Beating UConn will not be an easy task
The 2024 version of March Madness has apexed with a trio of streak busters in the desert.
N.C. State is in the Final Four for the first time since Jim Valvano ran around trying to find someone to hug after the 1983 national championship. Purdue and big man Zach Edey will make their first Final Four appearance since Joe Barry Carroll dominated the paint in 1980. Alabama? Never been. An angry pack of Huskies awaits them in the Valley of the Sun.
Dominating on its way to a fifth national championship a year ago, UConn has looked even more unbeatable so far in its run to become the first repeat champion since Florida in 200607.
"Our defense is elite. Our offense is elite. We rebound the ball," UConn coach Dan Hurley said. "These guys play every possession like it's the end of the world."
The Huskies have done nothing but end opponents' hopes through consecutive dominating March runs.
UConn steamrolled its way through the 2023 bracket, winning each game by at least 13 points. That was the best since Indiana in 1981.
These Huskies may be better. With 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan in the middle and talent across the roster, UConn won its first four NCAA Tournament games by an average of 27.7 points. The Huskies made Illinois look like a JV team in the Elite Eight, reeling off 30 — yes, 30 — straight points in a 77-52 victory to become the first reigning champion to reach the Final Four since Florida's consecutive titles.
Knocking off UConn will be a monumental task in Glendale, Arizona, starting with Alabama in the semifinals Saturday.
"His (Hurley's) formula is working out pretty well," Alabama coach Nate Oats said. "I'm going to have to figure out that formula myself here soon."
Oats already has sorted a few things figured out.
The Crimson Tide lost in the Sweet 16 last season, then most of its roster. Oats had three returning players and replaced three assistants who left for head coaching jobs.
Playing fast and letting 3s fly from all over, Alabama led the nation in scoring during the regular season and has kept up the pace in March. Led by heady, gritty point guard Mark Sears, the Crimson Tide scored at least 89 points in three of four NCAA Tournament games, including 109 in the opener against Charleston.
Alabama reached its first Final Four by making 16 3-pointers in an 89-82 win over Clemson in the Elite Eight.
"Guys bought in — we can make this run, other teams have done it," Oats said. "We have the capability to do it."
The first national semifinal on Saturday will be big — as in more than 14 feet and 575 pounds of men in the paint.