The UConn Fast Break - 4/5/21
All the UConn sports news you need to know. Not affiliated with the University of Connecticut.
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Weekly Rewind
The latest UConn athletics news
UConn women’s basketball comes back to beat Baylor in Elite Eight but puts on underwhelming performance in Final Four loss to Arizona as history painfully repeats itself:
James Bouknight declares for NBA Draft then breaks down his game during film session with ESPN NBA Draft Analyst Mike Schmitz
Paige Bueckers wins AP National Player of the Year, Naismith Trophy, and Nancy Lieberman Award after being named WBCA Co-Freshman of the Year
Positive COVID-19 test results bring UConn football spring practice to abrupt end but not all program news is negative as Huskies in the mix for ‘22 RB Malachi Medlock
Evina Westbrook returning to UConn women’s basketball in 2021-22
UConn baseball crushes Boston College then sweeps three-game set with UMass behind some filthy stuff from their pitching staff:
Azzi Fudd named 2021 Morgan Wootten Girls HS Basketball Player of the Year while her future UConn teammate Caroline Ducharme just keeps getting better
Yan Kuznetsov leaves UConn men’s hockey to go pro with Calgary Flames
Paige Bueckers continues to seize the moment and joins the majority of UConn women’s basketball players appearing in their first Final Four
UConn men’s basketball loses Brendan Adams to George Washington and Josh Carlton to Houston via grad transfer
March Madness ratings showcase untapped potential of women’s sports:
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U Gotta See This
Video highlights
Paige becomes the first freshman to win a prestigious women’s college basketball’s award with Geno there to make the trophy presentation extra special:
James Bouknight will cherish his time at UConn and gave fans plenty of highlight reels during his last season as a Husky:
UConn, Great Pic
Photos of UConn’s finest
Controversial no-call in UConn women’s basketball win over Baylor elicits strong reactions on social media, including LeBron who vehemently backed the Bears:
Coach’s Corner
Find out what UConn coaches are up to on and off the court
Geno begins preparations for upcoming season with team’s lack of maturity a glaring problem to address after loss to Arizona:
Coach Hurley’s incoming additions land UConn men’s basketball on list of top 2021 recruiting classes with crowded transfer portal likely to help fill any remaining roster holes for upcoming campaign
Coach Penders celebrates a milestone in HookC coaching career:
Big League Buzz
Catch up on former UConn players working across the sports world
Diana Taurasi gets the GOAT treatment:
George Springer begins first season with Blue Jays on Injured List
Renee Montgomery shares her inspirational story to keep momentum going in fight for social justice:
UConn baseball and men’s basketball legend Tom Penders named to National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as coach after 39 years with 7 programs
Sue Bird steals the moment from NBA superstar Steph Curry:
Memory Lane
Revisit special moments in UConn sports history
While they ultimately fell short of cutting down the nets for the 12th time in program history, this year’s UConn women’s basketball team still made their 27th straight Sweet Sixteen and 13th straight Final Four to continue the legendary success that Geno’s Huskies have experienced in the Big Dance. With the entire roster returning and a loaded freshman class coming in, the Huskies are primed to keep their streaks alive and make plenty more March Madness memories like these along the way:
UConn women’s basketball legends in awe of Paige Bueckers as freshman phenom keeps raising the bar:
Nobody’s had a better time at the tourney than Geno’s Huskies:
Playing styles and hairstyles have come a long way since UConn women’s basketball first appeared in the Final Four back in 1991:
Weekly Fancast
Enjoy classic recommendations from the UConn sports vault
After beating Duke 79-78 in the Final Four two days earlier, UConn took on Georgia Tech in the 2004 National Championship. Coach Calhoun’s Huskies entered the game on an eight-game winning streak and were looking to avenge a 77-61 loss to the Yellow Jackets earlier in the season.
UConn came out strong in the first half and quickly began asserting their dominance, leading to a 41-26 advantage for the Huskies at the break. Things got a bit out of hand in the second period with UConn extending their lead to 25 as Georgia Tech had no answer for the clutch shooting and defensive prowess of the Huskies. Despite closing the gap near the end of the game, the Yellow Jackets lacked the firepower to put a win within reach. When the final whistle blew, UConn had won their second national championship in program history and did so in a much more convincing fashion than the 82-73 score indicates.
The Huskies were led by the talented tandem of Emeka Okafor (24 points, 15 rebounds) and Ben Gordon (21 points), with lights-out shooting from Rashad Anderson (18 points) also playing a huge role as their starters combined for 81 of their 82 points. UConn was able to hold Yellow Jackets leading-scorer Jarrett Jack to a measly 7 points and made more free throws (25) than Georgia Tech attempted throughout the game (21). Overall, it was an impressive performance from an all-around great team and further cemented UConn’s place among the elite programs in men’s college basketball.
Check out highlights from this incredible moment in UConn Huskies history here:
Final Play
A parting sentiment from The UConn Fast Break team
While it’s safe to say Steven A. has his fair share of divisive opinions, this take on Paige Bueckers should have UConn fans in agreement and excited for next season:
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