Tonight marks the culmination of the 2023-2024 NCAA Basketball season, and what a fitting climax it promises to be, with UCONN and Purdue poised for an epic showdown. Will Dan Hurley’s Huskies reign supreme once more, or can Matt Painter guide his alma mater to glory after enduring heartbreak in previous years? Regardless of the outcome, this game is set to showcase two of the most talented and well-coached teams in the country.
UCONN enters the final game with the aura of defending champions, having steamrolled through this year’s tournament with an average margin of victory of 25 points. Meanwhile, Purdue has been equally dominant, boasting an average winning margin of 19.6 points en route to the championship game. Both teams have showcased impeccable form, with only one game in their respective journeys decided by less than 10 points—Purdue’s Elite Eight victory over Tennessee.
Photo Cred: NBC
With both schools occupying the top spots in the KenPom rankings—UCONN at 1 and Purdue at 2—this championship game promises to be a clash of titans. While March Madness often provides a platform for underdogs and upsets, the prospect of witnessing the two best teams battling it out for college basketball’s ultimate prize is truly captivating.
As we anticipate the final showdown, let’s delve into three key aspects that could shape the outcome of the game:
1. The Battle of the Giants: Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan
Zach Edey, the back-to-back Player of the Year, presents a formidable challenge with his imposing stature of 7’4” and 300 pounds. A scoring powerhouse averaging 24.9 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, Edey has been a dominant force throughout the tournament. However, he faces a worthy adversary in Donovan Clingan, a 7’2” sophomore center from UCONN. While Clingan may not match Edey’s scoring prowess, his defensive capabilities, averaging 3.6 blocks per game in the NCAA tournament, could prove crucial in containing Edey’s impact. The matchup between these two physical specimens is poised to be a pivotal aspect of the game. However, I don’t think this is about Clingan and his scoring load, instead this is all about whether or not Clingan can slow Edey down without letting him get to the free throw line all day. With 3.6 blocks per game during the NCAA tournament, Clingan looks to have the ability to keep Edey on his toes, but if Clingan gets into foul trouble then that could spell some issues for the Huskies.
2. The Turnover Battle
In a game where every possession counts, minimizing errors becomes paramount. UCONN boasts one of the lowest turnover rates in the nation, averaging just 9.8 turnovers per game, while Purdue sits slightly higher at 11.4 turnovers per game. However, Purdue has shown vulnerability to turnovers in their losses, with a cumulative turnover margin of -38 in four defeats. If UCONN can capitalize on Purdue’s susceptibility to turnovers, they may tilt the game in their favor. The Huskies don’t seem to run into that issue near as much, as their three losses had a combined total turnover margin of -7. If UCONN can force the Purdue guards into ill-advised passing decisions and disrupt Edey’s dribble, then I think we could be seeing our first back-to- back champion since Florida in 2006-2007. While the Huskies’ losses don’t normally tend to revolve around turnover issues, instead the Huskies losses seem to correlate around a different major statistics—which leads me to my next key to the game.
3. UCONN’s Three-Point Offense & Defense
UCONN’s proficiency from beyond the arc has been a key component of their success this season. However, their losses have coincided with poor three-point shooting performances, coupled with lax perimeter defense. Purdue, boasting the second-highest team three-point percentage in the nation, poses a significant threat in this regard. UCONN must maintain defensive discipline while remaining efficient from three-point range to thwart Purdue’s offensive onslaught. There will most likely be moments where UCONN will need to double team Edey, and it is in these moments that Purdue has to find the open man and knock down their own shots. If Purdue can force UCONN into tough shots from behind the arc, while keeping their own usual pace of play on the offensive end, then I think Purdue has a good shot to knock off the defending champions.
As the anticipation builds for the final game of the season, let us relish the moment and savor the culmination of an exhilarating journey. Tonight, amidst the fervor of the championship game, let’s embrace the excitement and drama of college basketball at its finest.
