The 2023 men’s college basketball National Championship winner was a team picked in just 2.08% of brackets: the UConn Huskies. The Huskies were favored in the championship game against San Diego State, however, they were still an underdog on their path to glory.

In this century, nobody has more titles than the Uconn basketball program. They are now five time champs, which puts them in a tie for 4th most all-time. The program, now led by Dan Hurley, has developed into one of the most consistent in the country.

UConn’s Road to a National Championship

The road to the championship for the Huskies was a dominant one, capped off by the lopsided 76-59 victory in the title game. Throughout the tournament Dan Hurley and his squad couldn’t be stopped, winning each game by an average of 21.4 points. None of their opponents managed to end a game within 15 points of the Huskies.

The guards played outstanding. Tristen Newton led the way with a double-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins contributed 16 points and four boards. Junior forward Adama Sanogo was a force all month long in the paint with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Alex Karaban had five rebounds, three blocks, and five points. With Junior Andre Jackson Jr. rounding out the big five with a couple of steals, six assists, and three boards.

The Huskies never had to play a team higher than a three seed in the tournament. March Madness was full of surprises, but it didn’t matter for UConn as they took down every team in their path. The combination of their length down low that clogged up lanes and their ability to hit tough shots and finish at the rim was too much for those hunting the Huskies.

It seemed that the national championship game was decided in the first half. The Aztecs going went over 11 minutes without a single field goal, which created a comfortable lead for the Huskies. Hurley thought that his team should’ve been up by at least 20 going into halftime but, regardless, it was the missed shots and turnovers that proved fatal for San Diego State.

A forgettable title game, but a Huskies run to remember

This was a March Madness that taught a lot of fans valuable lessons about the tournament. This year it was as if seeding didn’t matter. UConn was the fourth seed in their region, but you could argue that they were the fourth best team in the entire country. Nonetheless, it’s about what team can get hot at the right time and shows up in the big moments. This might have been a forgettable championship, but the Huskies dominant run won’t be forgotten soon.

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Photo Credit: © Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

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