{"id":212286,"date":"2024-04-09T07:40:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T11:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=212286"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:55:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T19:55:25","slug":"twice-as-nice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/04\/twice-as-nice\/","title":{"rendered":"Twice as Nice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, things are exactly as they seem.<\/p>\n

All season long, the UConn men looked like the best basketball team in the country, and on Monday night they proved it beyond all doubt with a 75-60 win over Purdue to become the first program with back-to-back national championships in 17 years.<\/p>\n

It was the sixth national championship victory since 1999 for UConn; the only programs with more are UCLA (11) and Kentucky (8). A Welcome Home rally for the team is scheduled to be held Tuesday, April 9 at Gampel Pavilion, with a tentative start time of 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Point guard Tristen Newton was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player after recording 20 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and zero turnovers – the only player with those numbers in a national championship game since seeding began in 1979.<\/p>\n

UConn’s margin of victory over Purdue was a final exclamation point in a dominant March Madness performance that saw the Huskies average a staggering 23.3-point differential over opponents in the tournament.<\/p>\n

“I cannot believe this team. Truly,” wrote Chris Licata ’06 (CLAS) on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Wire-to-wire just absolutely trucked the competition and brought home a second straight title.”<\/p>\n

Purdue center Zach Edey played well, notching 37 points and 10 rebounds, but UConn’s elite defense stifled his teammates while the Husky guards trounced their Boilermaker opposite numbers: UConn’s back court outscored Purdue 55-17 over the course of the game.<\/p>\n

“I want to thank my parents for deciding to go to UConn 50+ years ago, for taking me to my first game when I was a literal infant, for letting me stay up when Tate made the shot,” wrote Meghan Bard ’03 (CLAS) on X. “I’ve loved this team since I was 8, and I’ve never seen one better than this.”<\/p>\n

After the game, head coach Dan Hurley praised the University for its commitment to building championship teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cUConn is a special place this time of year,” Hurley said. “They give us all the resources we need to play this way come March and April.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\r\n
\"Dan<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
Dan Hurley cuts down the net after back-to-back national championships. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Tristen<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
Tristen Newton, Final Four Most Outstanding Player. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Bristol's<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
Bristol's own Donovan Clingan celebrates after his second consecutive national championship victory. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"UConn<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
UConn students cheering on the Huskies from the watch party at Gampel Pavilion. (Peter Morenus \/ UConn Photo)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"The<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
The UConn Huskies celebrate as the national championship game ends in Arizona. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"UConn<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
UConn students cheer on the men's basketball team from Gampel Pavilion. (Peter Morenus \/ UConn Photo)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Coach<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
Coach Dan Hurley celebrates with the Huskies after defeating Purdue to win a second consecutive national title. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"UConn<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
UConn students watch the national championship game at Gampel Pavilion. (Peter Morenus \/ UConn Photo)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Dan<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
Dan Hurley hoists the national championship trophy after winning back-to-back national titles. (Courtesy of the NCAA)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"UConn<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>\n
UConn students watch the men's national championship game from Gampel Pavilion. (Peter Morenus \/ UConn Photo)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>