UConn pours it on vs. Zags
Fouls on Timme open floodgates
LAS VEGAS — Jordan Hawkins scored 20 points and Connecticut blew past its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament opponent, earning its first trip to the Final Four in nine years with an 82-54 blowout of Gonzaga on Saturday night.
The Huskies (29-8) have felt right at home in their first extended March Madness run since winning the 2014 national championship, playing their best basketball of what had been an up-anddown season.
Connecticut controlled the usually efficient Bulldogs at both ends in the West Region final, building a 23point lead early in the second half to waltz right into the final section of the bracket.
The Huskies’ two NCAA tournament first-round exits under coach Dan Hurley are now well in the rearview mirror.
The Bulldogs (31-6) didn’t have the same second-half magic they had in a last-second win against UCLA in the
Elite Eight.
Gonzaga allowed Connecticut to go on a late run to lead by seven at halftime and fell completely apart after All-American Drew Timme went to the bench with his fourth foul early in the second half.
The Zags shot 33% from the field — 7 of 29 in the second half — and went 2 for 20 from 3.
Timme had 12 points and 10 rebounds, receiving a warm ovation after being taken out of what presumably was his final collegiate game with 1:50 left.
The Zags started off like they had a Vegas hangover, firing off two air-balled 3pointers and a wild runner by Timme. It got worse for Gonzaga to start the second half.
Connecticut pushed the lead to 12 and Timme picked up his third and fourth fouls in the opening 2 1/2 minutes — one on a charge, another on a box-out under the rim.
The Huskies really got rolling when Timme took a seat, using their defense to get out in transition and set up 3-pointers. A 14-3 run put them up 60-37 and Gonzaga coach Mark Few took the calculated gamble of bringing Timme back in.
It made little difference.