By Kenneth Cross
The Connecticut Huskies should now be potentially considered college basketball’s most successful program in the last 24 years.
UConn stopped San Diego State, 76-59 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Monday evening. The Huskies put together their fifth NCAA title since they won their first national championship in 1999.
“This was our vision,” said Huskies head coach Dan Hurley. “This was our dream. This is what we talked about when we recruited these guys, that we could get together and do something big like this.”
UConn guard Tristen Newton scored 19 points and gathered 10 rebounds to lead the Huskies.
He made the biggest shot of the game after San Diego State had cut the UConn lead to 60-55 with 5:19 remaining. Newton hit a triple from the left wing after the Aztecs’ run cut the Huskies 15-point lead which had given them potential to pull the game into the last minute of play.
“Coach drew something up for me and I know he trusted me to make that shot,” said Newton. “I had to make it. Easy part. All credit to my teammates for getting me open on those screens and Coach for trusting me.”
Newton had transferred to Connecticut from East Carolina, where last season, he averaged 17.7 points and 5.0 assists for the Pirates. His minutes had fallen because of his role in the system and he only averaged 10.1 points while only making 37.4 percent of his shots this season.
“The vision we had when I came here was to win a national championship, get to the Final Four and win a national championship,” said Newton. “I came here just to do that and just real blessed and thankful for these guys around me.”
The Huskies’ defense has been an underrated part of their team overall this season, but in the first half on Monday night, UConn took control of the game via holding San Diego State scoreless from the floor for 11:07.
“They’re great offensively,” analyzed Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher. “You know, eventually, they made a timely basket or two. We didn’t. They’re hard to score on. Their length bothered us around the rim.”
The Aztecs took a 10-6 lead when Matt Bradley scored on a 10-footer. At that point, SDSU did not score from the floor until Darion Trammell’s jumper in the paint with 5:25 remaining to cut the UConn lead to 26-17.
“We’re a great defensive team,” noted guard Jordan Hawkins. “When we can get stops like that and get out in transition, that really impacts our game, really impacts the game. Just holding them to that stretch, I think that was really big for us.”
Adama Sanogo finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds as he made 5-of-9 field goals while getting to the line consistently where he made 7-of-8 free throws.
Hurley referred to Sanogo as “an all-time great.” The 6-10 center shot 60.6 percent from the floor on the season as he led UConn in scoring with 17.7 points per game.
“To have the national championship just puts him in a position in one of the most storied programs in college basketball,” commented Hurley. “He’s an all-time great.”
Aztecs Mounted Comeback, Falling Short: UConn shooter Joey Calcaterra hit a three with 9:50 left as the Huskies used that to take a 56-41 lead. However, Coach Brian Dutcher has a solid group of challengers on his team and San Diego State showed that once again in the second half.
Posts Jaedon Ledee and Kedon Johnson orchestrated a 17-7 run that put the pressure on UConn as Johnson’s free throws cut the hefty Huskies’ lead to 60-55 with 5:19 to play.
“We feel good about the things we did,” said Dutcher. “Disappointed in the loss, but there was a brotherhood in that locker room that will never be divided by a margin of victory or not winning at all. That brotherhood will last a lifetime. I told them that.”
Johnson led the Aztecs with 14 points while Trammell and Lamont Butler scored 13 each.