Defending champion, Connecticut (#1) is marching on this March Madness, and this was confirmed last night in the regional final since Dan Hurley's players won by 25 points (77-52) against Illinois (#3 ). After winning their first games by 39, 17 and 30 points, the Huskies stunned the Illini after returning from the locker room with a terrible 25-0!
Straddling the two halves, Donovan Clingan (22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks) signed a 30-0 to charge towards an easy victory, and a new Final Four. All under the eyes of Bill Murray, whose son is an assistant at UConn. This is the first time since 2007 that a university has qualified for the Final Four two years in a row. At the time, it was Joakim Noah's Florida.
A 3-point festival!
In Phoenix, venue for the 2024 Final Four, Connecticut will face Alabama (#4), winner of Clemson (#6) in the South region final. The Crimson Tide suddenly woke up from 3-point range to score 16 out of 36 from a distance, including 7 for Mark Sears alone, author of 23 points and elected MOP of the tournament. Above all, he is the only native player from the state, and his emotion was magnificent to see since it is the first qualification to the Final Four in the history of this university.
After taking out North Carolina in the previous round, Nate Oats' players had a stunning evening since at halftime, they were 1 of 13 from 3-point range! And then, in the second half, as if by magic, they will achieve a 3-point festival. A change of scenario symbolized by Jarin Stevenson, author of two air-balls in the first half, before planting 5 after the break to finish with 19 points.
Sunday
(#1) Purdue – (#2) Tennessee (8:20 p.m.) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
(#4) Duke – (#11) North Carolina State (11:05 p.m.) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas
