Hungry Huskies: UConn's Road to Redemption

Connecticut's NCAA title run was two years in the making.

Against All Odds - Just like University of Connecticut Huskies star senior guard Shabazz Napier (pictured) stuck it to the competition all tournament long, he made sure to throw a few darts at the NCAA as well. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the hungry Huskies!” Napier proclaimed live on CBS on the championship podium just minutes after his UConn clinched the national title Monday night. "This is what happens when you ban us, last year, two years, we worked so hard for it, two years!" Yes, it’s been a long road back for UConn after the NCAA banned it from post-season play last year due to poor academics. Click on to get a look at the journey the Huskies took to become college basketball's top dogs again. The champs are back! (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

1 / 13

Against All Odds - Just like University of Connecticut Huskies star senior guard Shabazz Napier (pictured) stuck it to the competition all tournament long, he made sure to throw a few darts at the NCAA as well. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re looking at the hungry Huskies!” Napier proclaimed live on CBS on the championship podium just minutes after his UConn clinched the national title Monday night. "This is what happens when you ban us, last year, two years, we worked so hard for it, two years!" Yes, it’s been a long road back for UConn after the NCAA banned it from post-season play last year due to poor academics. Click on to get a look at the journey the Huskies took to become college basketball's top dogs again. The champs are back! (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

NCAA Bans UConn From Postseason Play - After a 2011-12 season in which UConn was eliminated by Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Huskies basketball program took a major hit when the NCAA announced that they were banned from the upcoming 2012-13 post-season play due to years of poor Academic Progress Rate scores. They had already lost two scholarships due to poor APR before the 2011-12 season, but this hammered the program’s hopes. (Photos from left: UCONN Athletics, NCAA)

2 / 13

NCAA Bans UConn From Postseason Play - After a 2011-12 season in which UConn was eliminated by Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Huskies basketball program took a major hit when the NCAA announced that they were banned from the upcoming 2012-13 post-season play due to years of poor Academic Progress Rate scores. They had already lost two scholarships due to poor APR before the 2011-12 season, but this hammered the program’s hopes. (Photos from left: UCONN Athletics, NCAA)

UConn Coach Jim Calhoun Steps Down - As if banning UConn from 2012-13 post-season play didn’t rock the Huskies program to the core enough, legendary Huskies coach Jim Calhoun announced that he would be retiring in September 2012 after 26 years as UConn’s head coach. When it rains it pours. (Photo: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport/Getty Images)

3 / 13

UConn Coach Jim Calhoun Steps Down - As if banning UConn from 2012-13 post-season play didn’t rock the Huskies program to the core enough, legendary Huskies coach Jim Calhoun announced that he would be retiring in September 2012 after 26 years as UConn’s head coach. When it rains it pours. (Photo: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport/Getty Images)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2014/04/Sports/040414-Sports-Commentary-Kevin-Ollie-Unexpected-Ride-to-Final-Four.jpg

4 / 13

Kevin Ollie Hops in Coach's Seat - With only two years of serving as an assistant coach under Jim Calhoun, Kevin Ollie was thrust into the spotlight as UConn’s new head coach. The former 13-year NBA guard took over for the 2012-13 season, knowing that the Huskies wouldn’t be allowed to participate in any kind of post-season play. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Players Transfer, Shabazz Napier Stays - With the post-season ban in place and players knowing they wouldn’t have a chance to showcase their skills on the grandest of stages — the NCAA tournament — five players packed their bags and left the school. Guard Shabazz Napier, a junior at the 2012-13 season, remembered how glorious the feeling was as a freshman essentially watching teammate Kemba Walker will the Huskies to a national championship win in 2011. Napier subsequently decided to stick it out and stay at UConn for one more shot at winning it all during his senior year in the 2013-14 season. Good premonition, young fella. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

5 / 13

Players Transfer, Shabazz Napier Stays - With the post-season ban in place and players knowing they wouldn’t have a chance to showcase their skills on the grandest of stages — the NCAA tournament — five players packed their bags and left the school. Guard Shabazz Napier, a junior at the 2012-13 season, remembered how glorious the feeling was as a freshman essentially watching teammate Kemba Walker will the Huskies to a national championship win in 2011. Napier subsequently decided to stick it out and stay at UConn for one more shot at winning it all during his senior year in the 2013-14 season. Good premonition, young fella. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
UConn Bids No. 6 Syracuse Farewell From the Big East - Playing under a brand new coach and knowing that there wouldn’t be an NCAA tournament appearance, the Huskies viewed the 2012-13 season as a campaign with nothing to lose. In the process, the Huskies gave their fans a few memorable moments along the way, perhaps none greater than upsetting rival and sixth-ranked Syracuse 66-58 on February 13, 2013, unceremoniously kicking them out of the Big East Conference. Syracuse began playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference this 2013-14 season, while UConn joined the new American Athletic Conference.(Photo: Bill Shettle/CSM /Landov)

6 / 13

UConn Bids No. 6 Syracuse Farewell From the Big East - Playing under a brand new coach and knowing that there wouldn’t be an NCAA tournament appearance, the Huskies viewed the 2012-13 season as a campaign with nothing to lose. In the process, the Huskies gave their fans a few memorable moments along the way, perhaps none greater than upsetting rival and sixth-ranked Syracuse 66-58 on February 13, 2013, unceremoniously kicking them out of the Big East Conference. Syracuse began playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference this 2013-14 season, while UConn joined the new American Athletic Conference.(Photo: Bill Shettle/CSM /Landov)

UConn Ends 2012-13 Season With OT Win Over Providence - By the end of the 2012-13 season, UConn had actually put together a pretty respectable campaign, even ending the year with a 63-59 overtime win over Providence on March 9, 2013. Interesting enough, the leading scorers for that game were guard Ryan Boatright (23 points), forward DeAndre Daniels (19 points) and guard Shabazz Napier (16 points) aka the future Hungry Huskies stars during the 2014 NCAA tournament. (Photo: Bill Shettle/CSM /Landov)

7 / 13

UConn Ends 2012-13 Season With OT Win Over Providence - By the end of the 2012-13 season, UConn had actually put together a pretty respectable campaign, even ending the year with a 63-59 overtime win over Providence on March 9, 2013. Interesting enough, the leading scorers for that game were guard Ryan Boatright (23 points), forward DeAndre Daniels (19 points) and guard Shabazz Napier (16 points) aka the future Hungry Huskies stars during the 2014 NCAA tournament. (Photo: Bill Shettle/CSM /Landov)

UConn Edges No. 15 Florida - Refreshed and hungry, the Huskies blazed out the gate with a 7-0 start to the 2013-14 season. However, their true test came December 2, 2013, against No. 15 Florida, the first nationally ranked opponent to face UConn all year. UConn passed the test with Shabazz Napier gathering a loose ball and shooting a jumper from the foul line at the buzzer to give the Huskies a 65-64 win. Afterward, Napier said he always wanted to be Superman growing up. Well, little did he know that he would don the "S" on his chest just months later and that his Huskies would face Florida with something much greater at stake. (Photo: Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

8 / 13

UConn Edges No. 15 Florida - Refreshed and hungry, the Huskies blazed out the gate with a 7-0 start to the 2013-14 season. However, their true test came December 2, 2013, against No. 15 Florida, the first nationally ranked opponent to face UConn all year. UConn passed the test with Shabazz Napier gathering a loose ball and shooting a jumper from the foul line at the buzzer to give the Huskies a 65-64 win. Afterward, Napier said he always wanted to be Superman growing up. Well, little did he know that he would don the "S" on his chest just months later and that his Huskies would face Florida with something much greater at stake. (Photo: Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

Huskies Get to AAC Final, Lose to Louisville and Learn Lesson - Louisville had UConn’s number all season, sweeping the Huskies in three games, including an 81-48 thrashing on March 8 and a 71-61 defeat for the inaugural American Athletic Conference title a week later. Shabazz Napier said his squad never quite found a rhythm. Lucky for the Huskies they wouldn’t have to face Louisville in the NCAA tournament. (Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

9 / 13

Huskies Get to AAC Final, Lose to Louisville and Learn Lesson - Louisville had UConn’s number all season, sweeping the Huskies in three games, including an 81-48 thrashing on March 8 and a 71-61 defeat for the inaugural American Athletic Conference title a week later. Shabazz Napier said his squad never quite found a rhythm. Lucky for the Huskies they wouldn’t have to face Louisville in the NCAA tournament. (Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Shocks Iowa State in Sweet 16 - After needing overtime to defeat 10th-seeded Saint Joseph’s in the second round of the NCAA tournament and slipping past No. 2 Villanova in third-round action, the verdict was still out on the Huskies. Are they for real or would they be bowing out against No. 3 Iowa State in the Sweet 16? Not at Madison Square Garden they wouldn’t. UConn’s 6-foot 9-inch junior forward, DeAndre Daniels, feasted on Iowa State, scoring 19 of his 27 points in the second half, propelling the Huskies to the Elite Eight. Afterward, UConn coach Kevin Ollie would tell the Associated Press: "We were banned from a lot of things. We couldn't come here for the tournament, but they weren't banned from loving and pushing and encouraging each other, and that's what it's all about. Those dark times, if you don't give up in the dark times, it will reverse, the wind will sta...

10 / 13

Shocks Iowa State in Sweet 16 - After needing overtime to defeat 10th-seeded Saint Joseph’s in the second round of the NCAA tournament and slipping past No. 2 Villanova in third-round action, the verdict was still out on the Huskies. Are they for real or would they be bowing out against No. 3 Iowa State in the Sweet 16? Not at Madison Square Garden they wouldn’t. UConn’s 6-foot 9-inch junior forward, DeAndre Daniels, feasted on Iowa State, scoring 19 of his 27 points in the second half, propelling the Huskies to the Elite Eight. Afterward, UConn coach Kevin Ollie would tell the Associated Press: "We were banned from a lot of things. We couldn't come here for the tournament, but they weren't banned from loving and pushing and encouraging each other, and that's what it's all about. Those dark times, if you don't give up in the dark times, it will reverse, the wind will sta...

ADVERTISEMENT
Crash the Final Four Party - Michigan State, with its senior leadership and talent, seemed to be everyone’s favorite to bracket bulldoze its way to a national championship. Even President Obama circled the Spartans to win it all on his bracket. Shabazz Napier wasn’t hearing any of that noise, as he lit up Michigan State for 17 of his 25 points in the second half to keep UConn moving forward with a 60-54 upset win. Next stop, Final Four. (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

11 / 13

Crash the Final Four Party - Michigan State, with its senior leadership and talent, seemed to be everyone’s favorite to bracket bulldoze its way to a national championship. Even President Obama circled the Spartans to win it all on his bracket. Shabazz Napier wasn’t hearing any of that noise, as he lit up Michigan State for 17 of his 25 points in the second half to keep UConn moving forward with a 60-54 upset win. Next stop, Final Four. (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

UConn Beats No. 1 Florida - Florida had won 30 straight games after losing to UConn on December 2, 2013, and was named the NCAA tournament’s No. 1 seed. But the Gators would end up being bit by the Huskies again, this time in the Final Four on April 5, with UConn’s DeAndre Daniels posting 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Huskies back court of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright combining for 25 points. One more left. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

12 / 13

UConn Beats No. 1 Florida - Florida had won 30 straight games after losing to UConn on December 2, 2013, and was named the NCAA tournament’s No. 1 seed. But the Gators would end up being bit by the Huskies again, this time in the Final Four on April 5, with UConn’s DeAndre Daniels posting 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Huskies back court of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright combining for 25 points. One more left. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Huskies Defeat Kentucky in NCAA Championship - Despite buying into second-year coach Kevin Ollie’s ideals of team basketball and having sheer determination, much of the nation seemed to count the Huskies out against No. 8 Kentucky’s talented freshmen core and veteran coach John Calipari in the NCAA championship last night. But that’s just the way the underdog Huskies preferred it. The Hungry Huskies definitely redeemed themselves. College champs! (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

13 / 13

Huskies Defeat Kentucky in NCAA Championship - Despite buying into second-year coach Kevin Ollie’s ideals of team basketball and having sheer determination, much of the nation seemed to count the Huskies out against No. 8 Kentucky’s talented freshmen core and veteran coach John Calipari in the NCAA championship last night. But that’s just the way the underdog Huskies preferred it. The Hungry Huskies definitely redeemed themselves. College champs! (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)