Florida Gators Halt UConn's Chase for Third Consecutive National Title

Walter Clayton Jr. and the top-seeded Florida Gators brought an abrupt end to UConn’s quest for three straight national championships. Clayton made two critical three-pointers in the final minutes, clinching a thrilling 77-75 victory over the Connecticut Huskies in the NCAA Tournament’s second round on Sunday.

Clayton, recognized as a first-team All-America guard, led the charge with a stellar 23-point performance. Florida (32-4), widely regarded as one of the title favorites this year, overcame the spirited efforts of coach Dan Hurley’s Huskies (24-11). The Huskies, despite being a No. 8 seed and carrying low expectations, managed to hold a lead for most of the second half.

With this victory, Florida advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and will face either Colorado State or Maryland in the West Region semifinals taking place in San Francisco.

UConn aspired to be the first team to achieve a three-peat since UCLA’s remarkable run of seven titles from 1967 to 1973.

Having claimed victory in last year’s championships in Houston and the previous year in Glendale, Arizona, UConn joined elite company with Duke (1991-92) and Florida (2006-07) as the few teams to win consecutive titles since John Wooden’s Bruins.

Florida entered the game highly ranked, leading in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency by tallying 128.9 points per 100 possessions. The Gators, part of the dominant Southeastern Conference, and fellow No. 1 seed Duke were the only teams in the top ten for both offensive and defensive performance, making Florida a favorite to win it all.

Yet, the Huskies’ defense put up a formidable front, holding Florida to just 35% shooting in the game’s first 30 minutes, allowing them to build a 52-46 lead.

With persistence, Florida chipped away at the deficit as Clayton surged back to life. He hit a three from the right wing with 2:54 remaining, putting Florida ahead 62-61, and soon after, teammate Will Richard added to the tally with a crucial steal and dunk. Clayton sunk another three from the same spot with 1:06 remaining, expanding the lead to 70-64 as part of a 14-3 run that put Florida ahead by eight with just 40 seconds to go.

In the game’s closing moments, Florida capitalized on their second chances as UConn failed to secure offensive rebounds. Thomas Haugh’s two free throws with 5.9 seconds on the clock extended the lead to five, even as UConn kept battling. Hurley watched from the sidelines as Liam McNeeley’s buzzer-beating three-pointer found the net.

McNeeley topped the scoring for UConn with 22 points, while Alex Karaban added 14 and Alijah Martin contributed 18. Will Richard chipped in 15 points for Florida.

Takeaways

UConn: The Huskies face a significant rebuild. They’ve struggled to compensate for the loss of four starters to the NBA from last season.

Florida: The Gators have made substantial strides forward. Coach Todd Golden has revitalized the program over three years, securing his first ever March Madness victory this season.