PORTLAND, Ore. – When UConn’s 14-year Final Four streak ended last season, extending a seven-year national title drought, it was unclear whether the moment represented a blip on the radar or a changing of the guard in college basketball.
As the Huskies faltered to start the 2023-24 season with nationally-televised defeats to NC State and Texas, the latter theory gained credence. Then, UConn suffered numerous personnel losses, including season-ending injuries to Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin and Caroline Ducharme. Although they rolled through their Big East schedule, the Huskies’ inability to collect marquee wins cast a doubt on their overall ceiling. Before beating Duke on Friday, they hadn’t defeated a team that made the Sweet 16 in five tries this season; all of those losses came by double figures.
None of that mattered Monday. The UConn team that took the floor was better because of its failures. The Huskies were fueled by the taste of defeat and, for once, being the underdogs. And unlike last season, they had the best player in the game on their side.
After an 80-73 Elite Eight victory over USC, UConn is back where it belongs, in the Final Four for the 23rd time in program history.
“I always had faith, I always believed,” Aaliyah Edwards said. “How we came out last…
