UConn became just the eighth school to win back-to-back men's basketball national championships on Monday night with its win over Purdue. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
It was billed as a big-man battle between Purdue's Zach Edey against UConn's Donovan Clingan. That didn't give the Huskies guards enough credit.
UConn won a second straight title on Monday night through a relentless attack from its backcourt in a 75-60 win over Purdue.
Tristen Newton, Stephon Castle and Cam Spencer were just too much for the Boilermakers, pulling up from range and weaving through the Purdue defense at will as the Huskies pulled away from their second title in as many years. Newton led the team with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Castle had 15 points and five rebounds. Spencer finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Edey was his usual dominant self on the low block and definitely got the better of Clingan in their matchup, but he didn't have much help from his teammates. The two-time Naismith Player of the Year finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds in the loss as Purdue fell just short in its redemption tour a year after falling to a 16-seed in the first round of the tournament.
It's the first time a team has won back-to-back titles since Florida did it in the 2006-07 seasons.
UConn's dominance the last two years is ridiculous.
UConn states a case for one of the best two-year runs in NCAA history, beating Purdue 75-60 *Average margin of victory in the 2024 NCAA tournament is 23.3 points over six games. *UConn's average margin of victory in the 2023 NCAA tournament was 20 points over the six games.
Dan Hurley just barely avoided what easily would have been the funniest ejection in basketball history. UConn is less than 3 minutes from a championship, and he just pushed his own player on the court.
What a dunk from Camden Heide to get us going in the second half.
Ryan Young
The second half is underway in Arizona
Dan Hurley came running out for the second half with the collar of his suit coat up, someone had to yell at him to turn it down. He was cutting it close to tipoff.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The story of the first half is UConn's defensive strategy.
Hell bent on not losing to Zach Edey's supporting cast, the Huskies are defending the Purdue giant 1-on-1 and erasing Purdue’s 3-point shooters.
The approach so far has been effective. Edey has 16 first-half points, but Purdue didn't attempt its third 3-pointer until a full-court heave at the halftime buzzer.
Purdue took just two 3-pointers in that first half, and Zach Edey and Braden Smith combined for all but five of their points, but the Boilermakers are still in this at the midway point.
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 9, 2024
Ryan Young
Braden Smith just hit Purdue's first 3-pointer of the night with 2:22 left in the first half. We've got a one-possession game again
Ryan Young
UConn just went on a 9-2 run to grab a five point lead at the under-4 timeout. Purdue's only bucket during that stretch? A put-back from Zach Edey
Ryan Young
Zach Edey and Dan Hurley are going at it a bit already tonight.
Game getting a little spicy. Edey stared down the UConn bench after his last basket, a couple words exchanged between Hurley and Edey on way to huddles at the timeout. Hurley yelling "what the f--- is that" twice to the officials after Edey wasn't called for an illegal screen.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 9, 2024
Ryan Young
UConn takes an 18-16 lead into the under-12 timeout. Zach Edey's scored Purdue's last 11 points, and is single-handedly keeping the Boilermakers in this early.
Ryan Young
Zach Edey with a huge dunk over Donovan Clingan, and then he followed it a pair of ridiculous blocks on the other end. What a start for the Boilermakers
Cam Spencer is 3-of-3 from the field so far tonight, so this strategy may not be the best.
Something to watch: UConn is punishing Zach Edey's drop coverage by having Clingan set ball screens for its best shooter, Cam Spencer. No idea how Purdue can combat that besides ... hope he misses?!
Zach Edey's backed Donovan Clingan down successfully twice now, but the Huskies hold an 11-9 lead at the first media timeout. We've got a battle so far
Ryan Young
Purdue controls the tip, and we're underway in Arizona.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The rare title game pitting college basketball's two best teams is minutes from tipoff. For UConn, this is about repeating. For Purdue, it's about redemption.
I hope we get a game worthy of the buildup, but I'm worried whether Purdue's guards can hold up to UConn's defensive pressure. Pregame prediction sure to be wrong: 77-64 Huskies.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Purdue’s Zach Edey on UConn’s Donovan Clingan: 'We’ve got a game plan for him'
Yahoo Sports Staff
Danny Green and the Yahoo Sports crew break down the key matchups in the title game
Yahoo Sports Staff
Who do you like to score the first bucket of the game?
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