The most confusing season of college basketball has now come down to Monday night and one of the most unexpected national championship game matchups in recent memory.
On one side of the court, you have newcomers to the grandstand, Gritti San Diego State The team hopes to capture the title and become the first 5-seed to end the streak of the Mountain West’s top program over the past decade. The Aztecs came after a series of setbacks thanks to Lamont Butler’s short jumper in the corner in the final fourth to punch their ticket to the final game of the year and boost the program’s reach. Southern California.
Standing in the way of Brian Dechter’s crew cutting down the net, the blue blood program is making its fifth championship run in the last 25 years. Connecticut. The Huskies are coming off one of their most dominant seasons to date – the sixth team since 1985 to win all five games by double digits – and have never lost a season outside of the Big East. Head coach Dan Hurley, who warned that they better get their program together before they hit their current streak, has had the advantage of assembling one of the deepest teams around and leaning on star guards. Jordan Hawkins And Andre JacksonAs well as an incomparable big man turn Adam Sanogo and primary Donovan Clingan.
Put the two together at NRG Stadium and you have an impressive array of styles, team building and offensive playmaking for a highly anticipated title game that could go either way. UConn is a 7.5-point favorite entering the game, but few in the basketball community will go beyond the Aztecs to showcase their trademark defense.
It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for midnight madness, but the time has finally come to claim a championship and put a bow on this college basketball season. Now we have one final game, two strong teams and both 40 minutes away from history.
Get highlights and in-game analysis from Brian Fisher as the game begins.
No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 4 UConn:
All about culture
Fox Sports’ Andy Katz sat down with San Diego State coach Brian Netzerker to talk about the culture in the program and how he’s positioned this team.
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