Why the UCONN Huskies are the Best College Program of the last 25 years

The Real Blue Bloods of College Basketball

UConn is one win away from claiming its fifth national championship in men’s basketball since 1999. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8) and North Carolina (6) could claim more titles; the Huskies would then be tied for fourth with Duke and Indiana. They would have more titles than any program in the last 25 years.

Part Of The Blue Blood Conversation? When Jim Calhoun won his first national championship with UConn in 1999, not only had the blue-blood club been established, but UCLA (1995), North Carolina (1993), Duke (1991, 1992) and Kentucky (1996) had also combined to win six of the previous eight national titles.

Since 1999, however, UConn has won four national titles and is on track for its fifth. That tally exceeds any of their opponents — Duke (3), North Carolina (3), Kentucky (1) or UCLA(0) in that span of time. While 1999 seemed far away, it seems now like an ancient memory as college basketball enters its modern era – with UConn emerging as not just a blue blood but perhaps its the most dominant force among them all.

UConn vs Duke | 1999 NCAAM Basketball Championship Highlights

16-0 against Non Conference opponents

Against Non-Conference Opponents, Connecticut has been the best team in the tournament, as evidenced by five consecutive double-digit victories. Yet their record against non-Big East teams this year is even more remarkable; they are 16-0 against out-of-conference opponents with an impressive average winning margin of 24.7. This will also tell you how good the Big East was this season.

On Saturday, UConn became the fifth team in history to win five games by 13 or more points during a single tournament – joining Michigan State, Duke and North Carolina as those that achieved this feat (Michigan State in 2000, Duke in 2001, North Carolina in 2009 and Villanova 2018). Double digits decided all five previous matchups as UConn became one of four such squads – each earning their place in the title game.

Suffocating Defense Has Keep Opponents in CheckIn the Elite Eight, Gonzaga- averaging over 80 points per game- was held to 54 by Washington. Now Miami leaves Houston having scored 59 points — a season-low. Miami was one of the top shooting teams in America this season and was taken down and eliminated.

UConn recently defeated Iona by 24, Saint Mary’s by 15, Arkansas by 23, Gonzaga by 28 and Miami by 13; who knows what damage they might inflict upon San Diego State on Monday night? No matter what happens, the UCONN Huskies have established themselves as a blue-blood program.

Adama Sanogo scores 21 in Final Four to send UConn to title game