Final Four 2024: UConn's title-tilting edge is seen on NBA mock drafts, from Castle to Clingan to Karaban

Freshman Stephon Castle was the breakout player from the Final Four, but everyone plays like a pro for the Huskies

By Kyle Boone Apr 7, 2024 at 1:31 am ET• 3 min read

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Alabama dug out of a halftime hole to tie things up midway through the second half Saturday and put No. 1 seed UConn on alert. What happened next was a perfect encapsulation of the inevitability of the reigning champion Huskies.

Over the next 97 seconds of game action, UConn reeled off an 8-0 run and came crashing down on the Tide like an overwhelming tidal wave of talent. Stephon Castle scored four-straight. Samson Johnson jammed one home off a Cam Spencer dime. Then Alex Karaban got into the action with a bunny at the bucket.

Alabama never got within striking distance from there in UConn's 86-72 Final Four victory, as that 56-all mark drowned in Huskies' overwhelming talent. 

"The unique thing about our team is that we can go on a run at any time," Huskies freshman Jaylin Stewart said. "The level of talent we have here -- every guy can go, so you can never slack playing us."