UConn Quotes | Marquette Quotes | Box Score | All-Tournament Team
By SEAN BRENNAN
BIGEAST.com
There were just 20 seconds left before UConn would be crowned the BIG EAST kingpins and Donovan Clingan was working the crowd. The Huskies 7-2 center had just spent the last two hours torturing Marquette and now it was time for him - and the rest of the Huskies - to begin the celebration. Even if the game clock had not hit zero just yet.
So there was Clingan, armed raised, exhorting the UConn faithful to use all their lung capacity to kick off the celebration. When it wasn’t loud enough, he cupped a hand to his ear. They got the message and the decibel level grew a level or two.
This was a celebration a year in the waiting. Despite winning the National Championship last season, not winning the BIG EAST Tournament championship remained a thorn in the Huskies’ paw. UConn had already achieved its goal of winning the regular-season title a couple of weeks ago. Now they had to have this one as well - and that was non-negotiable.
And thanks in large part to the large UConn center whose nickname is “Cling-Kong,” who finished with 22 points and 16 rebounds, the Huskies have their first BIG EAST Tournament title since 2011 after knocking off Marquette, 73-57, in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden. It was UConn’s eighth tournament title, tying it with Georgetown for most in conference history.
But they are far from satisfied. There are still a couple of other things on their UConn To Do List before calling it season, but more on that a little later. Now it’s time to celebrate.
“There’s just not a lot of holes in the way we play,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “We’ve got great offense, rebound the ball. We’re an elite defensive team. We play so hard. We’re deep with NBA players that are unselfish and about winning. (And) these guys have done it with a huge target (on their backs) We’ve gotten everyone’s best game the entire year and for what this group has done this year, it’s just been a special, special season to this point.”
After a woeful shooting performance by both teams in the first half led to a 26-24 UConn lead at intermission (more on THAT later, too), the offense improved somewhat for both teams in the second half but never enough through the first 12 minutes for UConn to pull away from the defending BIG EAST Tournament champs. But when freshman Jaylin Stewart drained a three-ball with 7:33 to play, it gave the Huskies’ their first double-digit lead of the game at 52-41. And from there UConn began to look a lot like, well, the No. 1 seed.
Soon Stewart was nailing another three-ball. Then Tristen Newton added a layup before Hassan Diarra drilled a three of his own and just like that, the Huskies were up 60-44 and UConn and its boisterous fan base could smell the championship. Clingan added the next five points for UConn and Marquette could never get closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
Then it was time to celebrate.. After getting their championship shirts and hats, Clingan and his mates waded through a crowded court of officials, photogs, fans and well-wishers toward a makeshift platform. It was easy to spot the 7-2 Clingan as he was head and shoulders above the crowd, just as he was in the game. Then he once again showed love to the UConn crowd and they gave it right back.
After the game Marquette coach Shaka Smart had high praise for Clingan.
“Donovan Clingan was the biggest difference,” Smart said. “He puts you in a bind as a team defensively because it’s hard to guard him with one guy and the way that we defend pick-and-rolls, sometimes smaller guys get on him and that’s a problem. But he does that to a lot of people.”
Clingan’s double-double of 22 points and 16 boards were the most points and rebounds in a title game since 1984, when Patrick Ewing posted 27 points and 16 rebounds for Georgetown. Newton also had a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists, which were the most assists in a title game since former Syracuse star Pearl Washington had 14 in 1986.
For Clingan, a Connecticut native who grew up a Huskies’ fan, it couldn't have been a more memorable night.
“To put on a Connecticut jersey means a lot to me,” Clingan said. “I’ve grown up in Connecticut my whole life and watched UConn play. To be able to be part of history and be a part of something special like we’ve done last year and this year, it means a lot to me.”
Ultimately, the difference for UConn was how Clingan and Newton helped turn whatever team that was in the first half impersonating the Huskies back into the Huskies in the second half.
But, oh, that first half.
The start to the game was not one you’d expect from a showdown between the top seed and the No. 3 seed. How scarce were points in the early going? Well, UConn fans have a tradition of not sitting down until the Huskies convert their first field goal. So they stood. And they stood some more. And they continued to stand.
The game’s first TV timeout arrived at 14:41 and still they stood. At that point the Huskies were 0-for-6 from the field. Marquette was not faring a whole lot better, but at least they had some points - two to be exact - and were shooting an equally dreadful 1-for-8.
Then it happened, the Huskies finally ended their scoreless schneid with an emphatic Samson Johnson dunk with 13:38 left in the half and the howls of gratitude from the UConn faithful echoed throughout the Garden. They could finally sit down and enjoy a cold Sam Adams, the official beer of the BIG EAST Tournament.
The points then started coming in a hurry - at least for a bit - as Marquette got a layup from Stevie Mitchell for a 4-2 lead with 12:18 to go before the half. But the Huskies responded 17 seconds later when Clingan dropped in two free throws to even the score at 4-4. A minute later he added another free throw to give UConn its first lead despite the fact the Huskies were shooting just nine percent (1-for-11) at the time
Marquette was the first to break double digits when Zaide Lowry drilled a three-pointer for a 12-9 lead with just 8:02 to go before the half. UConn got there 20 seconds later when Clingan completed a three-point play to knot the game at 12. UConn finally broke the 20-point plateau with two more Clingan free throws with 2:42 to go while the crowd roared, yes roared, the two free throws. The anxious UConn fans were looking for some reason to get on their feet and cheer after spending the first 6:32 wanting to sit down. Go figure.
Marquette finally surpassed 20 points when Kam Jones knocked down a three-ball with 1:40 to play for a 22-21 Golden Eagles’ lead. Minutes later Newton sank a three-pointer of his own with four seconds to go to give the Huskies a 26-24 lead going into halftime and ending the nightmarish first half.
But no one will remember that now that UConn will have a banner to hang and a trophy to tote home to Storrs. Then Sunday the Huskies will find out who they will face as they look to defend the national title.
Those other things on their To Do List? Be a No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and become the first program since the Florida Gators in 2006-2007 to win back-to-back championships. With losses by Houston, Tennessee and Purdue in their tournaments, it’s a safe bet UConn will be that overall No. 1 seed when the Selection Show airs Sunday evening.
“We’ve done a lot of historic things,” Hurley said. “I know we’ve never gotten a No. 1 overall seed in program history in a place that is hard to make history. We’ve been the best team in college basketball. Obviously March Madness next week, who knows what goes on there. But we’ve clearly been the best program in the country this year.”
Hard to argue that point. And as for going for back-to-back titles? Does anyone really want to bet against these Huskies?
Yeah, didn’t think so.