Blue Blood. It’s a term reserved for only the best of the best in College Basketball. The programs consistently lifting the hardware as confetti falls. Those that get the best recruits and have wins to show for it. On Monday, if it wasn’t already certain, the UConn Huskies cemented their spot as a Blue Blood with their dominant victory over San Diego State, 76-59.
“We’re a Blue Blood,” said freshman Alex Karaban. “This is our fifth one in 25 years. This is our third different head coach that led us to a championship in 15 years. This is the most dominant program in men’s and women’s college basketball and we just continue to prove that.”
“I feel like a lot of people are disrespecting us,” noted Nahiem Alleyne. “I don’t know how we’re not [a Blue Blood].”
The Huskies won the game in convincing fashion, coming out on top by double digits in every contest of the tournament. It’s among the most impressive runs in NCAA history and the trophy is the perfect cherry on top.
“Obviously, a dream come true for all of us,” said Hurley. “It was a part of the program–I sold the vision to David Benedict and President Herbst and President Radenka and the university that I could put together a special group of people, coaching staff, unbelievable players like this. So it feels great to come through on promises made by me to all the great people of Connecticut and then with these guys. This was our vision. This was our dream. This is what we talked about when we recruited these guys, that we could get together and do something big like this.”
The Huskies’ defense continued to shine throughout the game, holding the Aztecs to just 32% shooting from the floor and 26% from deep, forcing them to take many ugly shots. UConn’s frontcourt also stepped up big, winning a lot of major categories. They won the rebounding battle 40-34, got 10 more points in the paint and blocked four more shots. Connecticut had more length and they took full advantage.
UConn got off to a sloppy start, having a lot of trouble getting into any sort of flow with a bunch of turnovers. Even though Jordan Hawkins got the first bucket, the Aztecs jumped out to a 6-2 lead, with hot shooting all around the floor. After the teams traded a few buckets, things went ice-cold for SDSU. They didn’t score for several minutes, leaving the door wide open for a Husky run.
Star center Adama Sanogo got a few layups to go and Joey Calcaterra connected with freshman Donovan Clingan on a massive alley-oop to score 10 unanswered. Though the Aztecs added a few free throws, the Huskies continued to pour it on with a pair of Alleyne jumpers and a Hawkins layup.
Hawkins wasn’t the MOP, but it’s impossible to argue with his incredible impact on the team’s performance throughout the tournament and the championship. He finished with 16 points and four boards on an efficient 5-9 from the field, getting a spot on the All-Final Four team. The star hit the dagger with just a few minutes left, stopping SDSU’s push to come back dead in its tracks. Hawkins is now 6-0 in NCAA tournament games after sitting out last year’s loss with a concussion.
“I remember sitting at the table with my parents talking about the national championship,” recalled Hawkins of his decision to come to UConn. “It feels like yesterday. It doesn’t feel real right now. It hasn’t hit me yet. It might hit me tomorrow, but it hasn’t hit me yet.”
SDSU’s field goal drought lasted for over 11 minutes, although they did manage to get a handful of points from the charity stripe. Hawkins hit a massive three to boost the lead to 12, as the Aztecs finally managed one of their own. Newton then exploded on a personal 7-0 run that put the Huskies up by 16, and the Connecticut faithful in NRG Stadium loved it.
Newton’s game was a mixed bag, but he was ultimately the X-factor for the win. Looking past his five giveaways, the senior guard added 19 points, 10 boards and four assists, setting the pace for the game and also hitting eight free throws. Newton’s effectiveness on the glass was a big difference maker for the Huskies, as he prevented second-chances for an Aztec team adept in that department. Newton was a player who lost more than he won at East Carolina, so getting this title is a big change of pace.
“Means a lot,” noted Newton of the championship. “Great credit to the coaches and my teammates. The vision we had when I came here was to win, get to the Final Four and win a national championship. And I came here just to do that. And just really blessed and thankful for these guys around me.”
Lamont Butler gave San Diego State another triple, but Andre Jackson Jr. dished it to Calcaterra on the break for a big three. The Aztecs managed a few buckets to end the half, cutting UConn’s cushion down to 12 going into the break.
Hawkins missed a big dunk and then a three to open the final frame of the season, opening the door for a Matt Bradley jumper. Sanogo added a layup and Alex Karaban hit a big three to calm things down. After a flurry of free throws, Butler got a layup and the deficit was down to 11. Aztec Adam Seiko hit a big three to cut it to 10, although Sanogo nailed some big ones from the stripe to keep SDSU at an arm’s reach.
Sanogo had a tournament for the ages. The center will go down as one of the greatest players in Husky history as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He was just incredible in every game and played super well, even scoring against double teams. Sanogo notched a 19 and 10 double-double, in what may be the last game of his college career. There’s no place left to go for him upwards, reaching the peak of college basketball.
“He's obviously cemented himself into the pantheon of greatest,” noted Hurley of Sanogo. “With all the production and back-to-back First Team All-League, and now this, to have the national championship just puts him in a position in one of the most storied programs in college basketball. He's an all-time great.”
With UConn getting into the bonus with over 12 minutes left in the game, there were a lot of free throws that followed. Clingan got the Huskies up 15 with a close shot and Butler and Calcaterra traded triples. The Aztecs got a pair of jumpers and Hurley was forced to burn a timeout.
This timeout didn’t help at all, with SDSU scoring another five straight to make it a 9-0 run. Sanogo and Hawkins calmed things down, but the Aztecs continued to push, getting the advantage down to just five. Hawkins splashed a leaning three to quiet the crowd, a big momentum-shifter and effectively the dagger.
“Coach drew something up for me,” Hawkins mentioned of his triple. “I know he trusted me to make that shot. I had to make it. Easy part. All credit to my teammates for getting me open on those screens and coach for trusting me.”
San Diego State missed the front end of the one-and-one, Newton hit a pair and got a tough layup to make it 14. That wrapped up the game, as UConn hit their free throws and grabbed their rebounds. Championship No. 5 is back safely in Storrs, CT. History has been made.
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