Inherent pressure around UConn all season has forged UConn and allowed for business as usual at Final Four

Alex Karaban (11) and Tristen Newton (2) lead UConn back to Final Four, this time knowing what to expect as Huskies meet Alabama Saturday. (Photo by Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Leading up to the NCAA Tournament, and later, Final Four, Dan Hurley spoke of the pressure of wanting to get his new crop of players — namely Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle — to the greatest stage in the sport as if it were an added weight on his and his program’s shoulders.

Now that UConn is back in the national semifinals, the pressure Hurley referenced throughout March has given way to the business at hand. The Huskies will take on Alabama Saturday in the latest chapter of their national championship defense, and according to their coach, the ubiquitous intensity of every game the program has played has been the greatest asset in his team’s preparation.

“I don’t think it’s ramped up,” Hurley said of the pressure factor. “It’s pretty consistent. Obviously, going into the tournament, there was a lot of pressure to get this team here, especially those guys. Now you’re staring at a chance to make history as a back-to-back (champion), just getting to that championship, what that would feel like.”

“What helps us, though, is the pressure that we feel from the beginning of the season because of the history and tradition, and the pressure of every game that we play in at UConn.”

For some of the Huskies’ veterans, the experience of having been to the Final Four last year has made the process easier this time around, allowing for a sense of what to expect both on and off the court.

“We have the script already,” Hassan Diarra said of the preparation for the coming weekend. “We know what we need to do and how to prepare to win these types of games. We’ve done it before.”

“We’re definitely used to the energy that’s going to surround this building,” Alex Karaban added. “The excitement, everything in general about the Final Four, we’re used to it. It doesn’t get old, because we love it. We know what’s to come, and we just want to do it with the new guys, too. Steph and Cam, they’re a huge part of what we do, so we wouldn’t be here without them. We just want them to experience what we experienced last year.”

UConn has some familiarity with Alabama, having faced the Crimson Tide in last year’s Phil Knight Invitational in Portland. Most of the personnel has turned over this year, much like most other programs, but the basic concepts of Nate Oats’ system remain unchanged, which could be a boon to the Huskies’ chances.

“Just knowing the concepts that they want to run, knowing how they operate defensively, how they want to play offensively, that’s the most important thing,” said Karaban. “They only have a few of he returners, but it’s good to have gone up against them before and just know what they’re trying to do.”

And while UConn is aware of what Alabama will try to run against it, the Huskies also know what they will do as well. Nothing has changed, says Spencer — who celebrates his 24th birthday Saturday — about how the defending champions have carried themselves in the desert.

“We’re sticking to the same process that got us to this point,” he said. “The goal is to win a national championship, that’s how it’s been all year. We’re happy that we’ve given ourselves an opportunity to go win two more games and hopefully get that done.”

“We’re not under the radar ever,” Hurley reiterated, bringing the topic full circle. “I think that helps us when we get out under the bright lights.”