‘Battle-tested’ UConn men embrace underdog role entering the Final Four

Even after the UConn men’s basketball team achieved the improbable last Sunday by erasing a 19-point deficit and beating top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight, sports analysts across the country continue doubting the Huskies.

In fact, No. 2 UConn is currently a 2.5-point underdog entering its Final Four matchup against No. 3 Illinois in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis at 6:09 p.m. Saturday.

The point spread comes despite the fact the Huskies handedly beat the Illini 74-61 earlier this season at a neutral site.

UConn also set an NCAA record with its active 18-game winning streak in games played in or after the Sweet 16.

While a contingent of so-called experts is picking against the Huskies, head coach Dan Hurley isn’t fazed. Two wins away from a seventh national championship, his program isn’t seeking any validation.

“We haven’t had an easy draw to this point, you know… We’re battle-tested,” Hurley said in a press conference on Tuesday.

If UConn is to cut down the nets in Indianapolis, Hurley knows he must get more from his perimeter shooters, specifically junior guard Solo Ball and freshman guard Braylon Mullins.

Despite Mullins’ heroic 35-foot shot to beat Duke with 0.4 seconds left, he and Ball have both struggled to make shots consistently during March Madness.

Entering this weekend, Hurley says he has cooked up a new scheme that could get both scorers better shots against Illinois.

“We have a lot of hope that we’re going to do some things that tactically we’re not doing for our shooters that I think we’ll be able to do in Indianapolis to get them better looks. They’re some fundamental, tactical strategies to get Solo, to get Braylon even better looks,” Hurley said.

If these two players can get it going offensively, UConn will be very difficult to stop. Hurley is confident they will both perform at a high level in the Final Four.

“We’re excited to try to implement that for those guys. Those guys are awesome shooters. They’re great shooters. Hopefully, now the pressure’s off, and they can just relax. And hopefully, it starts raining threes,” Hurley said.

As he prepares for his third Final Four appearance in four years, UConn’s two-time national champion head coach spoke highly of senior center Tarris Reed Jr., who has had an NCAA Tournament for the ages.

Through four regional games, Reed scored 87 points and grabbed an incredible 54 rebounds.

Hurley reflected on Reed’s journey from being a top-tier recruit to having struggles at Michigan and transferring amid a difficult coaching situation.

From the beginning, UConn’s coaching staff believed Reed had potential to be great.

“With Tarris, we knew… he needed UConn, how hard we fight, the fire that I coach with, the fire that the program plays with and the intensity we have here,” Hurley said. “He needed that injected into his veins as a player… The motor, the relentlessness, that was the missing piece for him because he’s so skilled and such a freak.”

Hurley explained that all players develop at a different pace. In Reed’s case, for UConn, it’s better late than never, as he’s finally cracked the ceiling on being an elite college big man.

“It clicks for different people at different times in their career. Hopefully, the light switch has gone on for him and will stay on for him to finish the tournament and then in his pro NBA career. But this is just who he is now,” Hurley said.

As the Huskies continue to embrace the role of the underdog with a chip on their shoulder, Hurley reminded the public that this is still a 33-win team.

After losing out on the Big East regular season and tournament titles, the Huskies are still hungry too.

Hurley spoke further to the depth of UConn’s roster, as anyone can step up on any given night.

As the team grows healthier and more confident, there’s no reason the Huskies can’t be national champions this time next week.

“This team has just been resilient and incredibly great,” Hurley said. “The whole reason why we came here was to get to a place where you could achieve those elite experiences, championship moments, play at the top of the sport, be in contention to get to this time of year.”

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Dalton Zbierski is a story desk editor and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.

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‘Battle-tested’ UConn men embrace underdog role entering the Final Four

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