Connecticut Huskies vs San Diego State Aztecs Prediction: Who will lift the trophy? Defense may take centrestage

Here we are the March Madness is not in March anymore it has shifted to April, and we have just one game remaining now after indeed having a “mad” dash toward the title. So many upsets that it is rather a misnomer to call these upsets. So how will things brew when the adamant defenses of the Connecticut Huskies and the San Diego State Aztecs meet here?

The Huskies march into this affair after defeating Miami Hurricanes 72:59 as Adama Sanogo piled up 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sanogo has now averaged 20 points and almost 10 rebounds a game during the tourney. Jordan Hawkins had 20 points and 24 points outings during a crucial juncture too. Andre Jackson Jr. has led the assists column, dishing over seven a game whereas Tristen Newton has averaged over 5 assists a game to complete an impressive Huskies effort.

But it is not the offensive but the defensive end where the Huskies have dealt a lot of damage. In the last game against the Hurricanes, they limited the offense to below 33% overall and that made a huge difference. The Huskies committed 15 turnovers compared to nine by the Hurricanes but made up for it with a 41-32 rebounding advantage They made close to 50% of their shots as well. So far, the Huskies are yet to allow more than 65 points and their defense has even shut down efficient offenses.

The Aztecs come into the match after defeating the Florida Atlantic Owls 72:71 on the heels of a 21 points performance by Matt Bradley. The big moment came when Lamont Butler made the winning jumper at the buzzer. Off-the-bench, Jaedon LeDee scooped up 12 points and six rebounds being among the two players who hit the double-digits. The Aztecs have lacked an ace type of option scoring-wise all season long, which means they have played superb team ball.

In their last game, they made nine threes on just 18 attempts but also conceded nine of them. The Aztecs made two more field goals to overcome a 13-16 free-throws disparity. This was the second straight game that the Aztecs won in the final seconds and their last three wins have been in single figures. Their defense has been stellar too and it will be interesting if they can continue their dream run.

The Huskies' defense has been stellar and they have both closed the perimeter and gives absolutely no chance inside thanks to their unparalleled defensive discipline and athleticism. When required, the offense can also pick it up and Sanogo has emerged as a heavyweight option throughout the tourney. While the Aztecs have been terrific in multiple ways, will they be able to pose an offensive threat? I don’t think so and I back the Huskies to winning this game by a healthy margin.