From: April 3
Monday night, March Madness comes to a close. What a tournament it has been, full of upsets and great games. We had the first buzzer-beater of the tournament in the Final Four, something we have not had since the Jalen Suggs shot against UCLA. UConn has been dominant all tournament, blowing the breaks off of teams. They have held both Gonzaga and Miami, two top-five offenses, to their worst offensive productions of the year. Not to mention that their offense has been outstanding, with Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo dominating the competition. Although San Diego State has been inconsistent offensively, it has suffocated teams all tournament long. The Aztecs are one of the best three-point defensive teams in the country, keeping Alabama, Creighton, and FAU at bay. It all comes down to Monday night when the Huskies and the Aztecs meet for a National Championship on the line.
Players to Watch:
For San Diego State to stay competitive in this game, they will need Matt Bradley to do what he does: score the basketball. The lead guard for SDSU had a shaky tournament run up until their matchup with FAU. He showed up on the biggest stage, leading the way with 21 points in an all-time game. He’s a big physical guard with a smooth perimeter stroke. According to my Way Too Early 2023 Final Four Preview: “If San Diego State can stay close with their opponent for 38 minutes, they will look to Bradley to close out games, and that is starting to look like a winning formula.”
For UConn to continue its dominant stretch, Adama Sanogo has to continue leading the way for the Huskies. Due to San Diego State’s three-point defense, Sanogo has to break through their physical front line and control the glass. Sanogo is the leading candidate for Most Outstanding Player, and he has to play like that for UConn to win. If Sanogo is off, Jordan Hawkins is going to have to shoot the lights out of the ball. Hawkins is never tired and frequently comes off screens for moving threes.
Predictions:
Although this is probably the toughest test UConn has faced all year, it is going to be impossible to pick against them. They are firing on all cylinders, and it seems like they are just an avalanche ready to cut down the nets. There is a world where San Diego State can shock the world. The Aztecs have to have an all-time muck-it-up performance. If the game is trending towards the under, SDSU has a chance to go on a late run. They have returned in two straight games in the tournament, and they never give up. The telltale sign of how the game will go is how San Diego State responds to UConn’s 10–0 runs. If SDSU is able to weather the storm and stay within the game, it will be wire-to-wire. If UConn piles on a 20–5 run, the Huskies with run away with the game.
Connecticut 69–61 San Diego State