March Madness 2023 live updates: Florida Atlantic to Final Four, latest NCAA Tournament scores and bracket
First round: #4 UConn 87, #13 Iona 63
The best way to sum up fourth-placed UConn’s 87-63 demolition against 13th-seeded Iona is a 64-second sequence late in the second half, perhaps the final nudge the Huskies needed to open the door to the once-hopeful to close Gaels.
It started with a missed layup by Jordan Hawkins by 4:11. Adama Sanogo, being in full play, tapped the ball himself for an offensive rebound and putback.
26 seconds and a pitch later, Sanogo blocked Ionas Nelly Junior Joseph’s shot. And 35 seconds into that, Sanogo stopped for a long 2-pointer as the pro-UConn crowd exploded in the MVP Arena – encouraged by Dan Hurley’s sideline animations.
Iona led UConn by two points once at halftime. When UConn leaned on Sanogo, it was over. The Huskies center finished the season with a season-high 28 points (22 in the second half) and 13 rebounds in 25 minutes. Connecticut surpassed Iona 50-24 in the second half, scoring 24 of those points in the paint and playing for 20 minutes like the competitor many think he is. — Mark Cooper
Second Round: #4 UConn 70, #5 Saint Mary’s 55
The Connecticut team that wowed people after their run to the PK Classic title in November appears to have returned. In a tournament where top teams have either lost or looked ragged, the Huskies twice came out of the dressing room at halftime and rolled over their opponent. This time it was Saint Mary’s who went from being behind at the break to steamrolling in the second, losing 70-55 as UConn rolled to their first sweet 16 since 2014. This year, of course, the Huskies won everything.
After the game, head coach Dan Hurley, who has faced criticism after two first-round losses in his UConn career, walked around the court where a large home crowd gathered to cheer. He waved his hands in the air and called for cheers before going over to his wife Andrea for a hug and greeting to his father, legendary high school coach Bob Hurley. The elder Hurley was in town all weekend, holding court with a couple of reporters on Saturday after his son wrapped up his press conferences. Out in the hallway, Dan laughed. “I have to go to work. It will take forever.”
This weekend was for the relaxing huskies who seemed to have rediscovered their mojo at just the right time. For those who have forgotten why all those pre-season memories came in bundles here at Albany. UConn can shoot. UConn can defend itself. They have a pair of dominant bigs and they have depth. It has all the ingredients needed for a deep run in March. The only reason people have cooled off: that weird nosedive in January. But it now feels like a distant memory as Adama Sanogo amassed 52 points over two games and Jordan Hawkins had 25 points overall in the second half.
To be fair, Saint Mary’s was against it. Alex Ducas, the Gaels’ third-best scorer, left the team with debilitating back spasms in the first half and never returned. He cautiously even walked through the handshake line. Meanwhile, big man Mitchell Saxen faced nasty troubles, halting the Gaels’ offense and giving UConn carte blanche. Without them, they couldn’t keep up with the huskies.
The truth is, they might have messed with that version of UConn anyway. The Huskies hit 10 three-pointers, gave 15 assists in 27 buckets made, and kept Saint Mary’s without a field goal in the final seven minutes of the game. The huskies were just too much everywhere. Saint Mary’s, the nation’s second-best defensive rebounder, was even beaten 27-19 on defensive glass. — Dana O’Neil
Sweet 16: #4 UConn 88, #8 Arkansas 65
Convention said Thursday’s first West Regional semifinals in Las Vegas could be a compelling affair. Connecticut and Arkansas, two entertaining teams with a lot of talent, two energetic coaches with a lot at stake. Then the game started, UConn opened with a layup by Alex Karaban and it was game over.
Over the next 40 minutes, the Huskies would methodically and carefully demolish the eighth-seeded Hogs, 88-65. There are plenty of stars to prove it, but most notably, on nearly 60 percent shooting with four scorers in double figures, UConn clipped an obscene 1.3 points per possession, dishing out 22 assists to 30 made buckets and holding Arkansas to 0, 9 points per possession with 31 percent shooting. UConn took control early and dominated the inside with 24 of their 46 first-half points while overtaking Arkansas 22-9 before the break. The Hogs came no closer than 17 in the second half and trailed by 29.
UConn was so good and Gonzaga will watch the movie and shudder. This was total dominance with Jordan Hawkins’ shooting (24 points), Andre Jackson doing everything Andre Jackson did and Adama Sanogo adding 18 points and nine rebounds. Without question, the huskies have all the makings of a national title contender. — Brendan Quinn
(Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images)