In an impressive display of dominance, the UConn Huskies claimed their fifth national championship in basketball by defeating the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59. The Huskies cruised through all six of their NCAA tournament games with double-digit victories, becoming only the fifth team to achieve this feat since the bracket expanded in 1985.
UConn’s star forward Adama Sanogo received the Most Outstanding Player award after delivering a superb performance in the final, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Tristen Newton also shone, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards.
Despite San Diego State managing to reduce the deficit to five with 5:19 left, the Huskies remained composed and went on a 9-0 run triggered by Jordan Hawkins’ three-pointer. San Diego State’s Keshad Johnson scored 14 points, but it was not enough to save the Aztecs from coming up short in their first trip to the Final Four.
Coach Dan Hurley built the UConn Huskies team for the 2023 season, seeking to improve their outside shooting after back-to-back first-round exits in the tournament. While Hurley’s new-age roster building approach was innovative, the Huskies played with an old-school mentality that proved to be too much for the opposition.
The Aztecs struggled to shoot over or go around the tall, long UConn team and missed 14 consecutive shots from the floor. UConn remained composed throughout the game, preventing San Diego State from making any last-second dramatics.
Bill Murray was among the few celebrities in attendance to witness UConn claim their fifth title in one of the most unexpected Final Fours in history. This marked Jim Nantz’s final broadcast after 37 years behind the mic. While Nantz has many UConn stories to tell, this was not the most dramatic one.
Dan Hurley’s latest championship victory makes him the third coach to bring a trophy home to Storrs, Connecticut, following in the footsteps of Jim Calhoun (1999, 2004, 2011) and Kevin Ollie (2014). Hurley stated that the team had a chip on their shoulder as they weren’t ranked going into the year, but they knew the level they could play at even during the darkest times.
The UConn Huskies’ impressive victory has cemented their place in college basketball history, and they will undoubtedly go down as one of the most dominant teams in recent memory.
The victory was a culmination of a dominant tournament run by the UConn Huskies, who won all six of their games in the NCAA tournament by double digits en route to the national championship. This feat was accomplished by only five teams since the bracket expanded in 1985.
The Huskies’ lanky star forward Adama Sanogo was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, following his impressive performance in the final game against San Diego State. He finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team to victory.
Tristen Newton was also a standout player for the Huskies, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. UConn’s strong team effort and dominant play throughout the tournament earned them their fifth national championship title in basketball.
UConn built a comfortable 16-point lead late in the first half and never looked back, despite a late rally by San Diego State that trimmed the lead to just five points. The Huskies responded with a 9-0 run sparked by Jordan Hawkins’ three-pointer, securing their victory in the final minutes of the game.
San Diego State’s Keshad Johnson scored 14 points, but it wasn’t enough to lead his team to victory in their first-ever trip to the Final Four. Despite their strong start to the tournament, the Aztecs were unable to keep up with the dominant UConn team, who proved to be too strong and too talented.
The UConn Huskies were built for success in 2023 by coach Dan Hurley, who turned to the transfer portal to find more outside shooting after back-to-back first-round exits in the tournament. Despite their new-look roster, the team played with a decidedly old-school mentality throughout the tournament, dominating their opponents with a combination of size, speed, and skill.
UConn fan Bill Murray was among the few celebrities in attendance to witness the Huskies’ dominant victory in what was one of the most unexpected Final Fours in recent history. This tournament marked the final broadcast for Jim Nantz, who has been behind the mic for 37 years. Nantz has had many UConn stories to tell, but this was not the most dramatic.
Dan Hurley’s latest championship win makes him the third coach to bring a trophy home to Storrs, Connecticut, joining Jim Calhoun (1999, 2004, 2011) and Kevin Ollie (2014). Hurley acknowledged that the team had a chip on their shoulder throughout the season, as they were not ranked going into the year. However, they knew the level they could play at, and their dominant tournament run proved that they were among the best teams in the country.
