UConn Claims National Championship: Cements Blue Blood Status

By: Garret Kryzanowski

The chaos of March Madness ended last night with the University of Connecticut Huskies doing what they've done all tournament, winning by double digits. After dominating Miami in the Final Four, they followed up by dismantling the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 to claim the National Championship.

First I would like to remind you all that UConn was my dark horse pick to win it all back in February and I hope that is everyone remembers that just as much as my horrendous bracket this year.

In the most chaotic tournament since 2011 (which the Huskies also won) there was one certainty throughout, the Huskies were going to dominate their opponents. In their six tournament wins, they won each game by an average of 20 points, with the closest win being a 13 point win over Miami in the Final Four. Pure dominance.

The Huskies dominated this tournament by committee, having multiple players named to the NCAA All-Tournament team. Guards Jordan Hawkins and Tristen Newton claimed those honors as well as forward Adama Sanogo who was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Sanogo earned these honors after averaging 19.7 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in the tournament while shooting 60 percent from the field.

This National Championship is the Huskies fifth in school history, but also there fifth in the last 24 years, the most in that span. This leads us to ask the question, are the University of Connecticut Huskies a blue blood?

For those who don't know, the term blue blood in college basketball is described as "an undefined elite class of college basketball programs". Before this tournament, there were six teams considered to be blue bloods. The UCLA Bruins, who have won 11 national championships. The Kentucky Wildcats, who have claimed eight national championships. The North Carolina Tar Heels, who have won six national championships. The Duke Blue Devils and Indiana Hoosiers who have both won five national championships and the Kansas Jayhawks who have claimed four national titles.

The Huskies were not a part of that elite group going into this tournament due to there success as a program being almost non-existent until the 1990s. But having five titles, which is more than Kansas has, in a 24 year span brings up the conversation of if they are a blue blood. Now, that conversation should be quick because it is obvious, the University of Connecticut Huskies are college basketballs seventh blue blood. The 2022-23 University of Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team not only cemented their names in college basketball history, but also cemented there program as the one of the most elite programs of all time.

March Madness was chaotic but also poetic. We saw an all-time upset when Fairleigh Dickinson beat Purdue in the first round. A cinderella run to the Final Four by the Florida Atlantic Owls and of course UConn cementing themselves as a blue blood after claiming there fifth national title.

March Madness this year was frustrating, exhilarating and as always, tons of fun to watch. Hopefully next year is just as good if not better and I pray my bracket does much better. I'm sure most of us are looking to bounce back next year with our brackets and picks.

Finally, congratulations to the University of Connecticut Huskies on winning there fifth national championship.