UConn needed a win to make the NCAA Tournament.
The Connecticut Huskies were about to do it again. They were going to make another run through a tournament they had no business winning. SMU had different plans, though. The Mustangs went into Hartford, Conn., and dominated the defending NCAA champions, 62-54, to win the American Athletic Conference tournament and earn and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The selection committee was unkind to SMU last year, leaving them out of the tournament, but the Mustangs won't have to wait on the decision this year. Markus Kennedy led SMU with 15 points and six rebounds. Larry Brown, who has been with SMU since 2012, will make his first coaching appearance in the NCAA tournament since he coached Kansas to a national title in 1988. SMU won the regular season title in the AAC, as well. They're 27-6 heading into the tournament.
After winning the NCAA title a year ago, UConn needed a win over SMU to make the NCAA Tournament. They struggled to a 20-14 record this season, but almost found enough magic to win their conference tournament. Instead, SMU spoiled the party.
SMU led 33-19 at the half and were up by as many as 17 in the second half. UConn kept within striking distance mostly thanks to the play of Rodney Purvis. And they kept on chipping away at the SMU lead. They pulled to within eight with 7:27 to play, then pulled to within six with less than six to go. It was even a five-point less than three minutes to play and it seemed the Huskies were going to pull off a crazy win again, but SMU held on down the stretch to win.
Ryan Boatright, who hit a game-winner over Cincinnati, didn't score in the first half for UConn and had just seven points. Purvis had a career-high 29 points.
It's the Mustangs first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1993, when they lost to BYU in the first round.
Source SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1BJlaGy
No comments:
Post a Comment