Notes & Quotes: One win from history, but they're already there

GLENDALE — Not even superlatives feel strong enough to describe these UConn Huskies, who survived their toughest test yet in the NCAA Tournament and came out of it with another double-digit win, sending Alabama home and advancing to Monday night’s national championship game.

“We were able finally to defend well enough in the second half, get the three-point line defense under control there [and] executed late… to get that separation,” head coach Dan Hurley said. He was named the Naismith Coach of the Year Award winner on Sunday.

Win or lose on Monday, this is the best two-year stretch in UConn men’s basketball history. After winning the 2023 national championship and losing three guys to the pros, they found a way to improve.

Their 2024 regular season and conference tournament had the best possible outcomes, with large margins of victory. They’re back in the national championship game, the first defending champs to do that since 2007.

“Relentless, relentless effort,” Hurley said, on their keys to success. He also frequently credits assistant coach Luke Murray and associate head coach Kimani Young for his team’s on-court excellence.

UConn’s foundation isn’t built on blue-chip recruits, but on Saturday night two of the highest-rated players to commit to the program in this era are demonstrating why high-end talent can make a difference.

Steph Castle and Donovan Clingan were exceptional as the two leading scorers while also being tone-setters defensively. Castle hit a couple of early threes and then scored a bunch near the basket on his way to tying a career-high with 21 points.

“We see it in practice every day,” Alex Karaban said, on Castle. “He had the opportunity at the beginning of the game to be aggressive, and he took advantage of it.”

“He's not like any other freshman,” Clingan said. “He's one of the best on-ball defenders that you'll see. He puts a lot of work in.”

Karaban, who dropped an efficient 14 on Saturday night, is another underclassman team leader driving this locomotive forward. The redshirt sophomore wasn’t just scoring, he also had a couple of statement blocks on the Crimson Tide.

All three of these guys could be on NBA rosters this fall, but their sense of the culture is also so strong. It’s part of what makes these Huskies run.

Despite being laden with pro-caliber talent, UConn prides itself on having a fierce commitment to rebounding and defense, mental toughness, and an unselfish nature which can be hard to achieve if you have a roster full of ultra-talented guys who all want to be the man.

“It really starts on the defensive end with us, get out in transition. Offensively, we're so unselfish. We'll pass up good shots for great shots. We have so much trust in one another,” Karaban said.

The Huskies have a wide variety of backgrounds. Some of them were highly sought-after prospects since middle school. Others—like Cam Spencer or Tristen Newton—made stops along the way to earn their spot in Storrs and provide the necessary hunger for the “formula” Hurley and his staff have been brewing.

Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers stand between the Huskies and a sixth national championship trophy. They’re 40 minutes away from winning two straight, cementing the program’s place at the top of the game, and are showing no signs of letting down.

Hurley’s unique ability to excel in recruiting, development, and retention should keep him happily at UConn for years to come. With a win on Monday, one could comfortably call him the best active coach in the game.

A lot of people would already say it right now.

A closer look at what stood out from Saturday night’s game:

What Went Well

Castle lets it rip. Alabama was sagging off Castle early in hopes of luring him into early misses. Unfortunately for the Tide, he hit two quick threes and also posted up for an early basket. The way he attacked offensively pushed the Huskies to victory against a defense that was frustrating UConn at times. It ended with a legendary performance in the Final Four that will highlight Castle’s legacy with the program.

Castle: “I noticed it the first play of the game when we were trying to run a set and the guy was guarding me in the paint. I tried to take advantage of it early… I would just say it was kind of a disrespect on their end just to guard that far back. I took advantage of it early…I thought it started a great night for me.”

Handling runs. Imagine facing the best scoring offense in the country and allowing that team to go 8-of-11 from three in the first half… and still be winning at the break. Even though UConn didn’t break this game open until the very end, the team’s effort and consistency shone throughout. They stuck to their game plan, didn’t get worked up by what their opponent was doing, and came out on top by 14 in their closest NCAA Tournament game thus far.

Hurley: “We wanted to keep their three-point attempts to under 22 for the game. The problem was we were on target for the attempts, but they made eight…it's body blows, continue to guard, continue to rebound, execute our offense. Eventually, there will be a breaking point opportunity that will present itself.”

Sharing, caring. It has been a fundamental truth all season, but unselfishness is part of the formula for success. This team spreads out the scoring, all five starters were in double figures, and is one of the best at setting up its teammates. UConn has the sixth-highest assist rate in the country and everyone from Clingan to Cam Spencer is a good passer.

Hurley: “The offense is super efficient. We're top four in defense. We rebound the heck out of the ball. We can bunch up stops and then we score a lot. You get stops, you score… I think it's disheartening for the other team because they've seen it. They've seen us do it a lot.”

Misc.

UConn has won 11 NCAA Tournament games in a row, all by 13 points or more, extending a program record and the NCAA record for consecutive double-digit wins in the tournament. … Castle scored over 20 for the fourth time this season. … UConn is 5-0 all-time in the national championship game and 11-1 in the Final Four. … UConn’s 36 wins are an ongoing program record. … The Huskies are 3-0 all-time against Alabama including 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament (2004). … Clingan has blocked at least three shots in 13 games this season.

Up Next

UConn meets Purdue in the national championship game, a heavyweight matchup featuring two of the tallest men on earth.

Tip-off is at 9:20 p.m. ET on Monday (TBS)

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