It's gameday. The UConn men’s basketball team is getting ready to take on New Mexico State in the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, New York. The game starts at 6:50 p.m.
UConn Watch Parties
Some watch parties are planned.
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UConn's Road to the Tournament
UConn is coming off a loss to Villanova in the Big East tournament.
But the Huskies might have gotten lucky by landing in Buffalo -- that's where they played first- and second-round games before winning national championships in 2004 and 2014.
Overall, UConn has four national championships.
- 2014: UConn defeated Kentucky
- 2011: UConn defeated Butler
- 2004: UConn defeated Georgia Tech
- 1999: UConn defeated Duke
The Huskies face New Mexico State, which beat Abilene Christian for the Western Athletic Conference tournament title and the automatic berth, marking the team’s 23rd overall appearance in the Big Dance. New Mexico State went to the Final Four in 1970 but lost to UCLA.
Local
UConn coach Dan Hurley complimented New Mexico State leading scorer Teddy Allen, calling him “a bucket.”
“Teddy plays with a lot of pop and a lot of personality and intensity. I don't know if there's anyone in the Big East that we've played against that has that type of release, and you just have to stay down and be disciplined against him because he has so much stuff off the dribble. And he is so good with head fakes and shoulder fakes and you just got to stay down and be the second guy to leave the floor and not be overly aggressive against him because he is an unbelievable counter-puncher,” Hurley said.
Allen was wary of Hurley's high praise.
“He just blowing that pregame smoke,” Allen said. “You know how that goes. I ain't listening to that.”
He added, laughing, “Dan Hurley is the best coach ever.”
