(Glendale, AZ) The hype is done, the pregame jitters are about to be gone and its time to put up or shut up.
Both UCONN and Purdue have had their focus on this one game. Both took different routes in their regular season to get to this juncture.
Purdue was ranked #1 for a few weeks during the regular season, while the defending champs just stayed in the background and did their blue collar work all season for a chance to repeat.
We haven’t had a repeat champion since Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators back in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
(Left) Donovan Clingan and (Right) Zach Edey were the focal points of the Championship Game. Photo – Olympics.com
Both teams opened up with baskets to begin their assault on history. The first five minutes saw both teams use their strengths, Edey down low for the Boilers and perimeter shots for the Huskies. A the first TV timeout UCONN was up 11-9.
Connecticut attempted to challenge Edey and came away rejected, while Purdue continued too feed Edey in the post. At the second TV timeout at 11:28 UCONN still held a tenuous two point lead 18-16.
At the 7:55 mark of the first half, Purdue regained the lead 23-31 on an Edey baby hook in the middle of the lane.
At the under four minutes timeout, UCONN had put a little distance between them and the Boilermakers 30-25. Edey had missed his last three hook shots about 6 feet from the basket that allowed the Huskies to take the lead.
The nip and tuck continued as Purdue went on a 5-0 run late in the half to cut the Huskies lead to a bucket, 32-30.
The half ended a little sloppy with both teams turning the ball over and a 36-30 Connecticut lead.
Halftime featured the Gila River Native Nation in full dress.
Connecticut began the second half with a three from downtown Phoenix to extend the lead to nine 39-30.
Edey’s inability to hit his shot from one to two feet away from the hoop was killing Purdue,
The Huskies continued their assault down low in spite of Donovan Clingan having three fouls early in the second half.
In spite of his lack of success down low on the offensive end, Zach Edey had half of Purdue’s points 18 out of 36 total points at the 14:00 minute mark.
UCONN continued their quick ball movement and utilized the hight post screen that allowed their guards to penetrate the lane for high percentage shots to maintain their double digit lead 51-38 at the 11:31 mark.
Purdue went cold from the field and that allowed the Huskies to add to their big lead 59-42 with time running out.
Connecticut had a great defensive plan to let Edey get his points and shut down everyone else. With under five minutes to go, Edey had 29 points and the rest of the Boilermakers team had 20.
There wasn’t anything that Purdue could do to get back into the game, UCONN had turned them upside down and took everyone but Edey out of the game.
Final: UCONN 75 Purdue 60
Coach Dan Hurley said their goal was to keep Purdue from getting shots from the perimeter. All tournament long, the Boilermakers had all their offensive set go through Edey, he’d either shot from the block deep in the key, or kicked it back out for a wide open three from the guards. UCONN took that option completely away tonight.
Yes, Edey scored 37 points, but it took him 25 shot attempts. The rest of the team only scored 23 points.
Another huge factor was the Huskies out rebounded Purdue in the second half 21-13, often times shutting down an attempted rally.
Connecticut outscored their opponents in the Tournament by 140 points in their 6 wins, an NCAA Record.
So with back to back titles, the Huskies set their sights on a three-peat next season, and no one in Glendale tonight would bet against them.
Tonight’s attendance was 74,423.
The 2024 Men’s Final Four All Tournament Team:
Tristan Newton – Guard – UCONN
Stephon Castle – Guard – UCONN
Donovan Clingan – Center – UCON
Cam Spencer – Guard – UCONN
Zach Edey – Center – Purdue
Our Super Six Sponsors that made this event possible were: CMS Mortgage with Moe “the Mortgage Lady,” Little Mexico Restaurant, The Barber Academy, Oasis Cooling & Heating, April Bidwell – Big Solutions Realty and the Old Pueblo Devils ASU Alumni Association.
