UConn Beats Illinois 71-62 To Reach National Title Game
UConn will face Arizona or Michigan on Monday for a chance at a seventh national championship.
The GuardianNCAA Tournament: UConn top Illinois to reach third title game in four years
Associated PressUConn reaches 3rd national title game in 4 seasons, beating Illinois 71-62 behind Mullins and Reed
Chicago Sun-TimesUConn beats cold-shooting Illinois 71-62, ending Illini's NCAA run in national semifinal
USA TODAYUConn beats Illinois in Final Four, will play for third national title in 4 years
CNNUConn men advance to third national championship in four years | CNN
Overview
UConn beat Illinois 71-62 in the Final Four on Saturday to advance to the national championship game.
Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Braylon Mullins scored 15 as the Huskies used strong inside play and tough defense to close out the win.
Mullins said he was ready for the national championship game, and coach Dan Hurley credited previous UConn coaches and his staff for setting the program up for success.
UConn improved to 34-5 and extended its run to 19 straight victories in Sweet 16-or-later rounds, while Illinois fell to 28-9 and finished 6-for-26 from 3-point range.
UConn will face Arizona or Michigan on Monday for a shot at a seventh national title, which would move the Huskies into sole possession of third all-time behind UCLA (11) and Kentucky (eight).
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this game as a showcase of UConn's superiority and Illinois' missed opportunities, using evaluative language ('unthreatened,' 'secret sauce,' 'bricked') and selective emphasis on poor Illini shooting and key UConn plays. Little direct sourcing or countervailing perspective is offered, so editorial choices shape the narrative more than quoted voices.