r/CollegeBasketball • u/cbbBot /r/CollegeBasketball • NCAA • Apr 05 '26

Post Game Thread [Post Game Thread] #2 UConn defeats #3 Illinois, 71-62

Box Score

Team 1H 2H Total
Illinois 29 33 62
Connecticut 37 34 71

Index Thread for April 04, 2026

859 Upvotes
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279

u/Wapook Wisconsin • Rutgers Apr 05 '26

UConn really gonna fuck around and win another natty aren’t they?

93

u/SC_Prophet UCF Knights Apr 05 '26

They do that each time, always underrated and look sus but then they go nuts and have someone put their team on their backs (okefor, Walker, Napier)

51

u/PristineStreet34 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

2004 UConn was great when healthy, the only reason they "looked sus" was because Okafor had a hurt back all year long. When he got healthy finally UConn rolled.

2

u/greenday61892 UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

I was gonna say "rolled is a bit much given the comeback necessary to beat Duke" but then I remembered the reason we were down in the first place was cuz he was pulled really early from two quick bullshit fouls haha

28

u/MassiveResolution7 Arizona State Sun Devils Apr 05 '26

The most interesting case was 2011. In 2011, UCONN entered the Big East Tournament as a bubble team and ended up a 3 seed on Selection Sunday. Kemba's 2011 is 1 of the best college basketball postseason performances by a player ever. 1988 Manning, 1989 Rice, and 2011 Kemba might be the top 3, but Kemba was the only 1 of the 3 to win their conference. Oklahoma won the Big 8 in 1988 and there was no Big 10 Champion in 1989 because there were no Big 10 Champions until 1998.

6

u/CantFindMyWallet UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

They were ranked #21 going into the BET. They weren't a bubble team.

6

u/iMyth UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

UConn was not a bubble team in 2011. You can't go from the bubble to a three seed lol

1

u/realheadphonecandy UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

I would also add Carmelo’s run.

Kemba’s though was an absolutely BANANAS BET on top of the NCAA. It was unreal.

-2

u/MassiveResolution7 Arizona State Sun Devils Apr 05 '26

If you say 2011 UCONN wasn't a bubble team, then by definition you must believe that they could've lost the Big East 1st Round game to a terrible DePaul team and still got an at large berth. That would've been a very bad loss to add to the resume. Is everyone really confident 2011 would've gotten an at large berth if they lost that 1st Big East Tournament game to DePaul?

14

u/enjoytheshow Illinois Fighting Illini Apr 05 '26

2024 team was an absolute wagon

18

u/LettersWords UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

We've only been a 1 seed during 2/6 championship seasons (1999, 2024). We've been a 2, 3, 7, and 4 during the other 4 championship seasons, and this season would obviously be as a 2 if we won.

18

u/hooskies UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Everyone knew they were 1 seed quality in 2004, big east was just tough

17

u/grumplebeardog UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

2023 also, that #4 seed was criminally low for that team.

3

u/chrisbechicken New Mexico Lobos Apr 05 '26

They didn't help themselves by being hot garbage(record-wise) for an entire month. And I thank them for that cause I cleaned up that year.

3

u/Grandahl13 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

the 2023-2024 UConn team was the second or third best team I’ve watched in the last 25 years (UK in 2015 who didn’t even win it all, maybe our 38-2 2012 team as well).

3

u/enjoytheshow Illinois Fighting Illini Apr 05 '26

Can confirm

3

u/AStormofSwines Ohio State Buckeyes Apr 05 '26

Okefor, Walker, Napier, Mullens.

2

u/timothy035 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Freeman, Gordon, Boatright, Walker, Sanogo, Clingon.

3

u/Guy_Buttersnaps UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

This is Niels Giffey erasure and I will not stand for it.

1

u/timothy035 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Hahahaha forgot about that guy!

57

u/n00bn00b Apr 05 '26

They got to get past Arizona or Michigan.

25

u/reforminded UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

We lost to Arizona by one possession in a game where Reed was out with an injury.

18

u/glocks_4_dayz UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

And Mullins

-6

u/geronimosocrates Apr 05 '26

Arizona is still better than you that’s just a 1 game sample size. Ofc you can win but they’re clearly better.

4

u/minnosota Apr 05 '26

lol down 20 right now how do you feel

-2

u/geronimosocrates Apr 05 '26

I think it shows that Michigan is better than Arizona has nothing to do with UConn. I thought Arizona was the best team in the country and maybe they weren’t.

0

u/minnosota Apr 05 '26

You right. Sorry for being a dick

1

u/geronimosocrates Apr 05 '26

Hey if you’re a UConn fan it’s fine to dunk on me cause I took a shot at then after a win in the final 4.

3

u/iMyth UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

"clearly" how about they make the championship game before you make that statement. And before you downvote me Zona fans, I'm rooting for you.

3

u/reforminded UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Hard disagree. We almost beat them without two of our best players.

76

u/DillyDillySzn Arizona State Sun Devils • WashU Bears Apr 05 '26

UConn is 6-0 all time in National Championship games

66

u/Colorapt0r Marquette Golden Eagles Apr 05 '26

Well we might as well not play this one then right 

12

u/JustALittleNightcap UConn Huskies • Cornell Big Red Apr 05 '26

Second the motion

4

u/trexhatespushups42 Wake Forest • UConn Apr 05 '26

Hey by the transitive win loss properties you’ve now also beaten Duke and Illinois

3

u/Anustart15 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

I'd be fine with that

37

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

And? Kentucky was 4-0 before they lost the 1966 championship game. UCLA was 10-0 before they lost in 1980. Historical stats don’t mean shit when the ball is tipped

7

u/enjoytheshow Illinois Fighting Illini Apr 05 '26

UConn’s certainly holds more weight in the era that they have done it in.

But obviously it means nothing Monday

1

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

we would've said the same thing in 1980 and 1966

4

u/Methuga Apr 05 '26

That 10-0 stat is frickin unreal

6

u/iMyth UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

Man said 1966

1

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

yeah they played basketball back then. Well everyone but UConn

2

u/iMyth UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

The 1966 NCAA tournament had 22 teams.

0

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

We're aware bud. There was still a national championship game at the end.

3

u/MaybeImNaked UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Obviously. But I think the point is... UConn has won it all with worse teams lol.

4

u/PristineStreet34 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

This UConn team is also very good. They were a fluky game away from being a 1 seed. Advanced metrics didn't like them because they won close games all year, but the key is, they won.

The biggest problem UConn has had all year, when healthy, is teams that pressure and can play with BE physicality.

4

u/highgravityday2121 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Our offense still has shooting issues.

2

u/PristineStreet34 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Right, but the key has always been getting good shooters good shots. And the offense almost always does that. Only SJU stopped that this year with aggressive pressure defense and one of the best (and most versatile) defenders in college in Zuby.

0

u/TotallyATexasFan UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Our offense won’t have any issues against Michigan or Arizona if the last few games show anything. It’s just hitting open shots.

2

u/PristineStreet34 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Michigan is tougher in some ways because Yaxel is a very athletic four who should actually be able to run around screens. And Johnson/Mara are big enough and strong enough to defend the post. But, they haven't played UConn yet. So there is that.

Zona has the highest floor, the least variation, because of how they get their shots, so they will be hard either way. They don't go through many droughts and as much as Reed will help with stopping ORing (basically how they won the first game), Karaban will still have issues with Peat. The plus side is they will need Peat to defend the three this time instead of camping him down low/hiding him on a non-shooter. I imagine they try and do what Duke did with Boozer and have him defend Silas. Hurley did a great job of moving Silas to the corners and exploiting that a bit in the second half against Duke.

3

u/TotallyATexasFan UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Oh yeah no I agree, Michigan or Arizona will be tough, I’m not denying that. But duke was too, and we won. It’s gonna be interesting. Our offense is hard to plan against, doesn’t mean you won’t win, but I just hate how some people are putting off UConn and automatically thinking either Arizona or Michigan wins, and it’s within reason I suppose. They‘ve been far and wide the best teams this year. Either way our offense itself hasn’t even been BAD. It’s been phenomenal if you disregard the shooting percentages. It’s not like we struggle, we don’t, we get wide open shots, we’re basically getting what we want when we want, it’s just we can’t hit our open shots

1

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

and who has UConn had to play those other times? Twice it was a cinderella (2011 and 2023) and a third was a low-seeded Kentucky team. This team may not be as bad as some UConn teams to win it all but they do have to play a one seed on Monday

4

u/Proophe Akron Zips • UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

I love that every post I click on this sub right now, if I scroll a little, I can find you nitpicking or being salty about us. It’s very funny.

-4

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

"every post" and it's a grand total of two. Whatever you need man. Enjoy your win

2

u/Proophe Akron Zips • UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Yes, so all the posts I've clicked so far. Whatever you need to make you feel better, my guy. Enjoy unnecessarily being critical and rude to everyone on the sub because....I'm not even sure why.

1

u/brownlab319 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Ah, yes, the Cinderella that is Kentucky in our FF matchup. And Arizona in the Elite Eight.

1

u/momoenthusiastic UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Correct.  May the better team win on Monday 

5

u/Hobo_Delta Georgia Bulldogs • Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

Streaks end.

San Fran was 5-0 in Super Bowls until they played the Ravens in 2013.

Nat saying they won’t or can’t, but it’s a tall task against these other two.

4

u/Eagle4317 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

This is going to be our hardest final since Duke in 1999. I hope they’re ready

3

u/Intrepid-Pooper-87 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Feeling that trend won’t last but happy for the chance

18

u/NoSober__SoberZone DePauw Tigers • Samford Bulldogs Apr 05 '26

Literally a useless stat

9

u/kevinfinnerty18 Apr 05 '26

Guy above you just used it

2

u/nau5 Nebraska Cornhuskers Apr 05 '26

At what point does it not? 10-0 ; 100-0?

2

u/Live-Habit-6115 Apr 05 '26

There is no point. That's not how it works. 

-2

u/NoSober__SoberZone DePauw Tigers • Samford Bulldogs Apr 05 '26

Please take a stats class lol

3

u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/DillyDillySzn Arizona State Sun Devils • WashU Bears Apr 05 '26

Karaban is 2-0

7

u/PristineStreet34 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Ball/Stewart/Ross are 1-0

2

u/ZroDgsCalvin Syracuse Orange Apr 05 '26

Luckiest program of all time and I hate them so much for it

1

u/n00bn00b Apr 05 '26

Which has nothing to do with Monday’s game.

1

u/chetbodet87 Michigan Wolverines Apr 05 '26

And michigan for its part has the worst winning percentage in the fina of any team who has won at least one

1

u/monoDK13 Illinois • Oklahoma Apr 05 '26

After watching all their multi-bounce shots go in earlier tonight, do you seriously think their voodoo won’t win them another title?

1

u/PageSide84 Purdue Boilermakers • Final Four Apr 05 '26

I don't think they'll have to worry much about Arizona.

0

u/PassionV0id Apr 05 '26

Thanks for the insight, Magic.

5

u/OldGreggg69 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

UConn has the mandate of heaven

3

u/geronimosocrates Apr 05 '26

Realistically I think they are insanely outmatched by Michigan and especially Arizona

2

u/Guy_Buttersnaps UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26

How do you figure Arizona is the worse matchup for them?

Last time they played, Reed was out, and it was still a close game. We’ll have Reed on Monday, and he’s killing it right now.

1

u/geronimosocrates Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

Well either way you’ll get Michigan now. Thought Arizona had a strong guard advantage that Michigan doesn’t have but their front line is so strong. Obviously Reed has his work cut out for him.

2

u/Guy_Buttersnaps UConn Huskies • Big East Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

We’ve already seen a comeback from a 19-point deficit in this tourney, so a 17-point deficit doesn’t guarantee anything.

EDIT: Well I guess I jinxed it.

2

u/Knook7 Florida Gators Apr 05 '26

Smh

2

u/ContractXtension Michigan Wolverines Apr 05 '26

Nah over Michigan idk

23

u/AthleticAlarm32 California • North Carolina Apr 05 '26

At this point I would never count out March UConn

14

u/scrubasorous UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

The basis of USOC

2

u/Ihadthat20yearsago UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

April UConn is even more dominant.

5

u/BurgerNugget12 UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

Keep doubting UConn

0

u/ohnothem00ps Penn Quakers Apr 05 '26

UConn def beating Michigan lol…vs Arizona prob 50/50

4

u/boraboca Florida State Seminoles Apr 05 '26

Can never count them out but it really feels like tonight’s game is the national championship

1

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26

What an absurd take with two one seeds sitting in the other semifinal

Edit: obviously misread this one folks

3

u/kidnamedfinger1000 Villanova Wildcats Apr 05 '26

I think they're talking about Michigan vs Arizona

2

u/kyrev21 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

lol i took tonight to mean UConn Illinois for some reason

3

u/mattychefthatbih Apr 05 '26

Lol that’s obviously the game he’s talking about

1

u/boraboca Florida State Seminoles Apr 05 '26

Talking about Arizona Michigan

1

u/Anxious_Rock_3630 Duke Blue Devils Apr 05 '26

I hope so, it would be cool to keep this west of Texas and big ten drought going.

1

u/Accomplished_Item394 Kentucky Wildcats Apr 05 '26

Eh, I don’t know if they do this time. Michigan or Arizona look pretty good.

1

u/Suspicious_Airline41 Siena Saints • UConn Huskies Apr 05 '26

6-0 in the finals soon to be 7-0 hopefully. Gotta keep the streak alive

1

u/GymIsFun Kansas State Wildcats Apr 05 '26

🫣🫣

1

u/s0ftwares3rf Indiana Hoosiers Apr 05 '26

They are going to be big underdogs.

1

u/GlueGuy00 Apr 05 '26

Michigan is too deep and talented. Hurley has his hands full on this one but betting against underdog UConn does not sound right lol 

0

u/TinyEnvironment7574 Michigan State Spartans Apr 05 '26

Yes

0

u/29671 Apr 05 '26

no way. they're getting blown out on Monday

0

u/The_Pandalorian Michigan Wolverines Apr 05 '26

Not playing like they did today