The last three UConn men’s teams to finish November undefeated (excluding the shortened 2020–21 season) have gone to the Final Four. The last two have won the national championship.
The 2022–23 Huskies will enter December without a loss. And if an impressive weekend at the Phil Knight Invitational was any indication, this year’s team has a very real chance of going to a Final Four … and maybe all the way.
It’s true UConn’s schedule in Portland didn’t match it up with an elite team. The Huskies took down a severely banged-up Oregon and a slightly overmatched Iowa State in two of their three games after the Cyclones upset North Carolina. Alabama could well get there, but the Crimson Tide aren’t in that category just yet. And before that, UConn played five buy games, all against far inferior competition. But there’s something to be said for UConn’s consistent dominance: In all eight games this season, the Huskies have had a 95% or better win probability with five minutes to go, per KenPom. UConn hasn’t trailed in the second half this season and, outside of a few nervy moments in a tied game against the Tide, hasn’t even played a high-stress minute of basketball. During a time of year that produces unpredictable results and surprising struggles against lower competition, the Huskies have rolled along untouched.
