The noise is deafening, the pressure suffocating, and Dan Hurley finds himself at the center of it all. UConn isn’t just facing Florida—the Huskies are staring down a tidal wave of doubt. Even Florida congresswoman Wasserman Schultz joined the chorus, mocking their chances: “Huskies, don’t book a hotel past this Thursday, you won’t need it.” The message is clear—UConn isn’t supposed to survive this. As the Storrs prepare for the Round of 32, the pressure is mounting, and Hurley himself isn’t shying away from the reality of the situation.
After UConn’s gritty 67-59 victory over the Sooners, Hurley didn’t celebrate—it was a sigh of relief. “It was a lot of suffering,” he admitted in the post-game press conference.
The road ahead? Even more daunting. “You know, an opportunity to play, you know, one of the best teams in the country that reminds, you know, me some of what we put on the floor in Florida,” Hurley continued. “Yeah, but there’s a lot of honor in us being able to, you know, face the last team that, you know, that went back to back.”
That team is Florida, and no one outside the UConn locker room believes in an upset. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith bluntly declared, “UConn’s going home before the Sweet 16.” Seth Greenberg doubled down, stating, “There’s no way they can beat Florida. Florida’s just too good. They’re too deep, too athletic.” The Huskies may have taken down Oklahoma, but the Gators are a different beast entirely.
However, Hurley, ever defiant, refuses to concede. “You know, I think we’re a dangerous team because, uh, you know, again, most people picked us, I think, to lose the first game. And, um, you know, I don’t think many people will give us a shot in the second one.” But his words don’t change the numbers.
Well, it’s true—while the Huskies stumbled through an up-and-down regular season, the Gators carved out a 31-4 record and finished 2nd in the SEC. Then, they went a step further, conquering the most stacked conference tournament in college basketball. Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee—none could stop Florida’s march.
Seth Greenberg didn’t hold back: “I’ve got Noah’s Ark – I’ve got Florida.” With a lottery-level guard in Walter Clayton Jr. and a dominant frontcourt led by Alex Condon, the Gators aren’t just built for a deep run—they’re built to win it all.
Hurley and the Storrs are staring down the ultimate challenge. No one believes they can pull it off. The walls are closing in. Now, UConn either breaks through—or gets buried.
That’s the mountain UConn has to climb.
Florida’s firepower vs. UConn’s history: Can Hurley and his Huskies defy the odds?
Statistically, according to ncaa.com, Huskies rank 9th nationally in free throw percentage (79.07%), a crucial edge in close tournament games. Their defensive efficiency is elite, they average 6.4 blocks per game however this also causes them to receive a lot of fouls which Florida can take advantage of in the free throw line as they have a free throw percentage of 71.79% (ranked 196).
Jan 14, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden talks with Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) and Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
History favors the Huskies in this matchup—UConn is 5-0 against Florida in their last five meetings, including a dominant 75-54 win in 2022. But this isn’t the same Florida team, and UConn is navigating a changing of the guard. The gator group this year is deeper, more athletic, and hungry for revenge. “We’re going to win it all, you heard it here first,” said Florida congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, adding fuel to the fire.
For Dan Hurley’s squad, the path to victory lies in controlling tempo and limiting turnovers. UConn’s offense is top-35 in field goal percentage and boasts a solid inside-out attack. If they can break through Florida’s perimeter defense and establish their rhythm early, they have a shot. But the Gators’ depth, combined with Clayton Jr.’s ability to take over games, makes them the clear favorite.
As someone who would love to see a three-peat, I’d love nothing more than for UConn to defy the odds and keep their title dreams alive. But right now, that’s just wishful thinking—unless the Huskies deliver something truly spectacular on the 23rd.
Prediction: Florida 76, UConn 68. The Huskies will fight, but the Gators are too balanced, too deep, and too dangerous.
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