UConn not only became the first men's back-to-back national champion in 17 years on Monday, but the Huskies tore their way through the NCAA Tournament in historically dominating fashion.
UConn's +21.7 PPG differential in the NCAA Tournament (2023-24) is the highest mark by back-to-back national title winners since 1967-68 UCLA (+22.5).
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) April 9, 2024
John Wooden Dan Hurley
Led by iconic coach John Wooden and players like the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), UCLA won 10 national titles in 12 seasons between 1964 and 1975, including a record seven straight from 1967-1973.
The 1967-68 campaign was particularly impressive, when the Bruins went 29-1 (14-0 in conference play) and defeated New Mexico State, Santa Clara, Houston and North Carolina on their way to the crown. Their first-round matchup against the Aggies was actually the closest game (58-49), before Wooden's squad beat the Broncos 87-66, the Cougars 101-69 and the Tar Heels 78-55.
UConn went 31-8 (13-7 in the Big East) to earn a No. 4 seed in last spring's March Madness event before rolling through the tournament with its closest call coming in the Final Four against Miami (72-59).
The Huskies were the most dominant team in the country all season long in 2023-24, going 37-3 (18-2) to earn the No. 1 overall seed this year.
Three of the first four games of March Madness were decided by 25 points or more for Dan Hurley's group and the smallest margin of victory all tournament long was in the 86-72 national semifinal victory against Alabama on Saturday.
Despite some travel issues going to Arizona for the Final Four, UConn easily handled Alabama and Purdue.
With Hurley committed to returning for another season at the helm, the Huskies may be building a dynasty.
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