NCAA News Wire
Senior moment: Napier, UConn win NCAA title
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
ARLINGTON, Texas — Senior guard Shabazz Napier and Connecticut’s band of upperclassmen proved that experience still means something in the one-and-done age of college basketball.
The Huskies won the fourth national championship in school history by out-executing freshmen-led Kentucky in a 60-54 win Monday night before title-game-record 79,238 fans at AT&T Stadium.
Napier scored a game-high 22 points as he completed a collegiate career that was bookended by national titles. As a freshman, he was part of Connecticut’s 2011 championship squad.
The Huskies weren’t in the tournament last year due to an NCAA ban for low test scores. Napier, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, made sure that wasn’t forgotten.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the hungry Huskies,” Napier said. “This is what happens when you ban us.”
Kevin Ollie won a title in only his second season as coach, guiding the Huskies to a 32-8 record. Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, Ollie’s mentor, claimed the school’s previous three titles. Ollie captured No. 4 with two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore in the starting lineup.
“We always did it together and always played as a group,” Ollie said. “It was great. My coaching staff, my players, really, all of UConn being here, that is what it is all about.
“Coach Calhoun, the greatest coach ever, he paved the way, and I just want to thank Coach, too.”
Kentucky (29-11) rolled out five freshmen, including forward Julius Randle, a likely NBA lottery pick. The Wildcats, seeking their ninth national title and second under coach John Calipari, had their 11-game NCAA Tournament winning streak snapped.
Calipari referred to his team’s youth while taking the lion’s share of the blame.
“They needed more from me,” he said. “You’re talking all freshmen out there. They needed more from me, so I wish I had a couple more answers to create something easier for them.”
Huskies junior guard Ryan Boatright played through a sprained ankle in the second half and scored 14 points. Senior forward Niels Giffey added 10 points. Seniors and juniors scored 58 of Connecticut’s 60 points.
“It took an unbelievable team,” Boatright said. “It took a special team.”
Freshman forward James Young led the Wildcats with 20 points and seven rebounds. Randle scored 10 points and grabbed six boards in what is probably his final game as an amateur.
“We’ve been through a lot this season,” Randle said. “How we kept fighting … says a lot about the guys. I hate that it ended like this.”
Randle won’t be the only Wildcat to consider the NBA.
“It’s no longer about the program. It’s no longer about the team. It’s about each individual on the team,” Calipari said. “Now it’s about them, and we’ll sit down with each of them and they’ll make decisions for themselves.”
Kentucky guard Aaron Harrison opened the second half with a 3-pointer, getting the Wildcats within a point (35-34) for the first time since they were down 7-6. The Huskies momentarily regained control, going up 48-39 on Napier’s baseline jumper.
Young sparked a surge by soaring and dunking over Connecticut backup center Amida Brimah. Young’s three-point play was the first of eight consecutive points for the Wildcats, who trailed 48-47 with 8:13 left.
Napier ended the run with a 3-pointer from straight away, and Giffey followed with another from almost the same spot on the next possession. Boatright extended the lead to 56-50 with a floating jumper with 4:12 to go.
The Wildcats couldn’t get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
The game couldn’t have started any better for Connecticut. The Huskies were the early aggressor behind Napier, attacking the basket and shooting early in the shot clock.
Kentucky tried to match that tempo but ended up taking bad shots that fed Connecticut’s break. After Boatright fooled Kentucky defenders on a reverse layup to give the Huskies a 17-8 lead, Calipari called timeout with 13:08 left in the half.
The break in the action didn’t faze Connecticut or inspire the Wildcats. The Huskies soon pushed their advantage into double digits, and they doubled Kentucky at 30-15.
The Wildcats got back in it by dominating the last five minutes of the half.
