RALEIGH, N.C. – The significant clock showed 67-59, the scoreboard displayed the victory, and the moment encapsulated the resolve of the UConn men's basketball team. The eighth-seeded Huskies, carrying the weight of expectation as two-time defending champions, fought off a fierce challenge from the ninth-seeded Oklahoma Sooners to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This match, held at the Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025, marked UConn's 13th consecutive win in the tournament, a streak that ties them with the Duke Blue Devils for the longest since the field began seeding in 1979.
UConn's journey in this game was rife with tension and intensity, revealing both the strengths and vulnerabilities of a team in pursuit of history. UConn had held a lead for most of the match, reaching a remarkable 10-point advantage in the early minutes. However, amidst this triumph, the Huskies had to weather Oklahoma's comeback attempts. The Sooners, led by standout Jeremiah Fears, managed to take the lead only once, specifically at 47-46 with 9:03 left in the second half.
Despite the pressure and a sluggish offensive performance at times, UConn remained resilient. Senior Samson Johnson played a pivotal role, becoming the winningest four-year Husky in program history with this victory – his 115th win since joining the team ahead of the 2021-22 season.
The scoring for UConn was spearheaded by Solo Ball, who lit up the scoreboard with 14 points, alongside key contributions from Alex Karaban, who not only scored 13 points but also grabbed seven rebounds despite struggling for much of the game. His late-game performance proved crucial as he hit a critical 3-pointer with just over three minutes left that pushed UConn ahead by four points, a lead they would not relinquish.
“I just saw I was wide open, and Tarris [Reed Jr.] had a great screen,” Karaban reflected after the game. “I passed one up in the corner earlier that I should have shot, and I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.” His ability to remain calm under pressure typified the grit that UConn needed to emerge victorious
Coaching personnel understood the stakes, as head coach Dan Hurley noted after the game, “There’s a lot of honor in facing the last team that went back-to-back. It’s a chance for us to make our mark.” Hurley was quick to point out the need for improvement, highlighting UConn’s struggle to convert open looks, detailing how they often shot themselves in the foot whenever attempting to create distance from their opponents.
“This season has not been easy, and the squad has had to fight hard,” he explained. “Even though our offense wasn’t fluid, our defensive performance was outstanding. We held Oklahoma to only 32.1% shooting from the floor, including an abysmal 17.6% from downtown.”
For UConn, outscoring Oklahoma 20-7 in bench points was a testament to the depth and versatility of the squad. Freshman Tarris Reed Jr. played a critical role, making 12 points and seven rebounds, adding pressure on Oklahoma’s defense while providing much-needed energy off the bench.
As the game wrapped up, it became evident that UConn’s journey had many facets. The victory secured them a matchup against the top-seeded Florida Gators, a team fresh off a dominant 95-69 victory against Norfolk State. “We face a tough challenge ahead,” said Ball. “But we love to fight and we’re going to continue fighting.”
As UConn gears up to face Florida on March 23, 2025, the focus will have to shift to overcoming what many are considering to be insurmountable odds. With the challenges evident from their clash with Oklahoma, the coaching staff and players alike know that improvement in their shooting and ball handling will decide the outcome of their next encounter.
Florida was the last team to win consecutive national titles, and it's clear that this match-up is steeped in history. UConn has been presented with a unique opportunity to write a new chapter in its storied program, but it will require a level of performance that has yet to fully materialize this season. The road to a potential third consecutive title begins anew with Florida, an opponent that promises to elevate the stakes of this incredible journey.
