The Ultimate Showdown: UConn vs. Purdue Men’s National Championship Game 2024
Purdue center Zach Edey described it as “the game everybody wants to see.”
UConn head coach Dan Hurley called it “the perfect matchup.”
At State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the 2024 NCAA Men’s National Championship Game is scheduled to begin at 9:20 p.m. ET on Monday. UConn (36-3) and Purdue (34-4)—the two most dominant teams in the men’s college basketball season—will square off in this game.
Throughout the 2023–24 season, our staff at FOX Sports has been covering both programs.
Here’s all you need to know about the incredible journeys to the NCAA title game made by Purdue and UConn:
UCONN HUSKIES
Dan Hurley and his coaching team have transformed UConn into an offensive powerhouse and a perennial contender for the championship, as Michael Cohen of FOX Sports explained.
After the Huskies defeated Northwestern, limiting All-Big Ten guard Boo Buie to only nine points on 2-of-15 shooting, FOX Sports’ John Fanta wrote an article about UConn’s “anti-entitled” freshman, Stephon Castle, who excels on both ends of the court.
After the Huskies defeated Illinois 77-52 to secure a spot in their second consecutive Final Four, Fanta gave an explanation of how Dan Hurley rose to prominence as a college basketball coach.
Before UConn’s Final Four game versus Alabama, Fanta asked several coaches and members of the media what they thought about this Connecticut squad:
Fanta was on site in Phoenix when UConn arrived following several flight delays. Hurley spoke to the media about the delays, adding “that’s why GOD made caffeine.”
The Huskies defeated Alabama in four different 7-0 runs to get to the national championship game. Hurley said this of his squad before concluding his postgame press conference: “We make a hard tournament look easy.”
Hurley referred to the Purdue vs. UConn match as “The Clash of the Titans.” A detailed sneak peek was given by Fanta prior to the national championship game on Monday night.
“In my 25 years as a head coach here, I have never dealt with a player, or an entity like him,” Zags coach Mark Few said on “The Herd” before of Purdue’s Sweet 16 meeting against Gonzaga.
Zach Edey | The Herd: No. 5 Gonzaga’s keys to slowing down Purdue
Prior to the Sweet 16, Fanta ranked the top 16 players, with Edey at the top of his ranking.
Fanta spoke with Robbie Hummel, a former outstanding player for Purdue, on Matt Painter, his playing career, and the Boilermakers’ march to the Final Four.
The theme of this year’s Final Four was big guys. In the regional finals, Edey led the trio of dominant big men that Fanta showcased.
Fanta explained how Purdue is bringing a “jobs-not-finished” mentality to the national championship game after the team defeated NC State in the Final Four.