UConn shooting to add a fifth national championship banner
Apr. 2—HOUSTON — The four national championship banners hanging on the Werth Center wall in Storrs serve as a constant reminder of the UConn basketball program's rich history of postseason success.
The Huskies work out under the banners nearly every day and use them as a source of motivation.
"When those four title banners, they've got a space that's been open for that fifth one," graduate guard Joey Calcaterra said. "It helps motivate you to work harder to fill that empty space. A ton of greats have come before us to help put those banners up.
"You just want to be just like them. Your work ethic increases and every day you just look up and have that motivation. It's a constant reminder of what you're working towards."
On Monday, fourth-seeded UConn (30-8) will attempt to win the program's first national title in nine years, facing No. 5 San Diego State (32-6) at 9:20 p.m. (Ch. 3) at NRG Stadium.
Since arriving on campus five years ago, coach Dan Hurley has embraced the program's storied past and set a high standard. Playing for a national championship is an important part of Hurley's recruiting pitch.
Hurley has gradually built a talented, tight-knit and unselfish team that's capable of completing the climb to the NCAA tournament mountain top.
"It's a special group," Hurley said. "You make a recruiting pitch when the program's down in the place that we were. ... Your pitch is you're going to bring this program back to its rightful place of playing March through April and bringing that excitement back into the program.
"Not everyone could deliver on that and bring it all the way back. These guys have brought it all the way back."
The Huskies have carved a path of destruction through the NCAA tournament, becoming just the sixth school to reach the title game winning the first five March Madness games by double digits.
But they're still hungry for more.
They barely celebrated Saturday night after beating Miami in the national semifinal.
"We were all happy about it last night," freshman Donovan Clingan said. "But (Sunday) morning we woke up and the page was already turned and we were already talking about San Diego State and watching film and getting ready for that game.
"This is the biggest game of the year and we want to be as prepared as possible."
UConn faces a team that could easily fit into the rugged Big East.
Physical, aggressive defense is San Diego State's calling card. The Aztecs allow just 63.1 points per game and score 71.5. Only one starter — guard Matt Bradley (12.7) averages in double figures.
The Aztecs are experienced and wear down opponents with a balanced nine-man rotation. They knocked off Big East member Creighton (57-56), a No. 6 seed, in the Elite Eight to reach their first Final Four. Then they slipped past Florida Atlantic by one point on a buzzer-beating jumper in Saturday's national semifinal.
They mirror UConn in some ways, according to San Diego State's Sam Scholl, a member of head coach Brian Dutcher's staff and former college coach of Joey Calcaterra at University of San Diego.
"There's a lot of similarities," Scholl said. "When I watch UConn, you see a very connected group. You see a group that loves each other. You can tell, and it comes off. I think that's our greatest strength — our love and connection and our commitment to winning."
As the underdog, San Diego State will be able to play without any pressure.
Hurley pointed out that favorites haven't fared too well during March Madness.
"We're just going to try to ignore that tag...," Hurley said. "We know if we get away from our identity for a tick, we become very vulnerable. With the experience, physicality and just how well-coached San Diego State is and the teams they've beaten to get here, we expect a much different type of game, much more of a fight."
The Huskies certainly know what's at stake.
They want to take a place among the greatest teams in UConn history and add a fifth banner on the Werth Center wall. They'll have a healthy Jordan Hawkins, who declared himself 100 percent on Sunday after battling an illness the previous few days
"Winning a national championship, that will stay there forever," said junior Adama Sanogo, the first UConn player to pile up at least 100 points and 40 rebounds in tournament play. "Everybody wants to be part of that. This is our chance to do it. We don't want to blow it. ... We have to do it. We want to get it done."
UConn has never lost a national championship game, going 4-0.
UCONN vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston
Tip: 9:20 p.m. (CBS)
Records: Fourth-seeded UConn 30-8, No. 5 San Diego State 32-6
Last game: UConn beat Miami, 72-59, in national semifinal Saturday; San Diego State defeated Florida Atlantic, 72-71, in national semifinal
Probable starters, UConn, 6-5 sr. guard Tristen Newton (9.8 pts, 4.3 rebs, 4.8 assists), 6-5 so. guard Jordan Hawkins (16.2 pts, 3.8 rebs), 6-6 jr. guard Andre Jackson (6.8 pts, 6.3 rebs, 4.7 assists), 6-8 r-fr. forward Alex Karaban (9.4 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Adama Sanogo (17.2 pts, 7.6 rebs)
San Diego State, 6-4 sr. guard Matt Bradley (12.7 pts, 3.8 rebs), 5-10 sr. guard Darrion Trammell (9.7 pts, 3.3 assists), 6-2 jr. guard Lamont Butler (8.7 pts, 3.3 assists), 6-10 sr. guard Nathan Mensah (6.1 pts, 5.9 rebs), 6-7 sr. forward Keshad Johnson (7.5 pts, 5.0 rebs)
Noteworthy: UConn 4-0 in four previous trips to the national championship game, San Diego State making its first appearance. ... Huskies won 14 of their last 16, Aztecs 15 of 16. ... SDSU's tourney path: Beat No. 12 College of Charleston (63-57), No. 13 Furman (75-52), No. 1 Alabama (71-64), No. 6 Creighton (57-65), No. 9 Florida Atlantic (72-71). ... Series: UConn won the only other previous meeting, 74-67, in the 2011 NCAA Sweet 16 in Anaheim, Calif. ... Common foes: Alabama (UConn won 82-67, SDSU won), Creighton (UConn split, winning 69-60 and losing 56-53) Saint Mary's (UConn won 70-55, SDSU lost 68-61) ... Aztecs only Mountain West team to win a Sweet 16, Elite Eight or Final Four game. ... Bradley named league tournament MVP while leading SDSU to title. ... Game features two stingy defenses — UConn allows 64.3 pts, SDSU 63.1 pts. ... Top reserve: Jaedon Ledee (7.9 pts, 5.3 rebs). ... Hot: UConn shooting 49.5 percent from the field in tourney play. Cold: Opponents shooting 34.7 percent from the field vs. Huskies in last five games ... Up next: a trip home and possibly a national championship parade.
— Gavin Keefe
