The University of Connecticut completed one of the most unprecedented runs in sports history Monday night, edging out Butler University for the school’s third national championship since 1999.
In a tournament where the underdogs ran rampant, the championship pitted a pair of different canines, ironically–the Huskies and the Bulldogs.
The Huskies (32-9) remain the lone wolf, and much deserved. The terrain the team journeyed across leaves them as easily the most distinguished champion in recent tournament history.
Although it would have been great to see the underdog Bulldogs win, this season became UConn’s as soon as they exploded in the second week of March.
UConn was a mediocre 9-9 in Big East play at the end of the regular season, yet won their conference tournament. Similarly, Butler (28-10) went on a tear before losing 53-41 on Monday night, winning 14 games in a row, and knocking off everyone from goliath-Pittsburgh to the national Cinderella-VCU on their way to their second consecutive national title appearance.
Butler coach Brad Stevens slowed the Huskies in the first half, as the game was a sloppy 22-19-Butler advantage as the teams went into their respective locker rooms. It was disappointing to see the Bulldogs forget their offense in the locker room, as the Huskies roared for 34 second-half points, and limited Butler to a mere 19 points. All tournament long, the Bulldogs had perfected playing ugly, stressing offensive rebounds and turnovers to win games. It was a successful formula, and appeared to work again until the second half, where Stevens, who is arguably the game’s best young coach at 34 years old, was out-coached by the legendary 68-year-old Jim Calhoun, who solidified his Hall of Fame candiancy (if it was ever in question) with his third national title.
He joins John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight as only the fifth coach to win three NCAA titles. Before Calhoun got to UConn, the program was insignificant (putrid actually), and now? They are among the nation’s best programs, and I’d say the most successful over the past dozen years. With the win, Calhoun becomes the oldest coach to ever win in the history of the tournament to win a championship, edging former Kansas-legend Phog Allen, who KU respectively named their home court after.
UConn should consider doing the same for Calhoun, the man is a legend, so screw the controversy that followed him this season.
It’s too bad for Stevens. He has been exited by two of the sport’s all-time greats. One day he will get his much deserved ring. There is no doubt there. Enough about coaching though.
Guard Kemba Walker finished with 16 points Monday, completing one of the best individual seasons in history. Walker stepped up once again, as he did all year long, helping UConn win 11 games in 27 days.
Although the tournament was as unpredictable as ever, no one can say the Huskies don’t deserve to be champions in 2011. This team will be remembered forever, end of discussion.
