Selflessness. Collectivism. Precise execution. Poise. Abiding flow state.
All of these traits and characteristics define the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team. Another identifier is national champion, as they claimed that everlasting inscription by methodically dismantling the Purdue Boilermakers by 75-60 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday.
Purdue, with two-time National Player of the Year, 7-4 center Zach Edey, was a formidable opponent. They were the Midwest Region’s No. 1 seed and entered the game
34-4.
UConn (37-3) is historically great.
And that was the difference between them and everyone else. In hindsight, their toughest opponent and only threatening challenger was history. And the East Region’s and NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed unflinchingly starred down their legacy, five previous national championships, including one last season, and embraced it as a right more than a burden.
Exhibiting a singular sense of purpose, focus and plan implementation that should be admired and adapted by anyone pursuing a goal, the Huskies captured the program’s sixth title over the last 25 years and became the first to do it back-to-back since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007.
“I mean you can’t even wrap your mind around it because you just know how hard this tournament is. What a special group of people, a special coaching staff. A special group of players. The best group of players you could possibly do it with,” said UConn’s highly animated head coach Dan Hurley from the center of the raucous celebration.
“UConn’s a special place this time of year and they give us all the resources we need to do it like this in March and April.”
Point guard Tristen Newton, a 6-5 graduate student, was selected as the Final Four’s most outstanding player for his 20-point, 5-rebound, 7-assist performance. It was a repeat for Newton who was last year’s Final Four MOP. But the MOP could have been 7-2 center Donovan Clingan (11 points, 5 rebounds), sensational 6’6”freshman guard-forward Stephon Castle (15 points, 5 rebounds) or 6-4 senior guard Cam Spencer (11 points, 8 rebounds). Each played dogged defense and stifled Purdue’s perimeter game as the Huskies hounded the Boilermakers into shooting 1-7 on 3-point attempts. Furthermore, although Edey ended with 37 points and 10 rebounds, UConn neutralized his effectiveness in the second half.
The win was the Huskies amazing 12th straight in the NCAA Tournament going back to last season. Their 140 point differential is the best ever in the tournament with the 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels’ 125 a distant second. And they won each game by a remarkable average of 23.3 points. Last year’s team won by an average 20.0. This year’s squad has only two returning starters: Newton and sophomore forward Alex Karaban.
“To me, it is more impressive than what Florida and Duke (1991 and 1992) did because they brought back their entire teams,” said Hurley of winning two in a row. “We lost some major players.” Indeed, Jordan Hawkins (New Orleans Pelicans), Andre Jackson Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks) and Adama Sanogo (two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls) are all in the NBA.
There should be little debate that the Huskies, era be damned, belong among the all-time best teams in college basketball.