UConn on a mission to prove the doubters and underdog narrative wrong in Final Four

INDIANAPOLIS — It feels like a misprint — some kind of mistake.

Connecticut an underdog? The same Huskies, who own the most national championships (six) since 1999, and have won it all two of the previous three seasons?

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And, yet, that’s their narrative in this Final Four. They are a 1.5-point underdog to third-seeded Illinois Saturday night. If the second-seeded Huskies advance, they would have considerably worse odds to knock off the winner of No. 1 Michigan/No. 1 Arizona.

They are the lowest rated of the four in KenPom.com, needing a wild rally from 19 points down to knock off Duke in the Elite Eight.

“Everyone is doubting us,” center Tarris Reed Jr. said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of us. People expect us to lose, and that’s fine.”

Tarris Reed Jr. of the UConn Huskies celebrates after defeating the Duke Blue Devils 73-72 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Coach Dan Hurley has predictably leaned into this role, according to freshman star Braylon Mullins. As any quality coach will, he’s using it as ammunition, telling his players the public doesn’t think they can be the last team standing.

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“Just saying, ‘People don’t believe in you, you’re the underdog. They all think [the other teams] are better than you,’” Mullins said. “He tries to build confidence in all of us. He’s used that for us.”

Beginning on Tuesday in practice, Hurley told his team that everyone who reaches the Final Four receives commemorative watches, but they’re in it for a ring. When Connecticut arrived in Indianapolis, the Huskies received miniature Indy 500 helmets. A few players asked about the watches Hurley has been talking about.

“We’re here for rings, not watches,” he responded.

Three keys to the game.

“It shows what we came here for,” Reed said.

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Added senior forward Alex Karaban: “[He’s] hammering down that…

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Publish date : 2026-04-03 23:23:00

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