The #7
seeded Connecticut Huskies were crowned champions, as they defeated the #8
seeded Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 this past Monday, April 7. AT&T Stadium,
home of the Dallas Cowboys, hosted the bizarre matchup between a #7 seed
against #8 seed for the Men’s College Basketball National Championship.
Senior
guard Shabazz Napier led the Huskies to victory churning out 22 points, six assists
and three rebounds. Napier is the only player on the Huskies current roster who
played on the 2010-11 team who also won the National Championship that year.
Napier’s emotions flooded out of him as the last ticks of the time ran out.
"I see
my guys enjoying it," Napier said. "That's the most special feeling
ever."
The Huskies
had a tough journey to their final matchup with Kentucky, playing overall #1
seed Florida, #4 seed Michigan State, #3 seed Iowa State, #2 seed Villanova and
#10 seed Saint Joseph’s. Ironically, Connecticut had the most trouble with
their very first game against Saint Joseph’s.
The Huskies forced the game into overtime, and out lasted Saint Joseph’s
by eight points in overtime, winning 89-81.
Despite the
first game troubles, the Huskies were on fire throughout the tournament as they
beat some of the elite teams in the nation. Not many National Champions can
walk away from the tournament with wins over the #1-4 seeded teams. This win
also showed how Connecticut had a burning passion to get back to the
tournament, as last year the NCAA banned the team from participating in the
tournament due to low test scores.
"You're
looking at the hungry Huskies," Napier told the crowd and TV audience as
confetti rained down. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you
banned us."
Congratulations
to the 2013-14 National Champions Connecticut Huskies. Despite the bumpy road
along the season, the Huskies have asserted their dominance and will be hanging
another banner in the Harry A. Gampel
Pavilion.
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