Sometimes one team just wants it much more than anyone else. Sometimes you can just throw out tournament rankings and betting odds, and watch as a relative under-dog takes home the title. Last night The Connecticut Huskies claimed the 2014 March Madness Championship with yet another tenacious display, beating favored Kentucky (as many as 4 point favorites with the bookmakers pre-game) 60-54 to win the title.
This marked the triumphant end to an absolutely remarkable run for UConn. The Huskies were counted out by the vast majority of pundits before virtually every single game of the tournament.
In every preview Kentucky, Michigan State and indeed Florida were expected to beat the Huskies.
Instead, Connecticut has become the first 7th seed ever to win March Madness.
Their remarkable triumph adds to their recent haul of NCAA men’s titles. The Huskies have now recently won the big one in 1999, 2004, 2011 and of course 2014. That’s astonishing in the sport of Men’s college basketball, with the high turnover rate of players and the tight degree of competitive difficulty.
How did the Huskies do it? Their superb young point-guard Shabazz Napier was a massive part of the reason why. Last night Napier had 22 points on 8-16 shooting and was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four. Napier was brilliant all through the tournament, and attracted the attention of no less than LeBron James, who tweeted out before the final last night that Napier must be the first point-guard to go in the 2014 NBA draft.
Napier’s positive influence on his team started much earlier in the season, three months ago, after the Huskies lost to Louisville at home, Napier gathered his teammates in the locker room and told them they were going to win the national championship trophy. Clearly, his team-mates bought into his dream and passion.
Napier’s positive, driving influence resembled that of the brilliant Kemba Walker’s in 2011, indeed Napier was walker’s backup on that run. Napier now finishes his college career with bookend championships, not something many can claim.
The final word should of course go to Napier, who’s glowing positivity was in evidence post game.
"You can't let anything hold you down. You have to find the positive and push through. No matter if you're from a good neighborhood or a bad one, you're going to have obstacles. It's about how you handle them.''
UConn found a way to handle Kentucky last night, and are now the National Champions.
Sometimes one team just wants it much more than anyone else.
Sometimes you can just throw out tournament rankings and betting odds, and watch as a relative under-dog takes home the title.
Last night The Connecticut Huskies claimed the 2014 March Madness Championship with yet another tenacious display, beating favored Kentucky (as many as 4 point favorites with the bookmakers pre-game) 60-54 to win the title.
This marked the triumphant end to an absolutely remarkable run for UConn.
The Huskies were counted out by the vast majority of pundits before virtually every single game of the tournament.
In every preview Kentucky, Michigan State and indeed Florida were expected to beat the Huskies.
Instead, Connecticut has become the first 7th seed ever to win March Madness.
Their remarkable triumph adds to their recent haul of NCAA men’s titles.
The Huskies have now recently won the big one in 1999, 2004, 2011 and of course 2014.
That’s astonishing in the sport of Men’s college basketball, with the high turnover rate of players and the tight degree of competitive difficulty.
How did the Huskies do it? Their superb young point-guard Shabazz Napier was a massive part of the reason why.
Last night Napier had 22 points on 8-16 shooting and was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four.
Napier was brilliant all through the tournament, and attracted the attention of no less than LeBron James, who tweeted out before the final last night that Napier must be the first point-guard to go in the 2014 NBA draft.
Napier’s positive influence on his team started much earlier in the season, three months ago, after the Huskies lost to Louisville at home, Napier gathered his teammates in the locker room and told them they were going to win the national championship trophy.
Clearly, his team-mates bought into his dream and passion.
Napier’s positive, driving influence resembled that of the brilliant Kemba Walker’s in 2011, indeed
Napier was walker’s backup on that run. Napier now finishes his college career with bookend Championships, not something many can claim.
The final word should of course go to Napier, who’s glowing positivity was in evidence post game.
"You can't let anything hold you down. You have to find the positive and push through.
No matter if you're from a good neighborhood or a bad one, you're going to have obstacles. It's about how you handle them.''
UConn found a way to handle Kentucky last night, and are now the National Champions.
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