UConn’s ‘remarkable run’ alive after record-tying win

• David HaleMar 22, 2025, 01:00 AM ET

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  • College football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.RALEIGH,
  • N.C.– UConn coach Dan Hurley was asked how it felt

after his group rallied to a 67-59 win over Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.He provided the obvious:”It felt typical.”Undoubtedly, Friday night’s win for the two-time safeguarding

national champ Huskies was their 13th straight

in the tournament, connected with the 1991-93 Duke Blue Devils for the longest streak given that the tournament expanded in 1985. Hurley stated this year’s run-up to the competition has actually been more remarkable– close losses, more stress– but the ability to keep winning showcases how special it has been.Editor’s Picks 2 Related”If it wasn’t for all of my shenanigans and viral moments,”stated Hurley, who consistently has actually earned attention for outspoken commentary,”there would be more concentrate on just what we

have actually achieved as a program the last three years. It’s been a remarkable run, among the very best runs anyone’s had.”Friday’s win was, Hurley said, a microcosm of UConn’s 2024-25 campaign– one far different from what the program enjoyed in the previous two seasons.No. 8 seed UConn led by as many as 10 points in the very first half but saw No. 9 seed Oklahoma storm back to take the lead. And with 3:20 left in the game and without a basket in more than three minutes, the Huskies were up simply a

point.That’s when Alex Karaban drained pipes an important 3-pointer, offering UConn a cushion it never ever gave up.”Whenever we’ve been able to start playing good basketball and getting separation, we have actually tended to shoot ourselves in the foot,”Hurley stated.

“However the important things about this team is we’re actually battle-tested, and we’ve had to fight so hard all year that we revealed a

lot of durability down the stretch to perform some things and make some crucial shots and make some important stops.”UConn is among simply 3 programs to win back-to-back national titles, and each is playing in Raleigh this weekend. The last to double-dip before UConn was Florida, which the Huskies will deal with on Sunday with a ticket to the Sweet 16 at stake and an opportunity to set the tournament record for successive success

.(Duke is the other to repeat.)”Simply to be able to come here and, No. 1, to make the competition and fight our way in, come out here and battle with some honor and get ourselves a chance to play one of the best teams in the country, “Hurley stated, “there’s a lot of honor in us being able to deal with the last group that went back-to-back.”