From Inevitable to Underdog: Has UConn Lost Its March Magic?
RALEIGH, N.C. — The defining characteristic of the UConn Huskies’ recent dominance in men’s college basketball wasn’t simply that they won consecutive NCAA tournaments; it was the aura of inevitability surrounding those victories. Over a dozen high-stakes, win-or-go-home games, the Huskies exuded a level of control and poise that seemed to defy the inherent chaos and unpredictability of March Madness. There wasn’t even a fleeting moment where it felt like UConn was on the verge of defeat.
This year, however, the script has flipped. As the Huskies arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina, to prepare for their first-round matchup against Oklahoma in the West Regional, the once-ubiquitous whispers of a potential three-peat were conspicuously absent. For head coach Dan Hurley, the weight of expectation, the relentless pressure that fueled the past two seasons, seems to have finally subsided. Gravity, in the form of a challenging and inconsistent regular season, has proven to be a law of nature, even in the rarified air of college basketball.
"I think we’re, like, excited to be in the tournament," Hurley confessed on Thursday, a sentiment that perhaps best encapsulates the shift in the team’s mindset. "I feel like, maybe in a weird way, there’s a little pressure off of us. We can just go out and let it rip right now. We don’t have this huge pressure of expectations. A lot of people don’t think we’re going to win the first game."
UConn finds itself in an unusual position, contesting the typically unpredictable 8-9 game, a far cry from the pre-tournament coronation they’ve enjoyed in recent years. This year’s seeding is a reflection of their tumultuous season, a reality that initially surprised and even dismayed Hurley, who openly expressed his frustration when the Huskies weren’t ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls. The No. 3 ranking they ultimately received now appears "far, far too generous" in retrospect.
“We just had so many moments that we’re not accustomed to, (given) where the team’s been the last couple years, that were very jarring,” Hurley explained. These jarring moments serve as stark reminders that this year’s UConn team is a far cry from the juggernauts of the past.
The evidence of this regression is undeniable. The Huskies endured a brutal 0-3 stretch in Maui, suffering defeats at the hands of teams like Colorado and Dayton, programs that ultimately failed to even secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. There was the stunning loss to a struggling Seton Hall team (7-25) where UConn seemingly did everything wrong in the final minutes. And then there was the heart-wrenching defeat against Villanova, where an 85% free-throw shooter inexplicably missed two crucial go-ahead free throws with only three seconds remaining on the clock. The culmination of these stumbles led to UConn surrendering the Big East title to St. John’s and tumbling out of the top 25 rankings.
“You look at our season (early on) and it was like, ‘Are we going to be .500?’ ” Hurley admitted, painting a picture of a team grappling with its own identity and struggling to live up to the towering expectations that had been placed upon them. “It was scary.”
The fear that plagued the team earlier in the season has perhaps morphed into something more manageable, perhaps even liberating. The pressure to dominate has been replaced with a sense of freedom, allowing the team to focus on the present and play with a renewed sense of purpose. The central question now isn’t whether UConn will win it all, but rather, "How good is UConn really?" And it’s been a long time since anyone has struggled to definitively answer that question in March.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure whatsoever,” insisted forward Alex Karaban, one of the few remaining players from the championship-winning teams. “Having done what we’ve done the last two years, there’s no pressure. This is a completely different team. We’ve been on a completely different journey, and we just want to wear the jersey with honor and pride. If we do that, anything can happen when you play at UConn.”
Karaban’s sentiment rings true. History is replete with examples of UConn teams defying expectations in March. Just eleven years ago, the Huskies entered the tournament as a mere No. 7 seed and improbably marched to a national championship. Furthermore, teams seeded No. 9 or worse have made five of the past eight Final Fours, proving that anything is possible in this unpredictable tournament.
Considering UConn’s uneven performance throughout the season, a deep tournament run might seem improbable. But when you factor in the program’s pedigree, the proven coaching staff, and the potential freedom of playing as an underdog against a No. 1 seed Florida team (should they advance), the possibility of a resurgence becomes less far-fetched. Stranger things have certainly happened in March Madness.
“With this group and that sense of relief and sense of excitement about playing in this tournament, now that we’re in it I think we’re dangerous,” Hurley asserted, his voice filled with a renewed sense of optimism. “I think we’re a dangerous team right now. We’ve got three guys on the perimeter that could go and get us 20-plus. We’ve got two centers that if we can get them playing well together on the same night and we get some big bench production, we’re a very dangerous team in this tournament. I think everyone feels that, and I know it’s exciting.”
It’s possible that Hurley is simply trying to instill confidence in a team that has lacked the consistent "it" factor that defined their previous championship runs. But there’s a palpable sense that a victory over Oklahoma, a team that needed a strong finish in the SEC to even make the tournament, could reignite some of that long-dormant March mystique.
And if it doesn’t? That’s okay too.
After the unprecedented success of back-to-back national championships, UConn, and particularly Hurley, has been under intense scrutiny. From his viral sideline outbursts directed at referees, including a particularly memorable moment where he declared himself the "best coach in the [expletive] sport," a break from the spotlight might actually be beneficial.
“We’ve been in the news a bunch,” Hurley quipped, displaying a touch of self-awareness. “We get talked about a lot.”
For now, the Huskies are flying under the radar. But if they can overcome Oklahoma in the first round, that anonymity could disappear quickly, replaced by the familiar glare of the national spotlight. The journey from inevitable champion to underdog is complete, and now, UConn has the opportunity to write a new chapter in its storied March Madness history.
