04/07/26 12:02:00
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04/07 00:00 CDT UConn slows down Michigan, but physical play can't make up for
poor shooting in title game loss
UConn slows down Michigan, but physical play can't make up for poor shooting in
title game loss
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- UConn executed coach Dan Hurley's game plan in Monday
night's national championship slugfest against Michigan.
The Huskies were physical, controlled the pace and held the Wolverines' potent
offense in check. But this time, the big shots that propelled them to the cusp
of a third national championship in four seasons simply didn't fall.
Not for fabulous freshman Braylon Mullins, not for record-breaking forward Alex
Karaban, not even for Malachi Smith, who missed a layup with 7 seconds left
that might have kept hope alive in Storrs, Connecticut. Instead, UConn came up
short in a 69-63 loss, its first in seven title game appearances, thwarting its
chance to become the first team since the UCLA dynasty of the 1960s and 1970s
to win three crowns in such quick succession.
"This is where you wanted to be. It hasn't set in yet," Hurley said. "On the
flight (Monday) it'll set in, on the bus ride back. Eventually it'll hit you
that you were close to pulling off what would have been a historic third
championship. But this team just gave us so much this year --- just didn't make
enough shots."
Karaban also had a shot to become the first player to win three titles since
UCLA captured eight during a nine-season span from 1967-75. He played all 40
minutes in his finale and leaves UConn as the school's leader in games played
(151), wins (126) and 3-pointers (292).
UConn picked the wrong night to shoot a season-low 30.9% from the field and a
dismal 27.3% from 3-point range. The Huskies were even worse in the second
half: 28.9% from the field and 4 of 18 from beyond the arc.
Maybe UConn didn't have enough fight left after it survived the tourney's top
seed, Duke, with a 19-point comeback in the regional semifinals and after
winning a 71-62 bruiser against Illinois on Saturday night.
This loss was UConn's first after the second round of an NCAA Tournament since
2011, ending a 19-game winning streak in the toughest parts of the bracket.
Michigan, which won its second national title and first since 1989, also
brought plenty of physicality to the matchup. The Wolverines held each of their
last four opponents to season-low shooting percentages.
They relied on the Big Ten's brand of bully ball to get UConn into foul
trouble, win the wrestling matches for loose balls and eventually wear down the
perimeter shooters who had saved UConn in its incredible 19-point comeback
against Duke.
This time, it was the Huskies' shooters who came up empty.
Mullins scored 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting, including 3 of 10 on 3s. After
opening the game by making his first two shots, Karaban made three of his next
12 and converted only one of his last eight 3-point attempts to finish with 17
points and 11 rebounds.
Nobody else was much better. Big man Tarris Reed Jr. finished with 13 points
and 14 rebounds but was 4 of 12 from the field. And while Mullins and Karaban
combined for six 3s, the rest of the team was 3 of 13 beyond the arc.
"We came up short, missed some shots we normally make, but we gave it our all,"
Karaban said.
The shooting woes were compounded by UConn's foul trouble.
Reed, Solo Ball and Silas Demary Jr. all finished the first half on the bench
with two fouls. Ball picked up his third just 29 seconds into the second half
and his fourth with 16:20 remaining.
He finished with 11 points but had no assists while playing on a sprained left
foot.
"It's definitely frustrating not being on the court for that long, and it hurts
my team at the moment," Ball sad. "But this has been the most fun year of my
life with this group of guys, and I just cherish this team."
Even though UConn held Michigan to its worst shooting of the tournament ---
38.2% --- the Huskies came up just short too many times.
"I'm not real emotional. Players are crying a lot more than I am," Hurley said.
"It's hard to be upset with your team. We lost the game because we missed. We
missed --- we didn't make enough shots."
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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