BOSTON -- There's been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the past two seasons: The Huskies can't win close games.
In reality, it's not that they can't win one- or two-possession games -- it just rarely comes down to the final minutes for Dan Hurley's team. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the record for most consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin.
And on Thursday, UConn laid down another marker. The top-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5 San Diego State 82-52 in a national championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the largest margin of victory in a Sweet 16 game since 2017.