UConn Faces Doubts Ahead of Final Four

INDIANAPOLIS — It almost feels like a mix-up. Can Connecticut really be considered an underdog? This is the same team that has claimed six national championships since 1999 and has triumphed in the last three seasons.

Yet, here they are, facing a challenge in the Final Four. They just lost to third-seeded University of Illinois by a mere 1.5 points. If the second-seeded Huskies do manage to progress, their chances of overcoming either the first-seeded University of Michigan or the second-seeded Arizona would be quite slim.

Interestingly, they currently hold the lowest ranking of the four teams on KenPom.com and need to make a significant comeback from a 19-point deficit against Duke in the Elite Eight.

“Everyone’s doubting us,” center Taris Reed Jr. noted. “It definitely takes the pressure off us. If people expect us to lose, that’s fine.”

Freshman standout Braylon Mullins mentioned that coach Dan Hurley was embracing the underdog narrative. He’s using it to motivate the team, asserting that people think they’re weak, but he aims to instill confidence.

“They’re telling us, ‘Others don’t believe in you,’” Mullins added. “He’s trying to push us to see beyond that.”

At a practice earlier in the week, Hurley promised the team commemorative watches for making it to the Final Four, but he made it clear their ultimate goal is the championship ring. When they arrived in Indianapolis, the Huskies were gifted miniature Indy 500 helmets, sparking questions from players about the watches.

“We’re after a ring, not a watch,” Hurley replied.

“This shows what we came here for,” Reed emphasized.

Senior forward Alex Karaban reinforced this sentiment, stating, “[He’s] hammering that message home. The Final Four is an achievement, but it’s only a stepping stone toward our main goal: the national title.”

It’s worth noting that UConn (33-5) had previously beaten the University of Illinois in a nonconference match in New York on November 28 and held their ground against the University of Arizona, despite losing both Mullins and Reed during the season. They also managed to take down a fully equipped BYU and Florida State, along with demolishing St. John’s, the Big East champions. However, the inconsistency during conference play saw them finish behind St. John’s and led to losses against non-tournament teams like Marquette and Creighton.

“I do acknowledge that,” Hurley said, “but our potential was really high, although we had some low moments this year.”

In contrast, Arizona, Michigan, and Illinois have been more steady and faced tougher competition in their conference. Each of these teams won their Elite Eight matchups by substantial margins. Many experts suggest that it’s almost a given that the Arizona-Michigan winner will take home the title on Monday.

Connecticut is well aware of the narrative.

“This is a lot on our shoulders. Honestly, there’s no pressure on us,” Karaban remarked. “When you play for UConn, you’ve seen incredible things happen in March, especially while wearing a UConn jersey.”

He should know; his NCAA tournament record stands at 17 wins and just one loss, including two national championships.

“I feel like it’s reminiscent of my freshman year,” he reflected, recalling when UConn was a No. 4 seed. “People didn’t expect us to win, so they were surprised when we pulled it off.”