long-range shooting skills throughout the NCAA tournament, recording a minimum of 11 successful 3-pointers in three out of their four games.
In the first half against UConn, Alabama stuck to their winning formula. Three out of the first four field goals were successful 3-pointers, with Grant Nelson making a triple on the Tide’s very first possession. The team displayed impressive accuracy, shooting 8-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first half. Earlier in the week, Coach Nate Oats had expressed his willingness to let his players take up to 50 3-point attempts if the defense allowed it. While Alabama’s high shooting percentage from 3-point range kept them in the game, the number of attempts they took (23 in total) provided optimism for Hurley and raised concerns for Oats.
According to Oats, it was expected that the opposing team would try to be physical and run them off the court. While 23 three-point attempts may not be ideal, the team would have preferred to push for more in the mid-30s. However, the opponents were clearly focused on preventing them from shooting threes. As a result, the team adjusted their strategy and drove the ball inside when they were taken off the three-point line. Oats acknowledged that the opponents did a good job of forcing them to take more shots from outside the rim, which was not their usual style of play. In fact, almost a third of their shots ended up being non-rim two-pointers, which is not typical for their team.
It was Clingan and his teammate, Stephon Castle, who propelled UConn into the lead. Castle, a highly regarded freshman, was tasked with guarding Sears and effectively shut him down for the first 6 minutes and 38 seconds, while also contributing 13 points of his own. The Crimson Tide gave Castle ample space on offense, with Nelson focusing on Clingan inside. Despite being a 26.2% 3-point shooter for the season, Castle made two early 3-pointers and displayed a strong drive to the basket. In the end, he finished with a game-high 21 points.
Castle observed the situation right from the beginning of the game when they attempted a play and noticed the opposing player guarding him in the paint. Recognizing this opportunity, Castle decided to exploit it early on. Instead of viewing it as motivation, Castle perceived it as a form of disrespect from the opposing team to guard him from such a far distance.
Clingan and Castle provided UConn with the necessary time for their experienced guards, Newton and Cam Spencer, to find their rhythm on offense. Newton took charge by scoring five consecutive points towards the end of the first half, while Spencer made crucial shots that contributed to the Huskies’ 42-35 lead with just 1:15 remaining until halftime.
Sears played a crucial role in keeping Alabama in contention before halftime during a potentially game-changing run. Just one week after their impressive 30-0 victory over Illinois, Sears made a significant impact. He nailed a corner 3-pointer with only 50 seconds remaining and followed it up with a leaner in the lane as the clock expired, reducing UConn’s lead to 44-40 by the end of the first half.
“We gained valuable experience from last year,” Karaban confidently stated. “Even though we were dominant against other teams, we still faced the challenge of playing in front of 75,000 spectators, dealing with the pressure of the Final Four. However, that experience never shook us. We remained composed and knew that staying united and responding was the key.”
UConn is on the verge of making history as they are just 40 minutes away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back national championships since Florida achieved the feat in 2006 and 2007. Moreover, the Huskies’ impressive streak of NCAA tournament victories by double digits is still intact. In fact, they have won all 11 tournament games in the past two seasons by a margin of ten points or more.
“We make a difficult tournament appear effortless,” exclaimed Hurley. “It’s absolutely mind-boggling.”
