UConn storms into March Madness Final Four after dismantling Illinois

BOSTON – Connecticut feels inevitable. 

A borderline guarantee.

It isn’t just winning.

It is beating teams into submission, breaking their will, treating this NCAA Tournament like a series of scrimmages. 

Illinois learned what the rest of the Big East and Stetson, Northwestern and San Diego State already knew: UConn is a different breed of basketball team. 

Donovan Clingan and UConn pummeled Illinois. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Ten Tournament champion entered the Elite Eight believing it could pull the upset, that it could hang with the third-seeded Huskies.

It would be a challenge, the Illini said, but nothing they hadn’t seen before.

Wrong. 

After 18 minutes of competitive basketball, the No. 1 Huskies snapped their fingers and eliminated any thought that Illinois could test them.

Connecticut Huskies guard Cam Spencer (12) reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the finals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Thirty consecutive points later, and the rout was on.

Connecticut was headed back to the Final Four after this 77-52 thrashing in front of 19,181 at a raucous TD Garden, blitzing yet another overwhelmed opponent.

It is now two wins from history, becoming the first back-to-back champion since Florida in 2006-07, after setting a program record with a 35th victory.

Head coach Dan Hurley of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Getty Images

At this point, it would be stunning if that didn’t happen. 

Terrence Shannon Jr. and Illinois’ second-ranked offense was no match for Donovan Clingan and UConn.

The Huskies blocked 10 shots, held Shannon to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting and blanked the Illini over a stretch of 9:08. Shannon had been averaging 28.3 points in the tournament. 

Clingan, the 7-foot-2 center from Bristol, Conn., was a two-way dynamo.

Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) dribbles the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Tristen Newton (2) in the finals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

He finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals en route to Most Outstanding Player honors of the East Region.

Hassan Diarra and Cam Spencer (12 rebounds) each added 11 points and Samson Johnson and Alex Karaban had 10 apiece.