UConn Huskies beat Kentucky to hoist 2014 NCAA National Championship

The term ‘bracket buster’ is used regularly in American college sports, and around ‘March Madness’ – the start of the NCAA National Basketball Tournament – the fervour surrounding that one team which upsets predictions and ‘busts’ the knockout brackets of fans and analysts is heightened. Rarely though, does a bracket-buster – or a ‘Cinderella’ squad – fight all the way to the end and claim the title. It’s even rarer when both the Finalists are relative underdogs.

Shabazz Napier makes the sign that he has won 2 national championships as the Connecticut Huskies beat the Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 in the NCAA Final Four championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 7, 2014.

But that is exactly what happened in the 2014 NCAA National Tournament, as 7th-seeded University of Connecticut (UConn) and 8th-seeded University of Kentucky, the highest combined seeds in the history of the National Championship Final, faced off at the AT&T Center in Texas on April 7th. Led by senior sensation Shabazz Napier, the UConn Huskies led the whole way to defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 and lift the championship trophy. UConn – who were 32-8 in the season – became the lowest seed to win a National Championship since 1985.

This was UConn’s fourth national championship – all of which have come since 1999 – and their second in four years. They won their last title in 2011, led by point guard Kemba Walker.

Napier scored 22 points to lead all scorers in the Final, added six rebounds, and dominated on the defensive end too. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Shabazz Napier #13 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates on the court after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 60-54 in the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at AT&T Stadium on April 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas.

UConn’s road to this year’s title was even more impressive after considering that the team was banned from the NCAA postseason last year due to poor grades. The ban caused five of their key players to leave for the NBA or other colleges, but Napier and backcourt mate Ryan Boatright stuck around and were rewarded with the title this year.

The victory also shone the spotlight on former NBA player and UConn alum turned coach Kevin Ollie. Just four years removed from playing alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, Ollie won a national championship in just his second season as college Head Coach.

For Kentucky, it was an up-and-down season, where they turned from being Goliaths to Davids and back to Goliaths again. Before the year began, an impressive recruiting class brought Coach John Calipari the top ranked freshman in the country. Kentucky were favourites in the pre-season, but underwhelmed to a 29-11 record in the season and held on to just the eighth seed. But the team led by freshmen phenoms found their groove in the tournament and fought their way to the National Final. First-year players Julius Randle, James Young, and the Harrison twins – Andrew and Aaron – are all projected to become First Round draft picks in the NBA this year if they declare.

James Young #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the Connecticut Huskies during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Championship at AT&T Stadium on April 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas.

In the Final, Kentucky fell behind to UConn by 15 in the first half and clawed their way back to a 35-31 deficit at halftime. A monster dunk by Young exploded social media and ignited their comeback efforts. Young led the team with 20 points and 7 rebounds.

Kentucky were bidding to become the first team with five freshman starters to win the title, but their efforts were eventually unfounded by their monster struggles at the free throw line and a slow start for star Julius Randle. Late in the second half, Aaron Harrison – who had helped Kentucky win a number of close games with heroic late-game threes – couldn’t repeat his clutch heroics to hit a go-ahead three for Kentucky in the Final, and UConn steadily paced away to a victory after that.

UConn had reached the Final after defeating top ranked Florida 63-53 in the Final Four stage, while Kentucky had upset Wisconsin on an Aaron Harrison shot 74-73.

Doug McDermott, the senior out of Creighton, won both the Naismith and John R. Wooden Award for the 2013-14 season. He led the nation in scoring at 26.9 points per game.