The college basketball season finally ends (for the men tonight, for the women Tuesday) this week with an unexpected peak interest in the men’s final in this state.
We have full coverage:
- Here is the game preview story
- UConn’s assistant coaches have played a key role
- John Calipari is no longer the most hated coach in Connecticut
- Commentary: Any room on bandwagon?
Game details
What: NCAA Tournament national championship game
When: 9:10 p.m.
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV, Radio: WFSB-3, WTIC-AM (1080)
Records: UConn 31-8; Kentucky 29-10
Prediction: From the Editor’s Chair
Worth noting
- UConn is playing in its second title game in the last four seasons. Kentucky is playing in the title game for the second time in the last three years. The Wildcats won the 2012 title.
- It is the first time since 1966 that teams that did not play in the prior year’s tournament are meeting in the title game. UConn was ineligible last year and Kentucky lost at Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT.
- Kentucky is the first team in the history of the tournament to win four straight tournament games by five or fewer points. It is also the first team to eliminate the prior tournament’s champion (Louisville) and runner-up (Michigan).
- UConn seniors Shabazz Napier, Niels Giffey and Tyler Olander have a chance to become the first players in program history to win two titles. They are already the only guys to play in two title games.
- The Huskies are 3-0 in title games and are 7-1 in the Final Four (and are undefeated in Final Four games played in Texas).
- Kentucky’s Julius Randle needs five rebounds to pass Anthony Davis for the most rebounds in school history by a freshman.
- Kentucky will play without Willie Cauley-Stein, who was hurt in the Sweet 16 victory against Louisville.
- Kentucky starts five freshmen.
Probable starters
UConn — Shabazz Napier, 6-1, G (17.9 ppg., 5.8 rpg.); Ryan Boatright, 6-0, G (12.1 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); DeAndre Daniels, 6-9, F (13.2 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), Niels Giffey, 6-7, F (8.4 ppg., 3.8 rpg.); Phil Nolan, 6-10, C (3.4 ppg., 2.4 rpg.).
Kentucky — Andrew Harrison, 6-6, G (10.9 ppg., 3.1 rpg.); Aaron Harrison, 6-6, G (13.9 ppg., 2.9 rpg.); Dakari Johnson, 7-0, C (5.2 ppg., 3.9 rpg.); Julius Randle, 6-9, F (15.1 ppg., 10.5 rpg.); James Young, 6-6, G/F (14.2 ppg., 4.2 rpg.).
Analysis
Why UConn will win: Experience and defense. UConn has rarely been rattled during the season and has not been rattled at all during the tournament. That is a factor, especially given the way the Huskies have played defense. Kentucky doesn’t have a backup point guard and Andrew Harrison, who handles most of that duty, can be forced into turnovers. Ryan Boatright has played exceptional on-ball defense during the tournament and has an opportunity to really make himself a pest tonight. UConn needs that. It also needs good work from its big men to keep the big Wildcats out of the paint.
Why Kentucky will win: Because it has a stockpile of future NBA talent. The Wildcats have seven McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster, all of whom play a big role. And they are just inexperienced enough to not quite grasp the magnitude of the event, which allows them to play loose. They have also been tested a great deal in this tournament and come out on top each time. Their size will provide mismatches all over the place and their athleticism is something the Huskies have to find a way to counteract.
