Defending champ UConn back in NCAA title game after beating Alabama

By John Marshall/AP Basketball Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. – UConn kept its bid to repeat as national champion intact by surviving its first real test of the NCAA Tournament, getting 21 points from freshman Stephon Castle while clamping down defensively in the second half of an 86-72 victory over Alabama in the Final Four on Saturday night.

The top-seeded Huskies (36-3) had put on a March Madness spectacle before arriving in the desert, one that included a 30-0 run in a decimation of Illinois in the Elite Eight.

It was more of a slow burn, as UConn withstood an early flurry of 3-pointers before holding the Crimson Tide (25-12) without a field goal for a five-minute stretch in the second half.

Next up for the Huskies is what should be a much more physical test against 7-foot-4, 300-pound Zach Edey and Purdue in Monday’s national championship game. UConn has its own accomplished big man in 7-2 Donovan Clingan, who finished with 18 points and four blocked shots.

“A battle of giants. I think it’s just great for college basketball. Us and Purdue have clearly been the two best teams in the country over the last two years,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “I think it’s just great for college basketball to see the two big dogs playing on Monday.”

Survive this game and UConn will be the first national champion to repeat since Florida in 2006-07.

“It feels good, but the work isn’t done yet,” Clingan said.

The Huskies’ Final Four victory certainly wasn’t as easy as the final score indicated.

Alabama held strong in the program’s first Final Four appearance, facing a team that trailed a total of 28 seconds in its first four NCAA Tournament games.

Crafty point guard Mark Sears did his best to keep Alabama going, scoring 24 points. Grant Nelson had another big game in March Madness, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds and a scoring dunk against Clingan.

Even that wasn’t enough against a UConn team that was among the most efficient on both ends of the floor.

The Huskies spent the first two weeks of the tournament terrorizing their opponents with an average margin of victory of 27.8 points.

Alabama put a stick in the spokes of the juggernaut by moving Clingan away from the basket and burying the 3 points.

Clingan had two early blocks and looked poised to replicate his performance in the Elite Eight, when Illinois went 0 of 19 on shots he contested.

Once the Crimson Tide began forcing Clingan into high pick-and-rolls, the lanes to the basket began to open up — as did the 3-point line.

Alabama has thrived from 3 all season, beating Clemson in the Elite Eight by making 16 shots from deep. The Tide continued against UConn, making 8 of 11 in the first half as Sears got to the rim on several occasions, putting the Huskies seemingly where they wanted them.

No.

The Huskies kept their composure amid Alabama’s 3-point barrage, ran their offense calmly and led 44-40 at halftime.

UConn continued to roll in the second half and Nelson kept the Tide within reach. His thunderous dunk over Clingan made Tide coach Nate Oats scream and crouch like he was doing the Haka.

Oats’ friend Hurley had the last word – or cry.

Hurley made UConn the best two-way team in a generation, and the Huskies showed both sides in their final flourish.