Defending champions UConn got their automatic entry into the March Madness. For the eighth time in the program’s history, the Huskies bring home the Big East championship. What was expected to be a neck-to-neck battle turned out to be a comfortable affair courtesy of a phenomenal double-double by their towering center, Donovan Clingan.

His complete dominance on the court resulted in him ending the night with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Moreover, he now becomes the first player to record a 20-15 double-double in a BIG EAST title game after Patrick Ewing did it in 1984.

The game began for UConn without a single point in the opening six and a half minutes. At this time, the skillful No.32 decided to take matters into his own hands. Combining with Tristen Newton, he tried to build momentum in favor of the Huskies. Consequently, it worked as his 10 points and 10 rebounds ended the first half, giving Connecticut a 2-point lead over the Golden Eagles.

He picked up pace in the next half to tighten UConn’s grip on the contest. His three-point play with 14:06 remaining created some separation between both teams. Moreover, Clingan’s 7-of-12 shooting from the floor and 8-of-11 accuracy from the free throw line created further issues for Marquette’s defense. Eventually, he turned the tide in UConn’s favor by helping them score 47 points in the second half that led to a resounding  73-57 win for the reigning national champions.

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Following this, he reflected on the huge win and his performance soon after the game.

What did Donovan Clingan say after his game-winning exhibition?

An overjoyed Donovan Clingan spoke to Fox Sports’s Kristina Pink after his tremendous outing. He said, “To put the Connecticut jersey on and be able to represent the state of Connecticut means a lot to me. I’ve grown up in Connecticut my whole life. And watching UConn play, and to be able to be a 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.” 

The Huskies have sent a strong message through this win. Moreover, it serves as a reminder to its opponents why they are the current NCAA champions. Clearly, a dominant display like this will impart some worrying signs for the rest of the contenders.

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