March Madness is Here!
Records are officially out the window. All that matters is putting together your best 40 minutes.
Dan Hurley is going to have the Huskies locked, loaded, and ready to make a run in the tournament. There’s no doubt the Huskies are a juggernaut, but Furman isn’t coming to Philly without giving their best against the UConn.
The Sleeping Giant (Literally)
Most 15-seeds try to pull off upsets by playing small ball, shooting 40 threes, and praying for a miracle. Furman is different. This is the fifth tallest team in the entire country.
While UConn is known for its physicality, they haven’t frequently run into a mid-major that can actually look them in the eye. With Cooper Bowser (6’11”) and Charles Johnston (6’11”) in the paint, the Paladins have the legitimate length to disrupt UConn’s interior flow. Furman will have to avoid the trap of fouling UConn’s bigger bodies and use their wingspans to make those shots tougher. If Bowser and Johnston can neutralize the boards and prevent the Huskies from getting second-chance buckets, the tall task of an upset starts looking a lot more manageable.
Stopping Tarris Reed Jr.
The heart of UConn’s interior is Tarris Reed Jr., who has anchored their defense all year. However, Reed has a clear Achilles’ heel… foul trouble.
Reed is at his best when he can be aggressive, but when forced to defend mobile, high-IQ bigs like Bowser, he’s shown a tendency to pick up whistles early. If Johnston and Bowser can draw Reed into early fouls and force him to the bench, their defense changes. Without that rim protection, the floor opens up for Furman’s guards to attack the rim or find their rhythm from deep.
UConn has four other guys that average double digits including star point guard Silas Demary Jr., future lottery pick Braylon Mullins, and the steady senior Alex Karaban. Demary and Karaban shoot 38% and 40% from three respectively, and Mullins can go off at any time. Furman will need to use their length on the perimeter to help force misses, even on the great offensive sets run by Dan Hurley.
Hurley vs. Bob Richey
The coaches don’t play, but these two coaches impact the games as much as if they were out there in a jersey themselves. Hurley is known for his offensive sets and is a great motivator. When they need a shot, it seems like Karaban or Ball somehow get open. After all, the Lakers interviewed him for a reason! Bob Richey also runs some of the best offense in the country, with his adapted Princeton offense. The back cuts built into this offense will be ultra-important against high major teams who will be eager to jump onto passes on the perimeter. Bob has been calm on the sidelines this season, especially in Asheville. You never know, Furman may get the benefit of a technical from the fiery Dan Hurley.
Not A Normal 15 Seed
To understand why this game is dangerous for UConn, you have to look at why Furman is a 15-seed in the first place. This team spent the bulk of the year without their best players on the court, battling significant injuries while navigating a jam-packed, brutal SoCon schedule. At full strength, Furman dominated the SoCon Championship, and showed their elite size and depth when it mattered in a tournament situation.
Both offenses are incredibly complex, relying on elite movement and high basketball IQ, which usually favors the more experienced, cohesive unit. In a high-stakes environment like the NCAA Tournamant, that “battle-tested” mentality counts for more than a seed line.
The Forecast
At the end of the day, it comes down to the backcourt. If Alex Wilkins, Tom House, and Asa Thomas can hit their shots early and force UConn to stretch their defense, the Huskies will be in for a dogfight.
UConn is the favorite for a reason, and Furman may be outclassed in recruiting rankings. But this Furman squad that is finally healthy and playing with house money. If the Paladins can stick to the script, stay out of their own foul trouble, and lean into their height, Philly might just witness what makes March Madness so special.
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