Nobody was mentioning UConn as a nationwide championship contender when March Madness started, so the Huskies have bulldozed their very own path.
UConn stands two victories away from surprisingly successful the title after steamrolling Gonzaga 82-54 on Saturday night time to punch their ticket to the Final Four.
The West Region ultimate in Las Vegas remodeled right into a one-sided beatdown during which UConn repeatedly threw haymakers and the Bulldogs wilted beneath the assault.
The fourth-seeded Huskies (29-8) have received their 4 NCAA Tournament video games by a mean of twenty-two.5 factors, together with three by greater than 20.
“Just sticking to our script and doing what we do every single game,” UConn guard Andre Jackson Jr. stated. “We have the best coaching staff in the country. These guys get us ready for every game. The scouting reports are always on point.”
Jordan Hawkins carried the offense, matching his profession excessive with six 3-pointers and scoring 20 factors to guide the Huskies’ cost.
UConn will face both second-seeded Texas or fifth-seeded Miami within the Final Four. Those golf equipment play Sunday within the Midwest Region ultimate.
The Final Four journey is the sixth total for UConn and the primary because it received the 2014 nationwide championship.
UConn is 15-0 this season towards faculties not in its convention (Big East), and coach Dan Hurley stated the toughness of the league helped put together his staff for this month’s dominating efforts.
“What a performance by the boys to do what we did to a team of that caliber, a program of that caliber,” Hurley stated. “Obviously we were just playing at a super high level. But I don’t think we were — obviously surprised by the margin of victory but not surprised about where we’re going next because this is who we’ve been for a large part of the season.”
Alex Karaban added 12 factors and Adama Sanogo contributed 10 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the Huskies, who trailed for simply 47 seconds. Jackson had a strong all-around outing with eight factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists.
Drew Timme had 12 factors and 10 rebounds in what possible was his ultimate sport for the third-seeded Bulldogs (31-6).
“It was a blast to coach him,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few stated of the varsity’s all-time main scorer with 2,307 factors. “It’s been quite a ride. I hope everybody remembers him for the great competitor he was and just the awesome player he was.”
Julian Strawther added 11 factors for the Bulldogs, who had a 12-game successful streak halted whereas enjoying within the Elite Eight for the fifth time previously eight tournaments.
The Huskies shot 41.7 % from the sphere, together with 11 of 31 from 3-point vary.
The Bulldogs made 33.3 % of their photographs and had been a lowly 2 of 20 from behind the arc.
“UConn was just terrific tonight,” Few stated. “And we didn’t have any answers, especially when kind of everything really didn’t bounce our way. And we can’t absorb a game like that when our offense is as bad as it was tonight.”
Timme picked up two fouls within the first 2:22 of the second half and headed to the bench with 4 personals. Gonzaga trailed by 10 factors when Timme took a seat with 17:38 remaining, and issues rapidly acquired worse.
“Look, we can say what if, right? What if they didn’t call a foul?” Timme stated. “But the bottom line is they were the better team tonight. They made better shots. They got the 50/50 balls.”
After Timme sat, Sanogo scored on the within, Hawkins drained a 3-pointer and Nahiem Alleyne transformed a three-point play to provide the Huskies a 52-34 benefit with 16:39 left.
Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton drained a 3-pointer, however UConn continued its cost with 4 factors from Tristen Newton, a layup from Alleyne and a thunderous dunk by Donovan Clingan to spice up its result in 60-37 with 14:17 remaining.
Nearly 6 1/2 minutes later, Hawkins buried a trey to make it 75-44 with 7:53 to play to proceed his banner night time.
“I seen the first one go in, I felt good,” Hawkins stated. “I was getting a lot of open looks. So I was letting it fly. I knew my teammates were going to do a great job getting me the ball.”
The Bulldogs missed 9 straight photographs and 16 of 17 earlier than Hunter Sallis drove for a layup to chop the deficit to 30 with 4:57 left.
The lead topped out at 33 factors.
Karaban ended his 10-point first half with a 3-pointer simply earlier than time expired to provide UConn a 39-32 halftime lead.
—Field Level Media/Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
