Billy Donovan hasn’t watched many UConn video games. He doesn’t have the time whereas teaching the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
But he’s seen sufficient to know the Huskies’ bid to repeat as nationwide champions — they’re attempting to turn into the primary since Donovan’s Florida workforce in 2007 to take action — is occurring in “a totally different environment.”
For starters, there’s an abundance of expertise and expertise out there by way of the NCAA switch portal. There’s additionally title, picture and likeness cash out there to doubtlessly hold guys on campus longer than what had been the norm.
It’s a seismic shift that comes with a brand new set of challenges for positive.
It additionally would possibly present a path for champs like UConn to rebuild shortly and have a legit shot at profitable all of it once more — even with a revolving group of men.
“Certainly a different time with the way college basketball has changed from that perspective,” Donovan stated. “(The Huskies) obviously had to change their starting lineup. It’s not the same exact team that won it last year. They’ve got certainly some pieces from the previous year, but they’re also starting two or three different guys as well.”
Indeed, UConn misplaced its prime two scorers from final season – ahead Adama Sanoga and guard Jordan Hawkins – however was capable of change a few of their mixed 33 factors and 11 rebounds a recreation by signing graduate switch and former Rutgers and Loyola-Maryland starter Cam Spencer.
The Huskies returned level guard Tristen Newton, ahead Alex Karaban and heart Donovan Clingan to type the core of coach Dan Hurley’s roster. With the trio main the way in which, UConn (35-3, 18-2 Big East) has been even higher this time round.
The Huskies have gained 11 in a row and 25 of 26 coming into Saturday evening’s matchup in opposition to fourth-seeded Alabama in a single semifinal in Glendale, Arizona, they usually’ve gained 4 NCAA Tournament video games by a median of 28 factors.
“If I wasn’t picking with my heart, I would have picked them to win the whole thing in my bracket,” stated Lee Humphrey, a sharp-shooting guard on Florida’s title groups who’s now a TV analyst for video games. “I couldn’t pull for them since we’re the last team to repeat. But it’s going to be tough for anybody to knock them off.”
UConn is the primary champion to return to the Final Four since Florida in 2007, which reveals simply how daunting a activity it has been for many years.
Before the Gators, Michigan State (2001), Kentucky (1997), Arkansas (1995) and Duke (1992) additionally completed the feat. The Spartans acquired again regardless of dropping stars Morris Peterson and Mateen Cleaves; the Wildcats pulled it off with their prime three scorers — Antoine Walker, Tony Delk and Walter McCarty — within the NBA.
Florida and Duke have been the one ones of that group to chop down the nets on school basketball’s final stage once more.
“The second time I feel like it’s tougher,” stated Boston Celtics ahead Al Horford, who gained back-to-back titles at Florida below Donovan. “For (the Huskies), they’ve kind of cruised through it, it seems like.
“For us, personally, the second time was much tougher. There was a lot of pressure, a lot of expectation. And, yeah, it was definitely more challenging.”
Donovan went to nice lengths to maintain his guys on edge after Horford, Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer delayed NBA cash to remain in class and try a uncommon repeat alongside fellow starters Taurean Green and Humphrey.
The coach scheduled a number of sports activities celebrities to talk to the workforce, together with NBA legend Jerry West, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and St. Louis Cardinals supervisor Tony La Russa.
He confirmed clips from films and sporting occasions in hopes of offering inspiration. He relayed tales about all-time greats like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras and Tiger Woods. He even introduced in famend sociology professor Harry Edwards.
But his gamers keep in mind one motivational tactic above all others: when Donovan confirmed up within the locker room sporting a police uniform minutes earlier than a recreation at Auburn. Donovan insists he simply wore a hat, however gamers keep in mind a jacket, badge, baton and handcuffs.
Regardless, the message was clear: “Officer Bill” wished the Gators to be like police breaking apart a celebration. The workforce responded with a powerful victory.
“Coach Donovan was great at keeping everyone focused,” Humphrey stated. “It was the daunting task of doing what you already accomplished and getting everybody’s best shot every night.”
Humphrey was fast to level out how completely different UConn’s plight has been. The Huskies have Spencer (14.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists) and freshman Stephon Castle (10.7 factors, 4.7 rebounds) contributing far more than any newcomer the Gators had in 2007 or the Blue Devils had in 1992.
“It’s fresh for a lot of their guys, and it’s brand new for them,” Humphrey stated. “It’s not like they’re really defending anything.”
Florida in all probability would have been misplaced with out Horford, Noah or Brewer, and certainly wouldn’t have been capable of adequately change Green or Humphrey, who holds the report for probably the most 3-pointers made (47) in NCAA Tournament historical past.
“It’s a totally different environment,” Donovan stated. “For us, we kind of had the same core group come back two years in a row.”
So did Duke, which returned nearly all of its workforce after profitable all of it in 1991. Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Thomas Hill, Brian Davis and Antonio Lang all stayed and gave coach Mike Krzyzewski his second of 5 nationwide championships.
That form of roster retention, which Florida loved in 2007, appeared not possible just some years again when one-and-done school stars sometimes jumped at NBA riches. But NIL has been a game-changer — think about what Noah and Laettner would earn at the moment — and laxed switch guidelines have participant motion at an all-time excessive. It’s leveled the sector, closing the hole between the haves and the have-nots, and created hope for everybody — even these in various phases of rebuilds.
“Regardless of the circumstances, it’s always challenging,” Horford stated. “There’s different eras of the game and you’re always going to deal with different adversities.
“Right now, I feel like UConn as a program is doing a great job of handling the transfer portal, the players they have coming in. They have a nice mix of young guys and veterans, and they just look very poised.”
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AP Sports Writers Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
