After spending the entire 2023-24 season at or near the top of college basketball, UConn and Purdue square off Monday night for the national title. The game features the defending national champion Huskies against a Boilermakers team that is aiming for a historic breakthrough.
Purdue is appearing in the national title game for the first time since 1969 and is seeking its first national championship. But to do so, the Boilermakers will have to go through a UConn program that is entering the dynasty conversation. The Huskies have won 11 straight NCAA Tournament games by double figures and are just 40 minutes away from becoming college basketball’s first repeat national champion since Florida did it in 2006 and 2007.
Both teams are anchored by towering centers with diverse skill sets and the ability to take over plays. Purdue’s star is 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, a two-time CBS Sports Player of the Year. UConn’s point guard is 7-2 Donovan Clingan, a likely 2024 NBA Draft lottery pick with game-changing effectiveness as a rim protector.
The game marks the first time since 2021 and just the seventh time in the 21st century that a pair of No. 1 seeds have met in the national championship game. Both survived the rigors of March Madness, but only one will remain on Monday night.
UConn vs. Purdue: I need to know
Redemption Pursuit: Purdue has been in hot pursuit of redemption since becoming just the second No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose to a No. 16 seed during last year’s NCAA Tournament. That stunning 63-58 loss to FDU shook the Boilermakers to their core and led to a lot of self-reflection for coach Matt Painter, who is in his 19th season leading his alma mater. The pain from that moment carried Purdue to the program’s first national title game. The only other No. 1 seed to ever lose to a No. 16 seed was Virginia in 2018. The Cavaliers responded by winning the national championship in 2019, and Purdue is looking to follow in their footsteps.
Family connection: A win would send UConn into thin air in terms of all-time great streaks. Before Florida’s back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, the last team to repeat was Duke in 1991 and 1992. The point guard for those Duke teams was Bobby Hurley, who is the brother of UConn coach Dan Hurley . So if the Huskies emerge victorious, the Hurley brothers will have played a major role in two of the last three repeats.
Coaching Legacy: Plucked from the high school coaching ranks in 2010, Hurley became a rising star at Wagner and Rhode Island before landing the UConn job in 2018. He made annual strides with the Huskies in his first four seasons, but failed to win a game in the NCAA tournament until last season. The questions for Hurley ranged from “can he win in March?” to “will he ever lose in March?” incredibly fast. This game gives him a chance to reach a rare level of coaching superstardom. His counterpart is Purdue’s Painter, who is already an icon at his school but often lacks national recognition due to a lack of major success in the NCAA tournament. The Boilermakers have been one of the most stable programs in the nation for decades. But they never cut nets. If Painter does so, his already powerful legacy will be transformed into immortality.
How to watch UConn vs. Purdue live
Date: Monday, April 8 | time: 9:20 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Stadium – Glendale, Arizona
television: TBS, TNT, truTV | Live Stream: March Madness live
UConn vs Purdue prediction, picks
Odds by SportsLine Consensus
Purdue has the best player in this game in Zach Edey. UConn has the best team. Tristen Newton, Alex Karaban and Donovan Clingan all played key roles in the Huskies’ national title run last year and have increased their productivity this season. With the addition of perimeter weapons Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle, UConn’s starting lineup is loaded with guys who would be the best players on many teams in college basketball. All of them are averaging double figures, and the Huskies hardly miss a beat when they dive into their bench. The number of ways UConn can beat you is virtually limitless. Defensively, the Huskies are uniquely equipped to guard the 7-4 Edey because they are going up against Clingan, who is 7-foot-2. This program has been brutally dominant the last two seasons and that dominance will continue as UConn wins another title. Prediction: UConn -6
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Distribution |
PUR +6.5 |
UCONN -6.5 |
PUR +6.5 |
PUR +6.5 |
UCONN -6.5 |
UCONN -6.5 |
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Straight forward |
PUR |
UCONN |
PUR |
UCONN |
UCONN |
UCONN |
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