On Road to Back-to-Back March Madness Glory, Historic Display by Donovan Clingan Leads UConn to Their 8th Big East Title

Published 03/17/2024, 2:19 AM EDT

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.

Article continues below this ad

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.

With Donovan Clingan Making a Comeback, Can the UConn Win Back to Back Titles?

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

Article continues below this ad

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.

Article continues below this ad

Losing Donovan Clingan to Injury, Can a Shorthanded UConn Recover From Their Problems?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Shahryar Fazal is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. His specialisation lies in his scrupulous Live Coverage of the events like NCAA and WNBA tournaments. A former sportsman himself, Shahryar used to contribute stories for publishing houses like TOI before taking up American sports as his field of interest.

Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth

On Road to Back-to-Back March Madness Glory, Historic Display by Donovan Clingan Leads UConn to Their 8th Big East Title

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

Trending

Shedeur Sanders Becomes the “Laughing Stock” of College Football as He Ignores NFL Legend’s Advice to Target Gavin Kuld

Dana White & UFC Miss Out on $1.38 Billion Worth Achievement as Conor McGregor Awfully Falls Short of 3-Year-Old Feat

Big Setback for Shaq, as $155 Billion Company Eyes Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith Post-TNT Era

Mom Randi Defends Son Patrick Mahomes as Chiefs Dragged Through Mud Due to Harrison Butker, Wanya Morris & Jason Godrick’s Controversies

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Stepmother Follows Through on the Grudge, With His Legacy Also Hanging in the Balance