UConn to play Alabama in Final Four as Crimson Tide edges Clemson – but Dan Hurley’s team are in blistering form with 30-point surge taking them past Illinois in March Madness Elite Eight

Top-seeded UConn dropped Terrence Shannon Jr. not spoil its chances of becoming the first team in 17 years to win back-to-back national championships.

Shannon had scored at least 25 points in each of his previous seven games, but the Huskies held him to just eight on Saturday while also opening the second half on a 25-0 run to a 77-52 win over third-seeded to come to Illinois. in the Elite Eight.

Shannon struggled all night against UConn (35-3), making just two of 12 shots from the floor in 36 minutes of action. Although slowing Shannon was a team effort, Huskies coach Dan Hurley gave high credit to Stephon Castle, a freshman charged with guarding a fifth-year senior.

“Steph just made it really tough for (Shannon). He chased him off the line. We did a great job during the transition,” Hurley said. “Every time he got the lead, we had rim protection there. You had Donovan (Clingan) there, you had Samson (Johnson) there.

“But Steph, there’s a reason why people in the basketball world think as highly of Steph as she does. He’s a winning player.’

They meet Alabama in the Final Four and beat Clemson 89-82 on Saturday night

UConn’s defensive prowess was on full display after Fighting Illini’s Marcus Domask tied the score at 23 with 1:49 left in the first half.

The Huskies scored the final five points of the half to take a 28-23 lead into intermission, then essentially punched their ticket to the Final Four in the first seven minutes of the second half.

Clingan opened the outburst with a short jumper, and he later put together a sequence in which he blocked Quincy Guerrier, grabbed the rebound and threw home a dunk at the other end.

That led to an Illinois timeout, but it ultimately had no effect on the Huskies, who extended their lead to 30 at 53-23 when Hassan Diarra punctuated the grueling run with a layup at 1:16 p.m. half.

Justin Harmon scored down low with 12:41 to go for the Fighting Illini’s first points after the break.

“Our defense is elite, our offense is elite, we rebound the ball. These guys play every possession like it’s the end of the world,” Hurley said of his group. “We have players at the NBA level who are just willing to share.”

Clingan finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and three steals for UConn, which is heading to its seventh Final Four in program history. Cam Spencer also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Diarra delivered 11 points.

The Huskies are now two wins away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back national championships since Florida did so in 2006-07.

Alabama meets UConn next Saturday in their first-ever Final Four appearance.

Mark Sears made seven 3-pointers and Alabama recovered from its early long-range shooting woes with 16 threes to beat Clemson 89-82 on Saturday night, sending the Crimson Tide to the Final Four for the first time.

Sears’ three-pointers were unique in his career. He finished with 23 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. Freshman Jarin Stevenson scored a 3 in the first half as Alabama missed 12 of its first 13 from long range. He made a career-high five 3s and had 19 points off the bench.

“These guys were unbelievable,” Alabama coach Nate Oats told the crowd. ‘We had a different player every game. Roll the tide!’