March Madness is almost upon us, the most exciting time for college basketball fans. Throughout March, 68 of the best National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s basketball teams head to the court to determine the 2024 champions. As of today, the Vegas betting odds March Madness suggest the UConn Huskies will emerge victoriously and capture back-to-back titles and their sixth overall.
Only six teams have managed the impressive feat of winning the NCAA Division I men’s competition. The Florida Gators are the most recent team to go back-to-back, doing so in 2006 and 2007. Before the Gators, one must go back to 1991 and 1992 when Duke Blue Devils dominated college basketball. UCLA Bruins were the masters of repeat victories. UCLA won ten titles between 1964 and 1975, including an incredible seven in a row, a feat unlikely ever to be repeated.
The UConn Huskies Title Winning Season
The UConn Huskies started the 2022-23 season like a house on fire, winning all 11 Non-conference regular season games, including a 114-61 demolition of LIU Sharks. The Huskies’ winning streak continued into the Big East regular season, racking up three wins on the bounce before they began stuttering. They lost six of their next eight Big East games, ultimately finishing with a 13-7 record, enough to progress to the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After beating number five seed Providence Friars in the quarterfinals, the UConn Huskies fell 68-70 to Marquette Golden Eagles in the semis.
It is fair to say the UConn Huskies turned on the style in the NCAA Tournament, with none of the six teams they faced providing much of a challenge. Even the final against the San Diego State Aztecs at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, was one-sided, with the Huskies running out 76-59 winners to lock up the team’s fifth NCAA title and its first since 2014.
Two Huskies were named to the All-Big East First Team: shooting guard Jordan Hawkins and power forward Adama Sanogo. Sanogo shone brightly during the NCAA Tournament and was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Sanogo’s performances were impressive in their own right, but the Mali-born star is a practicing Muslim and was fasting during the NCAA tournament because it conflicted with Ramadan.
Hawkins finished the campaign averaging 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 16.2 points per game over 37 appearances, while Sanogo played 39 times for the Huskies, averaging 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 17.2 points.
Star Players Leave, But the Huskies Remain Strong
Any team that becomes NCAA champions risks losing some of its best-performing players to the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the UConn Huskies were no different. Three Huskies declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, and all three left the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
Hawkins, mentioned above, is now part of the New Orleans Pelicans setup after they selected him as the 14th overall pick in the first round. Hawkins signed a four-year, $20.6 million rookie contract.
Although Sanogo initially went undrafted, which surprised many basketball pundits, the Chicago Bulls signed him to a two-way contract a few days after the 2023 NBA Draft.
Andre Jackson Jr. also declared to the 2023 NBA Draft despite rarely setting the court alight. Orlando Magic selected Jackson Jr. as the 36th overall pick in the second round before trading him to the Milwaukee Bucks on draft night.
Any team would struggle if they lost three players from their starting lineup, but this Huskies team has not done that. The UConn Huskies are 24-3 at the time of writing, an impressive record that includes an unbeaten 14-0 at home and 4-0 at neutral venues. However, their 6-3 away record, although winning, raises a few questions about how well this Huskies team travels.
New Stars Step Up to the Plate
The UConn Huskies needed some fresh faces on their roster after three key departures, and Cam Spencer was one of the Huskies’ recruits. The 6 foot 4 inches, 207-pound guard joined the Huskies from Rutgers. Spencer is enjoying a fruitful season, making 48.5% of his field goals and 43.8% of his three-pointers while averaging 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game over 27 appearances.
Now in his GS Senior year, Tristen Newton has been the Huskies’ standout player. Through 27 starts, Newton is averaging 15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Several NBA teams are monitoring Newton’s progress.
Stephon Castle is another Huskies player that has caught the eye. The freshman joined the Huskies from Newton High School, Georgia, with a glowing reputation and a 92 ESPN grade. Castle can be happy with his statistics so far, with averages of 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists from 27 games (17 starts).
Will the Huskies Live Up To Their Favorites Status?
The UConn Huskies are the clear favorites to become the 2024 NCAA champions and the first team in 17 years to clinch back-to-back victories in college basketball’s most prestigious tournament.
Head coach Dan Hurley knows how to get the best out of his men, and many on the current UConn Huskies roster have sampled the sweet taste of success, so they know how to get the job done and win titles.
Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, and Stephon Castle have significant roles to play, and their performances on the court will determine whether or not the UConn Huskies become NCAA champions again in March.
If the Huskies falter during March Madness, the Purdue Boilermakers will most likely emerge victoriously at the end of the competition. The Boilermakers won the Big Ten tournament last season, and although they lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament in a shock 58-63 defeat at the hands of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, they will not make the same mistake again.
The Boilermakers have never won the NCAA tournament – they were runners-up in 1969 – but they are ready to change that fact if the Huskies slip up. Exciting times are ahead for college basketball fans.
