UConn’s run to the national title game was more unexpected this time. Maybe it shouldn’t have been

For the third time in four years, the UConn men are back in the national championship game. And contrary to what most college basketball fans might think, if you’re a Huskies fan who watched the team all season long, you’re probably a little surprised. It’s not that this isn’t an incredibly talented roster, a tough UConn team littered with future pros, a ton of grit, experience and of course, almost inarguably at this point, the best coach in the country.

It’s just– after the 20-point beatdown to St. John’s in the Big East championship game, after a head-scratching home loss to Creighton and an abysmal defeat at league bottom-feeder Marquette , this team seemed to be sputtering to the finish line. Before the NCAA Tournament began, most UConn fans debated whether or not to take the Huskies in their bracket.

In the pool the author is in, one Huskies fan even named their bracket: “Picked UConn So I’m Screwed. ” The implication was that they went with their heart instead of their head, and that clear heads were reasoning that the Huskies didn’t quite seem to have enough this year. Yet, five games later, here they are again.

Although another title might start up dynasty talk, this UConn team isn’t as dynastic as Hurley’s first two title squads. They struggled mightily and needed beast-out-of-a-parable numbers from Tarris Reed Jr. (31 points, 27 boards) to get past Furman, flirted with losing to UCLA, led a huge lead slip vs.