GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Post’s Zach Braziler provides commentary on Monday night’s national championship game between No. 1 Connecticut and No. 1 Purdue at State Farm Stadium.
back coat
Connecticut is expected to have a lottery pick (Stephon Castle) and two potential NBA players (Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer). Purdue has some good college players, two of whom are sophomores, Fletcher Royer and Braden Smith. Smith and Royer are marksmen, both shooting at least 43 percent from 3-point range. And Lance Jones, a transfer from Southern Illinois, adds explosiveness to the perimeter. Purdue point guard Smith had a hard time dealing with NC State’s athleticism on Saturday, committing five turnovers, but the Huskies are much better defensively. This is a mismatch on paper.
Edge: Connecticut
front coat
It’s a matchup that everyone wanted to see, between back-to-back National Player of the Year Zach Eady (Purdue) and likely top-10 NBA draft pick Donovan Clingan (Connecticut). These two 7-foot giants have been overwhelmingly strong throughout this NCAA tournament. The 7-foot-4 Eady was a monster at the dance, becoming only the third player in history to record 140 points and 70 rebounds in a tournament, joining Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. He is averaging 28 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks through five games. But Clingan is considered to have a better future as a pro, posting 40 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks in the Huskies’ past two wins against Illinois and Alabama, and a 7-2 defense. It is a dynamo. Both teams have four quality role players in Connecticut’s Alex Karaban and Purdue’s Trey Kaufman Penn, but all eyes will be on the monster under center.
Edge: Purdue
coach
Two great coaches who have done nothing but win for over 10 years. Two great coaches who were able to keep the roster together at a time when retention of players like this was extremely rare. Between Connecticut’s Dan Hurley and Purdue’s Matt Painter, they have 587 wins and 22 20-win seasons. UW, which lost five of its top eight scorers a year ago, is somehow better this year. Purdue was able to make a breakthrough in March after suffering miserable upset losses to the Cinderellas the past two years. An argument could be made that Hurley and Painter are the best coaches in the sport.
Edge: even
bench
Purdue has scored 19 points from its reserves in the last three games, 30 fewer points than Connecticut in that span. Outside of sharp forward Mason Gillis, the Boilermakers are overly reliant on their starters. The Huskies bring in difference-makers off the bench in gritty Queen’s guard Hassan Diarra and jumping jack center Samson Johnson. In fact, Johnson helped his team pull away in a win over Alabama in the national semifinals, going on an 8-0 spurt in the second half to turn the game around. Diarra played a dual role throughout the tournament.
Edge: Connecticut
prediction
Connecticut 85, Purdue 69
Purdue has the best players, but Connecticut has a much better team. If he were to draft from these two rosters, Eady would likely be the first pick, but his next five players would be the Huskies. UConn has too much athleticism and explosiveness in the backcourt for the Boilermakers. Eady will get it, but it will feel empty as the Big East school slips away from the Big Ten championship with a late rout. Hurley’s team made history as the first consecutive champion since the 2006-07 Florida Games.
