Huskies pull away from ’Bama, on cusp of repeat
UConn 86 Alabama 72
GLENDALE, Ariz. — UConn kept its bid to repeat as national champion intact by surviving its first true test of the NCAA Tournament, getting 21 points from freshman Stephon Castle while clamping down defensively in the second half of an 86-72 win over Alabama in the semifinals Saturday.
The top-seeded Huskies (36-3) had put on a March Madness show before arriving in the desert, a stretch that included a 30-0 run in a decimation of Illinois in the Elite Eight.
This was more of a slow burn, with UConn withstanding an early wave of 3-pointers before holding the Crimson Tide (25-12) without a field goal during a five-minute second-half stretch.
Next up for the Huskies will be what should be a much more physical test against 7-foot-4-inch, 300-pound Zach Edey and Purdue in Monday’s national championship game. UConn has its own accomplished big man in 7-2 Donovan Clingan, who finished with 18 points and four blocked shots.
“A battle of the giants. I think it’s just great for college basketball. Us and Purdue have clearly been the two best teams in the country the last two years,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “I think it’s just great for college basketball to get the two big dogs playing on Monday.”
Survive that matchup, and UConn will be the first repeat national champion since Florida in 2006-07.
“It feels good, but the job’s not done yet,” Clingan said.
Alabama held its own in the program’s first Final Four appearance, going toe to toe with a team that trailed 28 total seconds in its first four NCAA Tournament games. Crafty point guard Mark Sears did his best to keep Alabama in it, scoring 24 points. Grant Nelson had another big game with 19 points, 15 rebounds and one highlight-reel dunk over Clingan.
Even that wasn’t enough against a UConn team that’s among the most efficient at both ends of the floor.
Alabama thrived from 3 all season, taking down Clemson in the Elite Eight by making 16 shots from deep. The Tide kept it rolling against UConn, making 8 of 11 in the first half while Sears repeatedly got to the rim, putting the Huskies seemingly right where they wanted them.
But the Huskies kept their composure amid the Alabama 3-point barrage, calmly ran their offense, and led 44-40 at halftime.
UConn kept rolling in the second half and Nelson kept the Tide within reach. But the Huskies shut down the open looks from the arc, and Clingan overpowered the Tide when he got near the rim.