2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four, Program Profiles: The #2 Connecticut Huskies, Champions of the East Region

4/2/2026

Entering its third Final Four in the last four seasons, the #2 seed Connecticut Huskies proved to be "Beasts of the East," surviving the toughest bracket in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a miracle three-pointer against Duke in the Elite Eight. Make the jump to learn more about the Final Four run of the champions of the East Region, the UCONN Huskies out of the Big East Conference.

Connecticut Huskies: The Road to the 2006 Final Four

Of the last four teams standing, UCONN is the most battle-tested, playing the highest seeds possible in each tournament game after the first round, and winning close and tight games, including defeating:

#15 Furman, 82-71. Read my live running reactions here.
#7 UCLA, 73-57.
#3 Michigan State, 67-63. Read my live running reactions here.
#1 Duke, 73-72. Read my updates here.

Quick Tourney Overview of the Connecticut Huskies

In early February, UCONN was tracking as potentially the last #1 seed in the tournament. However, the Huskies struggled late in the Big East, including a regular season finale loss at Marquette during which controversial Head Coach Dan Hurley lost his mind during the game's final seconds. While advancing to the Big East Championship Game, the Huskies were roughed up from start to finish by St. John's. Even worse, guard Silas Demary suffered a serious ankle injury early in that game. Even though UCONN had won two of the last three NCAA Tournaments, with the lone exception being a tough second-round loss last season to eventual national champion Florida, the Huskies did not seem to be a serious title contender at the start of this year's March Madness. While this Huskies' team is not Hurley's most dominant or intimidating squad, it is once again a hard opponent to kill, with a championship mettle and culture that has carried throughout four tight games.

In the first round, the Huskies survived miserable three-point shooting and a game Furman squad, thanks to a Herculean performance from big man Tarris Reed, Jr. (more on that below). A trendy pick to be upset in the second round, UCONN got off to a slow start against UCLA before taking a lead at the break and keeping the Bruins at bay during the second half, thanks to a wonderful performance from senior Alex Karaban. In the Sweet Sixteen against Michigan State, UCONN came out with its guns blazing, finding its three-point shooting early and building a 19-point lead in the first half. As Tom Izzo teams tend to do, the Spartans did not quit, cutting the game to eight at the break and taking a lead early in the second half. The Huskies did not panic, however, and made just enough plays late to end the Spartans' season in a game that was back-and-forth to the very end. In the Elite Eight, UCONN was whipped in the first half by a Duke team playing its best half of the tournament. The Huskies were down 15 at the break, and it could have been more if not for Reed carrying the team. UCONN was a much different team in the game's last 20 minutes, picking up its defensive activity, running brilliant offense to and through Reed, and gradually trimming down the Blue Devils' lead. Even with the Huskies getting the deficit down to one point late, UCONN seemed like it had run out of time. Down two points after a made three throw with only ten seconds left, UCONN forced a miraculous turnover when Duke decided to play keep away rather than hold onto the ball, and freshman Braylon Mullins stepped in and made one of the greatest shots in NCAA Tournament history, a stunning three that sent UCONN to a most improbable Final Four.

UCONN's Most Impressive Tourney Win - Duke in the Elite 8

While UCONN should be commended for taking care of business against UCLA and never blinking against Michigan State, the Huskies' comeback against Duke was the ultimate stunner. For all intents and purposes, it would have been easy for UCONN to hang its collective head at halftime and accept a likely loss to a more talented Duke team. Of course, that's just not how Hurley has built UCONN basketball. Out of the second-half gates, the Huskies were the aggressors, running brilliant offense, ratcheting up its defense and slowly chipping away, despite being unable to throw the basketball into the ocean from three. The Huskies finally got a few threes to drop late in the game, with Demary hitting two big ones, Karaban nailing one in the game's final minute after starting 0/5 from deep, and Mullins coolly burying the ultimate dagger with just 0.4 seconds left. Showing incredible heart, UCONN had no business winning the Duke game, but the Huskies just wouldn't be killed and kept playing to the game's final whistle, believing it could complete the comeback.

UCONN's Most Difficult Tourney Win - Duke in the Elite Eight

Just how difficult was UCONN's victory against Duke? Just revisit these bullet points:

Trailing by 19 points in the first half.
Down 15 at the half.
Starting the game 1/18 from three.
Trailing by two points with 10 seconds left and needing to foul.
Forcing a miraculous/fortuitous turnover.
Mullins hitting the unlikeliest of threes after starting 0/4 from deep.
Leading 73-72 for the first time since the game was 2-0.
Ripping the heart out of Jon Scheyer and his Duke team.

Most Memorable UCONN Tourney Highlight: Duh! Mullins' 3!

Words cannot describe this last sequence that finally put UCONN in front, though a few things should be noted.

Karaban was so heady on this play, not taking what would have been a flat-footed three and likely bad miss, as Duke's Cameron Boozer did a great job of stepping up.
Mullins showed no hesitation or fear putting the ball up.
Duke's Isaiah Evans should be getting a lot of criticism for not putting his hands up. While Cayden Boozer has had to deal with turning the ball over, Evans did not show good enough effort here.

Best UCONN Player This Tourney: Center Tarris Reed, Jr.

During a first round game where UCONN could not hit the three and Furman would not go away, Reed dominated with 31 points and 27 rebounds. He was a man among boys down low, extending one UCONN possesion for a full minute and 45 seconds with his offensive rebounding. In the Elite Eight, Reed kept the Huskies alive in the first half, with 12 points, 10 of which came during the game's first 8 minutes. In the second half, Reed continued to score down low but also facilitated much-needed offense with some crazy assists. Reed finished with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists against Duke. For the tournament, he is averaging nearly 22 points and 14 rebounds, along with 2.25 blocks, per game. After transferring to UCONN from Michigan two seasons ago, Reed has shown incredible development down low, with beautiful footwork and a soft, feathery touch. He is so much more complete than the talented but raw player he was during Juwan Howard's last season at Michigan.

UCONN X-Factor in the Tourney So Far: Head Coach Dan Hurley

Love him or hate him, Hurley is the best coach in college basketball and one of the greatest of all time in March. His teams could have lost all four games so far this tourney, but Hurley's coaching is such a big difference when it matters. Coming out of the East, Hurley has defeated an up-and-comer in Furman Head Coach Bob Richey, a similarly cantankerous jerk but excellent tactician in UCLA Head Coach Mick Cronin, an all-time legend in Michigan State's Tom Izzo, and the anointed one of the most prestigious program in college basketball in Duke's Jon Scheyer. UCONN should have been dead at the half against Duke, but the Huskies' winning response was a testament to the winning attitude and culture Hurley has further developed in Storrs. As an Illinois fan, I am not scared of this particular UCONN team. I am scared of Hurley, a coach no team wants to face in the NCAA Tournament. Late in a close game, Hurley will draw up the right play to get his team an open shot. It's just a matter of if the shot will go down.

UCONN X-Factors in the Final Four: Solo Ball & Braylon Mullins

Both guards have struggled mightily with their three-point shooting during the NCAA Tournament. Whether or not Ball and Mullins can hit threes against Illinois on Saturday could be the difference between advancing to the title game or losing in the National Semifinal, something that UCONN just does not do very often. Ball and Mullins were just 1-for-10 combined from three last Sunday against Duke, with Mullins finally scratching on the game's biggest shot. After going 1/11 from three during the opening weekend, Ball hit his first two threes against Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. Since then, he has missed his last eight three point attempts. Mullins has been a little better, despite going 0-for-8 against Furman and 1-for-6 against Duke. Mullins was 2-for-6 against UCLA and 2-for-5 against Michigan State from beyond the arc. The fact that UCONN is still alive despite such disastrous performances from deep is a testament to Hurley's coaching and his team's resilience. While his outside shot looks broken, Ball impacts winning in so many ways for the Huskies, especially with his defense and ability to put pressure on the rim with his driving. While not the greatest defender yet, Mullins is unafraid to keep shooting. What is certain is that Hurley's offense will get Ball, Mullins, Karaban and others open threes. Can the Huskies be more consistent from deep? They need to be in order to win a third national title in four seasons.

Re-Emerging UCONN Player This Tourney: Guard Silas Demary

Given the severity of his ankle injury from the Big East Tournament, Demary shouldn't be on the court for the Huskies. While missing the first-round victory against Furman, Demary has been playing around 22-23 minutes during UCONN's past three games. As Hurley said after the stunning Duke victory, Demary was a warrior in the Elite Eight, playing energetic defense and hitting two huge threes late during the second half comeback after UCONN had missed 17 of its first 18 threes. A transfer from Georgia, Demary is another player who impacts the game in so many ways beyond scoring.

Key UCONN Player This Tourney: Forward Alex Karaban

Having started on UCONN's last two title teams, Karaban is the ultimate teammate and winner. Whether his shot is falling or not falling, Karaban is just not fazed as a player. See the end of the Duke game. Needing a three with just under a minute to go, Hurley drew up a play for Karaban, who was 0-for-5 from deep, yet hit a ridiculous bomb to keep the Huskies alive. While Karaban only scored 5 points on 2-for-10 shooting against Duke, his impact is felt in so many ways, with his defense, passing and steadying presence on the court. With the exception of his tough offensive game against Duke, Karaban has scored 17 points against Michigan State, a career-high 27 against UCLA and 22 against Furman. If he can find his shot, UCONN is that more dangerous. At the end of the day, Karaban is a coach on the court. While he has some physical limitations, he is one of the smartest basketball players I have watched in college basketball during the past 20 years. His leadership keeps UCONN connected and in games at all times.

Other UCONN Players to Know Entering the Final Four

Guard Malachi Smith and forward Jayden Ross are active players off the UCONN bench. Smith can provide some scoring while Ross is a versatile defender who might see some time on Illinois' Keaton Wagler for a change of pace in the Final Four. While center Eric Reibe and forward Jaylin Stewart were expected to be bigger pieces on this UCONN team earlier in the season, their playing time has been reduced significantly in March, though they could be used in limited spot minutes to buy some time and/or spell foul trouble this weekend.