The No. 8 seed UConn Huskies’ incredible 13-game NCAA Tournament winning streak ended on Sunday, closing one of the most dominant runs in modern college basketball. This streak, which lasted across three tournaments and led to back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024, showed UConn’s strength under head coach Dan Hurley.
What made this run special was not just the wins but how convincing they were. UConn won every game in this stretch by at least 10 points, a feat no other team has done since the tournament expanded in 1985.
Dan Hurley Reflects on UConn’s Historic Tournament Run
UConn’s 77-75 loss to No. 1 seed Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament brought their tournament run to an end. The Huskies battled until the final buzzer, with Liam McNeeley hitting a deep shot as time expired to cut the deficit to three.
Final from Raleigh@keybank | #MenOfMarch pic.twitter.com/XTZH6A66eU
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 23, 2025
Hurley spoke throughout the weekend about how much it meant for the team to compete and defend their title. Even though the loss ended their reign as champions, their fight on the court reflected the same toughness and winning mindset that defined their historic streak.
“I think this just historic run that these guys have been on and the guys that have worn the uniform the past couple years, if it’s going to come to an end for us, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be in a game where we lost to a lower seed,” Hurley said.
“There’s some honor, I guess, in the way that this went down,” an emotional Hurley said after the game, his voice shaking as he reflected on the team’s journey.
Winning three championships in a row in college basketball—or any sport—is extremely rare and difficult. The level of competition is high, and teams often lose key players to the NBA or graduation, forcing them to rebuild with less experienced talent. In college basketball, this makes a three-peat even harder.
The 2008 Florida Gators are a good example of this challenge. After winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 under Billy Donovan, they lost key players like Corey Brewer and Al Horford. Without that core group, the team struggled and failed to even make the NCAA Tournament the following year.
The 1993 Duke Blue Devils faced a similar challenge. After winning consecutive championships in 1991 and 1992 with stars like Christian Laettner, they entered the next season as a top-ranked team. However, they were upset in the second round of the tournament by No. 6 seed Cal.
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Even the best teams can struggle due to injuries, fatigue, or just one bad game. Across all sports, staying on top for three straight years takes a huge physical and mental toll. With new opponents always trying to beat the champions, achieving a three-peat requires not just talent but also great coaching, teamwork, and a little bit of luck.
UConn’s tournament run may have ended, but their dominance over the past three years will be remembered as one of the greatest stretches in college basketball history.
Hurley and his team set a high standard, proving how hard it is to stay on top. While a three-peat didn’t happen, UConn’s back-to-back titles and record-breaking performances cement their legacy as one of the sport’s all-time great teams.
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