GLENDALE, Ariz.– Connecticut kept its repeat quote undamaged by enduring its very first real test of the NCAA Tournament, getting 21 points from freshman Stephon Castle while securing down defensively in the 2nd half of an 86-72 win over Alabama in the Final Four on Saturday night.
The top-seeded Huskies (36-3) had actually placed on a March Madness reveal before getting here in the desert, a stretch that consisted of a 30-0 run in a decimation of Illinois in the Elite Eight.
This was more of a sluggish burn, with UConn enduring an early wave of 3-pointers before holding the Crimson Tide (25-12) without a basket throughout a five-minute second-half stretch.
Next up for the Huskies will be what must be a lot more physical test versus 7-foot-4, 300-pound Zach Edey and Purdue in Monday’s championship game video game. UConn has an accomplished huge male in 7-2 Donovan Clingan, who completed with 18 points and 4 obstructed shots.
“A fight of the giants,” UConn coach Dan Hurley stated. “I believe it’s simply fantastic for college basketball. United States and Purdue have actually plainly been the 2 finest groups in the nation the last 2 years. I believe it’s simply terrific for college basketball to get the 2 huge pets using Monday.”
Endure that match and UConn will be the very first repeat nationwide champ considering that Florida in 2006-07.
“It feels great, however the task’s refrained from doing yet,” Clingan stated
The Huskies’ Final Four win definitely wasn’t as simple as the last rating showed.
Alabama held its own in the program’s very first Final Four look, going toe to toe with a group that tracked 28 overall seconds in its very first 4 NCAA Tournament video games.
Crafty point player Mark Sears did his finest to keep Alabama in it, scoring 24 points. Grant Nelson had another huge video game in March Madness, ending up with 19 points, 15 rebounds and one highlight-reel dunk over Clingan.
Even that wasn’t enough versus a UConn group that’s amongst the most effective at both ends of the flooring.
The Huskies invested the competition’s very first 2 weeks intimidating challengers to the tune of a 27.8-point typical margin of success.
Alabama stuck a stick in the spokes of the juggernaut by pulling Clingan far from the basket and burying 3-pointers.
Clingan had 2 early blocks and looked prepared to replicate his Elite Eight efficiency, when Illinois went 0-for-19 on shots he objected to.
When the Crimson Tide began requiring Clingan into high pick-and-rolls, lanes to the basket beginning opening– as did the 3-point line.
Alabama prospered from 3 all season, removing Clemson in the Elite Eight by making 16 shots from deep. The Tide kept it rolling versus UConn, making 8 of 11 in the very first half while Sears consistently got to the rim, putting the Huskies apparently right where they desired them.
Nope.