March has arrived, and with it comes the excitement of college basketball’s most thrilling tournament. Few teams in the sport embody the spirit of March Madness quite like Dan Hurley’s UConn, a program that has dominated the postseason landscape in recent years.
As the reigning back-to-back national champions, the Huskies are once again setting their sights on the ultimate prize—a historic third consecutive title.
Dan Hurley Is Dialed-In Ahead of March Madness
Though their regular season has not gone entirely according to plan, their recent performance suggests they might be hitting their stride at just the right moment. UConn entered Wednesday night’s matchup against #20 Marquette with the pressure of proving they still belong among the elite.
A 72-66 victory over a ranked opponent helped solidify their standing, keeping their postseason aspirations alive and well. With a 2-0 record in March so far, the Huskies are beginning to build momentum at the perfect time.
“When you’re a player/coach at UConn, when you get to March, you’re convinced you’re supposed to win,” Hurley stated after the victory, as reported by Big East Bar Room.
Despite a season that has fallen short of early expectations, UConn still has everything to play for. While the Big East regular-season title is out of reach, the team has a guaranteed spot in the NCAA Tournament, where anything is possible.
“I think you’re just trying to get across to the guys that obviously the regular season goal of the championship has come and gone,” Hurley explained. “But we can still position ourselves to have a better March than we’ve had the previous months potentially.”
The Keys to UConn’s Postseason Success
Hurley is well aware of the adjustments his team needs to make if they want to make another deep run in March. The Huskies have been inconsistent defensively, and turnovers have been a lingering issue throughout the season. The margin for error in the NCAA Tournament is razor-thin, meaning these areas need to be cleaned up immediately.
“But if we don’t take good care of the basketball if we don’t defend better if we don’t have two-way playmakers on the court that are on the backboard and just playing with an incredible effort, then it won’t be a good March,” Hurley emphasized.
Wednesday’s victory brought UConn’s record to 21-9 overall and 13-6 in Big East competition. With just one game remaining in the regular season, it’s a home contest against Seton Hall on Saturday.
The Huskies are looking to finish strong before heading into the conference tournament. The Big East Tournament next week will be another crucial opportunity for UConn to fine-tune their play and secure a favorable seeding for the NCAA Tournament.
Currently projected as a likely eight-seed, the Huskies have a chance to improve their positioning with a strong showing in the conference tourney.
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Regardless of where they land in the bracket, history has proven that UConn is a team that thrives in March. As the two-time defending champions, they know better than anyone that once the tournament begins, past struggles mean nothing.
If they can channel their championship pedigree and execute in key areas, they just might pull off a legendary three-peat.
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