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Good morning! May your Sunday be as sweet as a Caitlin Clark jumper.
The Stage is Set
Buzzer-beaters and buzzsaws
We were treated to two very different games in the men’s Final Four on Saturday — and each served as a microcosm of this NCAA Tournament for San Diego State and UConn, who will meet in Monday’s title tilt.
First was San Diego State, the team that never quits. The Aztecs didn’t lead in the second half until the final buzzer, when Lamont Butler — who had made two field goals all game — coolly pulled up for the jump shot of his life as time expired to give SDSU a 72-71 win over Florida Atlantic.
- The Aztecs’ appearance in the title game feels unlikely in so many ways. Until this year, they had never made it past the Sweet 16. The Mountain West had never had a Final Four team. SDSU doesn’t boast a single top-100 recruit.
- San Diego State’s future is as interesting as its present. The Athletic reported in early March the Pac-12 hadn’t yet reached a consensus about inviting the Aztecs. Can the conference retroactively claim this Final Four?
Second was UConn, the team that (seemingly) can’t be stopped. The Huskies never trailed in a 72-59 win over Miami, their fifth straight by…
