On Saturday evening, the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team’s advanced to the national championship game yet again.
The squad dispatched the Illinois Fighting Illini and is now one win away from its third title in four years, which garnered plenty of reactions from college basketball analysts.
UConn Advances to National Championship Game Yet Again
UConn, led by head coach Dan Hurley, has stayed remained a juggernaut due to its consistency, performance in clutch moments, and its ability to finish the job.
In the 2026 NCAA Tournament, UConn aimed to replicate its title-winning feats of 2023 and 2024, and the Huskies surged past the Furman Paladins and UCLA Bruins in the first two rounds before defeating the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet 16.
Then, they overcame a 19-point deficit to defeat the overall No. 1 seed Duke. This set up a Final Four matchup with the Fighting Illini. Tarris Reed Jr. contributed a team-high 17 points for UConn along with 11 rebounds, and the Huskies secured the win while holding its opponent to less than 40% shooting.
“The UConn Huskies are now one victory away from winning their third national title in four years. Absolutely insane in this day and age of college basketball,” Goodman wrote on X.
The UConn Huskies are now one victory away from winning their third national title in four years.
Absolutely insane in this day and age of college basketball.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 5, 2026
CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein noted that the last two teams to go on this kind of dynastic run were Duke and Kentucky in the 1990s.
“UConn will play in its third national title game in the last four seasons. The last programs to play in three national title games in a four-year span? Kentucky (1996-98), Duke (1990-92).”
UConn will play in its third national title game in the last four seasons.
The last programs to play in three national title games in a four-year span?
Kentucky (1996-98)
Duke (1990-92) https://t.co/oV26CYWn2v
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 5, 2026
Rothstein also shared another interesting stat to put Hurley’s success in perspective.
“UConn is now 18-1 in the last four NCAA Tournaments under Dan Hurley, who has a 20-5 career record in March Madness,” he wrote. “The only head coach with a better winning percentage in the NCAA Tournament? John Wooden.”
UConn is now 18-1 in the last four NCAA Tournaments under Dan Hurley, who has a 20-5 career record in March Madness.
The only head coach with a better winning percentage in the NCAA Tournament?
John Wooden. https://t.co/oV26CYWn2v
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 5, 2026
ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello highlighted that the Huskies advanced despite the Final Four win being ugly.
“FINAL: UConn 71, Illinois 62. UConn advances to its third title game in four years. Not the most aesthetically-pleasing Final Four game ever, but UConn made 3s and Illinois couldn’t execute,” he wrote on X. “The Huskies’ 12 made 3-pointers are the most in a Final Four game in program history.”
FINAL: UConn 71, Illinois 62
UConn advances to its third title game in four years.
Not the most aesthetically-pleasing Final Four game ever, but UConn made 3s and Illinois couldn’t execute.
The Huskies’ 12 made 3-pointers are the most in a Final Four game in program history.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 5, 2026
Retired NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky threw his support behind the Connecticut men’s team with applauding emojis.
UCONN@UConnMBB
👏🏼👏🏼— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 5, 2026
Hurley addressed that many may find his team’s fighting spirit to be off-putting, but UConn is a group of fighters who are all set for the battle in another national championship game.
