BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”
BOSTON — There’s been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the previous two seasons: The Huskies cannot win shut video games.
In actuality, it is not that they can not win one- or two-possession video games — it simply hardly ever comes all the way down to the ultimate minutes for Dan Hurley’s group. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the file for many consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down one other marker. The highest-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a nationwide championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the most important margin of victory in a Candy 16 sport since 2017.
“We suck at successful shut video games, so you must go together with the choice,” Hurley joked after the win.
After three NCAA event video games, UConn has trailed for a grand whole of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a potential 60 second-half minutes. They’ve gained their three video games by a median of 28.7 factors.
For a program whose run to final 12 months’s nationwide championship featured one of many all-time dominant performances — six wins by a median of 20 factors — the Huskies have gone into a special gear.
“We simply have people who simply are determined to win extra,” Hurley stated. “We’ve got winners. We’ve got ‘we’ guys. We’ve got additionally talked about legacy. … These guys proper now are leaving a legacy in a spot that is exhausting to depart a legacy. It has been a historic season in a tricky place to make historical past. They’re galvanized by that. It is particular.”
San Diego State did a greater job of holding the sport aggressive than UConn’s first two NCAA event opponents, at the very least early within the contest. The Aztecs took an early lead and went shot-for-shot with the Huskies for a lot of the first half, with star large man Jaedon LeDee dominating on the inside towards Donovan Clingan en route to fifteen factors within the opening 20 minutes.
UConn took an 11-point lead 9 minutes into the sport, however the Huskies went 4-for-22 the remainder of the half and San Diego State trimmed the deficit to 4 within the ultimate minutes of the primary half. However two Cam Spencer free throws and a late 3-pointer pushed the lead again to 9.
An 11-4 UConn run popping out of the break primarily put the sport out of attain, with UConn limiting LeDee on the inside and getting clear appears to be like across the rim on the different finish.
“He made three perimeter pictures towards Donovan out in house after which two broken-play buckets. Clearly he had 15 on the half,” Hurley stated. “To carry an All-American-caliber participant like Jaedon to 3 factors within the second half, I feel we simply — Donovan made it exhausting on him. Samson [Johnson] made it exhausting on him. Guys who have been serving to off the precise individuals on the perimeter, simply confirmed them much more our bodies and performed a lot better one-on-one protection. We’re a top-10 defensive group as properly. So once more, that is one of the best ways to maintain your self from being susceptible on this event is by guarding at a excessive stage.”
Clingan and Alex Karaban did not have their finest video games, however stalwarts Spencer (18 factors) and Tristen Newton (17 factors) offered their typical manufacturing and the Huskies obtained a giant increase from freshman Stephon Fort, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds, and guard Hassan Diarra, who got here off the bench to attain 10 factors and make 4 assists.
“I simply noticed that I sort of missed out on a few alternatives to sort of seize some offensive rebounds, sort of make some extra performs for my teammates,” Fort stated. “The second half I simply tried to make up for these and simply attempt to do no matter I can to win my matchup and assist my teammates.”
“The stability, principally, to have the 4 guys in double figures, two extra guys with eight, we have now quite a lot of solutions,” Hurley added.
UConn will play the winner of No. 2 Iowa State versus No. 3 Illinois in Saturday’s regional ultimate, trying to go to its second consecutive Remaining 4.
The Huskies have already made it additional than any reigning nationwide champion since Florida in 2007.
“That is simply the place our program is at proper now,” Hurley stated. “That is the place our program goes to be.”