Monday night, the University of Connecticut became back-to-back champions in dominating fashion over the University of Purdue. It is the sixth time in program history the Huskies have been on top of the basketball world, all of which have come since 1999. With all of this considered, it’s hard to argue how UConn isn’t the team of the century (so far).
However, with that sort of title, the debate begins about where they are in the hierarchy of college basketball. Specifically, is UConn deserving of being considered a blue blood? Should they be considered with programs like Duke, UNC, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and UCLA? Without question, UConn deserves to be a blue blood and a face of college basketball.
UConn: Team of the 21st Century
Although it’s hard for people to imagine, UConn wasn’t always the national power it’s become. Before 1999, UConn had made itself known to a national audience but couldn’t sustain success. The program only reached the Elite Eight one time before the 90s in 1964. It wasn’t until the Huskies reached the Final Four in 1999 did the program made a turn towards national power.
After pulling off a major upset over Duke to win their first national championship, UConn would go on to win two more titles under legendary coach Jim Calhoun. These came in 2004 and 2011. He brought UConn to a Final Four appearance in 2009 but where taken down by Michigan State. All of this success has led many to consider Calhoun as the many who built UConn.
However, the success continued without Calhoun. Under Kevin Ollie in 2014, UConn went on a Cinderella run as a seven seed to win their fourth championship. Then, of course, the recent dominance they have found under head coach Dan Hurley, who has brought them two national championships. In total, that’s six championships in the last 25 years. That puts them tied with UNC for the third-most titles of all time. They’re also ahead of blue bloods like Duke, Indiana, and Kansas. With all these factors, UConn has the success to be a Blue Blood.
Program Defining Run
Every program has one run that stands out above the rest. Sure, any time a team wins the natty it’s going to be remembered for years to come. However, there is always that one tournament run that people look back on more fondly than the others. Examples of this would be 1968 for UCLA or 2001 for Duke. For UConn that run is going to be the 2024 tournament run.
One of the main storylines throughout the entire tournament was just how dominant UConn has been. They had a total margin of victory of 140, an NCAA tournament record. They also average a 23.3 margin per victory. This is also a NCAA tournament record. Finally, UConn trailed for a total of six minutes and twenty-two seconds. What all this shows is statistically no team has dominated in the tournament like UConn.
The most impressive part of the streak is that no team could last the entire game against UConn. This was on full display in the final three games against Illinois, Alabama, and Purdue. It would start with a slow and tight first half which saw UConn edge out a small lead going into the half. Then, the Huskies would explode in the second half and bury the other team. If no team can come close to beating you, then you have to be dominant.
With six titles and an all-time run, UConn has solidified itself as a Blue Blood. They may not have done it traditionally and may be “late to the party”. However, their dominance shows they deserve to be considered in the echelon of college basketball.
Thanks for reading! Credit for my feature image goes to Christian Petersen. You can find more college basketball content at Belly Up Sports and follow me on Twitter/X.
