Can anybody beat UConn?
After two thoroughly dominant performances by the Huskies in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, that's the big question entering this week's Final Four.
The numbers are fairly staggering. UConn has trailed for a grand total of 28 seconds so far in the NCAA tournament. In the 80 second-half minutes the Huskies have played, they've led by double-digits for more than 76 minutes. They scored 30 unanswered points -- in an Elite Eight game.
Can they be beaten? Of course. It's happened three times this season, although Stephon Castle missed the loss to Kansas and Donovan Clingan left the loss to Seton Hall early. Creighton was the only team to beat the Huskies at full-strength, winning 85-66 on Feb. 20.
To find out how it could potentially happen again this weekend, we reached out to coaches who have faced Alabama, Purdue and NC State to see where each team possibly find an edge.
Alabama Crimson Tide
For much of the season, Alabama had the nation's No. 1 offense at KenPom -- and one of the best offenses since KenPom's database started in 1997. But down the stretch of the season, most of the attention was on the Tide's faltering defense -- though they also went cold from 3-point range.
Alabama can't let the latter happen against UConn. The Tide picked up their shooting in the NCAA tournament, making at least 11 3-pointers in three of four games and shooting 41.4% from 3. In the Elite Eight against Clemson, they made 16 3s.
"It's not unrealistic that they can make 12-15 3s," one SEC coach said. "It can be really difficult, especially against a team like UConn that's heavily favored. It puts a tremendous amount of pressure on you. To beat UConn, that number has to be 12-plus ... UConn has the back line with [Donovan] Clingan, that blocks a lot of shots and affects a lot of shots at the rim. We know Alabama is not going to shoot midrange 2s, so they have to get points from 3 and the foul line."
"They'll need to make 10-plus 3s -- at minimum -- to stay in the game," another SEC coach said. "Fifteen makes gives them a shot."
Alabama ranks ninth in the country in tempo and top 25 in both 3-point rate and percentage. It's clear what the Tide are going to try to do against UConn. How will Nate Oats line up, though? Illinois attempted to draw Clingan away from the rim with Coleman Hawkins, but the Huskies simply kept Clingan in the lane, let Ty Rodgers shoot 3s and used Cam Spencer on Hawkins.
"If they go small with [Latrell] Wrightsell in and [Grant] Nelson at 5, I don't think UConn will have seen a team with that shooting and speed," an SEC coach suggested.
One more key: Mark Sears. The All-American guard had a terrific second half against Clemson and has posted at least 20 points in 20 of his past 23 games. He will now go up against Stephon Castle, who stifled Boo Buie and Terrence Shannon Jr. in the Huskies' tournament games.
"They need Sears to produce at an extremely high rate to keep the game close, let alone win the game," one coach said. "If Sears isn't having a great night, it'll be really hard for them to keep it within striking range.
Alabama will face UConn in the national semifinal on Saturday (8:49 p.m. ET).
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue has spent 12 weeks at the top of the AP poll over the past two seasons, going 62-10 overall and 32-8 in Big Ten play. If UConn has been the best team in the sport the past two campaigns, Purdue is No. 2.
The Boilermakers have the best player in college basketball in Zach Edey, the reigning Wooden Award winner and the overwhelming favorite to win it again. Unsurprisingly, any plan to beat UConn revolves around the nation's leading scorer (25.0 PPG) and third-leading rebounder (12.2 RPG).
"With Edey, he's just so big ... but the thing about Edey is he's nimble and has incredible footwork and body control," one opposing coach said. "It's not as easy as, 'Just be physical and throw a double at him.' He's seen everything an opposing defense can do. Double-team, triple-team, play him one-on-one, trap when he dribbles.
"[Matt] Painter is one of the best coaches and Edey has an incredibly high basketball IQ."
UConn has the best interior defender in the country in Clingan, who put on a tour de force against Illinois. But could Edey get the projected top-five NBA draft pick into foul trouble?
"Clingan is probably the one guy where it could be a one-on-one type of matchup," one coach said. "But Edey one-on-one, he does an unbelievable job of drawing fouls. All of a sudden, the opposing team allows Purdue into the bonus with 12 and a half minutes left in the half. UConn will have to live with Edey 2s and limit the fouls."
"It's hard not to foul Edey," another coach added. "He's so physical. He's going to force the ref to either call fouls or he'll get a layup."
One coach who faced Purdue also pointed to its continuity. The Boilermakers are basically the same team as last season, with the addition of Southern Illinois transfer Lance Jones. If we're looking for slight edges, that's one for Purdue.
"Same offense, same sets, with all the players that got better in their system," he said. "They know who they are, they've developed into who they are. It's really hard to get them out of what they do."
Purdue could face UConn in the national final on Monday (time TBD) if it beats NC State on Saturday (6:09 p.m. ET).
NC State Wolfpack
Can NC State's dream run continue into the national championship game? And if the Wolfpack get there, do they have a prayer against UConn? On paper, probably not -- but they've been underdogs in all but one game so far this tournament. So if they do end up beating Purdue on Saturday, don't completely count them out on Monday.
According to ACC coaches who have faced NC State and scouted UConn, there are a few areas where the Wolfpack might be able to land some punches on the Huskies.
Perhaps the biggest is their ability to take care of the ball and control the tempo of the game. NC State is top 10 nationally in turnover percentage and has been more deliberate running its offense almost exclusively through DJ Burns Jr. in the NCAA tournament.
"NC State sets a ton of ball screens for guards. With Clingan in drop coverage, will [DJ] Horne have success?" one coach said. "Burns has the ability to pass out of the post, but Clingan will be able to guard him one-on-one."
Another ACC coach said, "They have to limit possessions. They have to force foul trouble on Clingan and make perimeter jumpers. The combination of Horne, [Casey] Morsell, [Jayden] Taylor and [Michael] O'Connell must hit 3s since rim opportunities will more than likely be limited. And then defensive pressure. All four guards are very good perimeter defenders. Can they impact the timing of UConn's offensive sets?"
NC State could face UConn in the national final on Monday (time TBD) if it beats Purdue on Saturday (6:09 p.m. ET).