Aztecs seek revenge in rematch vs. Huskies
The UConn Huskies pretty much wrecked every team they faced in the NCAA Tournament on the way to last year’s championship and the first two games this March Madness look awfully familiar.
Up next is a wrinkle: A rematch with a San Diego State team that was outclassed in the title game a year ago and remembers it.
The Aztecs think this year’s outcome can be different, but know how tough that will be, especially with Thursday night’s East Region semifinal game being played in Boston, about a 130-kilometre drive for fans of the No. 1-seeded Huskies.
“We’re excited to get off to Boston,” coach Brian Dutcher said Tuesday before the Aztecs’ crosscountry flight. “The good news is, we’re not playing the Celtics. The bad news is, we’re playing UConn.
“We’re up for the challenge. It’s like playing a road game. I’m sure it’s going to be packed with UConn fans. Our Aztec faithful will travel as best they can. But we’re ready for the challenge and we’re looking forward to it, and try to come out of there with a couple of victories,” Dutcher said.
A year ago, the Aztecs went from the ecstasy of Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beating jumper against FAU in a national semifinal game — one of the most thrilling moments in San Diego sports history — to the pain of a 76-59 loss to UConn in the national championship game. The Huskies built a double-digit lead in the first half before the Aztecs cut the lead to five points with about five minutes to go, only to watch the Huskies pull away again.
“A lot of new pieces on both teams, which will make it interesting. Last year we had it to five points with about five minutes to go and then they spurted to the final margin,” Dutcher said. “If we can keep it close and give ourselves an opportunity to win the game at the end, I like our chances.”
Now they’re in the Sweet 16 in consecutive years for the first time, with an unenviable assignment.
Last year the Aztecs were a No. 5 seed and beat 12th-seeded College of Charleston in the first round and 13th-seeded Furman in the second round before upsetting No. 1 seed Alabama in the Sweet 16.
This year they’re on the same path, at least heading into the fourth Sweet 16 in program history. They beat 12th-seeded UAB in the first round and then routed 13thseeded Yale in the second round.
It’s just that UConn has won its first two tourney games by an average of 28 points.
“We know we can do it. We did it last year and I think we can do it again,” Butler said about upsetting a No. 1 seed. “We’ve got the right pieces. We’ve just got to lock in and follow the game plan and we can go out there and win.”