The UConn Huskies Win Back-To-Back National Championships
Phoenix - Purdue and Connecticut have been the two best teams in college basketball this year. It is only just that these two teams were to face off in the National Championship. Both teams have been dominant all season, more specifically UConn. Dating back to the last NCAA tournament, they have gone undefeated against the spread (11-0), an incredible feat. They improved that record to 12-0 and own the best point differential (+140) in NCAA tournament history.
On the very first possession of the game, the battle of the giants began. Zach Edey (7’4) and Donovan Clingan (7’2) began what would be the most intense, competitive match this season. This is the first time two seven-footers have faced off in the National Championship since 1984. Cam Spencer got things going early for the Huskies, scoring seven of their first 11 points of the game. The ironic height advantage, the Huskies guards have over the Purdue guards, made it easier to score and then contest shots on the other end.
Edey went on a one-man spurt of his own. He scored 11 straight points for Purdue and made several defensive plays, including blocking back-to-back shots. Through the first eight minutes of the game, Edey showcased why is the best player on the floor. With Samson Johson, backup center, picking up his second foul of the half early, it was up to Clingan to shut down Edey for the rest of the half. According to Synergy, Clingan had only allowed five buckets on post-ups all year long. Edey had four post-up buckets in the first eight minutes, he’s just different. Dan Hurley, being his usual self, was screaming and getting super emotional with the referees and his team.
The Huskies answered with a 9-2 run of their own, right after the under-six-minute media timeout. The biggest discrepancy of the first half was the amount of three-pointers taken. Purdue only attempted three while UConn attempted nine. UConn, dating back to last season, has won 45 consecutive games when leading at halftime. Tristen Newton captained the Huskies, scoring 11 points and securing a 36-30 first-half lead. Edey, the unstoppable force that he is, scored 16 of Purdue’s 30 first-half points.
Purdue did not come out as sharp as UConn as the Huskies extended their lead to nine before the under-16-minute media timeout. With Lance Jones picking up his third foul, Camden Heide subbed in and immediately made a difference. After a missed shot, he slammed home a one-handed jam, flushing it down with authority. That was when the momentum started to swing in favor of the Boilermakers, especially after Clingan picked up his third foul. That didn’t last long as Samson Johnson punished the rim on back-to-back alley-oop dunks, extending the lead to double digits.
Cam Spencer was everywhere for the Huskies; diving for loose balls, challenging for rebounds, and creating space for an open shot. He was the second-half catalyst that the Huskies needed to start pulling away. The Huskies defense deserves as much credit as their offense as they only allowed 10 points through the first 10 minutes of the second half. At the under-eight timeout, UConn held a 17-point lead. The game was far from over though, foul trouble was of great concern for the Huskies.
Down the stretch, the unusual rebounding discrepancy that Purdue usually leads was very noticeable. In total, UConn outrebounded Purdue 35-28. The Huskies play unselfish, complementary basketball which seems to be the recipe for success. It also helps when you can limit your opponent to just one made three-pointer the entire night. Edey seemed to be the only player scoring for the Boilermakers, only one other player scored in double figures. In his final college basketball game, Edey scored over half his team’s points with 37.
The UConn Huskies are the first team to go back-to-back National Champions since the 06-07 Florida Gators. They have owned the college basketball landscape for the past two seasons and are now 6-0 all-time in National Championship games. Dan Hurley has submitted a legacy while coaching at Connecticut. With the last game of the 2023-2024 College Basketball season over, we now await who will challenge the Huskies next season. I, for one, can’t wait until next season starts.
