The noise is deafening, the pressure suffocating, and Dan Hurley finds himself at the center of it all. UConn isn’t just facing Florida—the Huskies are staring down a tidal wave of doubt. Even Florida congresswoman Wasserman Schultz joined the chorus, mocking their chances: “Huskies, don’t book a hotel past this Thursday, you won’t need it.” The message is clear— Connecticut isn’t supposed to survive this. As the Storrs prepare for the Round of 32, the pressure is mounting, and Hurley himself isn’t shying away from the reality of the situation.

“It was a lot of suffering,” Hurley admitted in the post-game press conference—and he wasn’t exaggerating. UConn’s 67-59 grind-it-out win over Oklahoma was anything but easy. Alex Karaban, the team’s anchor, battled his way to 5-11 shooting, while the player Hurley boldly called the “best player in the league,” at the beginning of the season, Liam McNeeley, struggled to a brutal 2-13. In the end, it took a late surge to fend off the Sooners’ relentless fight and punch their ticket forward.

Next up is a clash with No. 1 seed Florida, a team fresh off an SEC Tournament title and a roster that brings back memories of UConn’s own championship pedigree. “You know, an opportunity to play, you know, one of the best teams in the country that reminds, you know, me some of what we put on the floor in Florida,” Hurley said, his words filled with respect—and perhaps a hint of dread. “Yeah, but there’s a lot of honor in us being able to, you know, face the last team that, you know, that went back to back”.

Before UConn clinched the past two national titles, Florida was the last team to win back-to-back championships, achieving the feat in 2006 and 2007. Now, Hurley’s squad is looking to one-up Florida, chasing a historic three-peat unseen since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty (1967-1973).

However, the confidence in the Huskies is pretty low. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith bluntly declared, “UConn’s going home before the Sweet 16.” Seth Greenberg doubled down, stating, “There’s no way they can beat Florida. Florida’s just too good. They’re too deep, too athletic.”

It’s true that while the Huskies may have taken down Oklahoma, the Gators are a different beast entirely. And yet, Hurley, ever defiant, refuses to concede. “You know, I think we’re a dangerous team because, uh, you know, again, most people picked us, I think, to lose the first game. And, um, you know, I don’t think many people will give us a shot in the second one.” But his words don’t change the numbers. As Rob Dauster put it, Reed and the perimeter trio needs to sync up because if they are not firing on all cylinders offensively, they are average. 

Well, it’s true—while the Huskies stumbled through an up-and-down regular season, the Gators carved out a 31-4 record and finished 2nd in the SEC. Then, they went a step further, conquering the most stacked conference tournament in college basketball. Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee—none could stop Florida’s march. Seth Greenberg hence didn’t hold back: “I’ve got Noah’s Ark – I’ve got Florida.” With a lottery-level guard in Walter Clayton Jr. and a dominant frontcourt led by Alex Condon, the Gators aren’t just built for a deep run—they’re built to win it all.

And just like that, the dominance UConn enjoyed for the past two seasons is gone. Once an unstoppable force, their victories felt inevitable—until they weren’t. Fast forward to now, and losses to Seton Hall, Villanova, and St. John’s have knocked them out of the Top 25, leaving them in an unfamiliar role: the underdog.

So, Hurley and the Storrs are staring down the ultimate challenge. No one believes they can pull it off. The walls are closing in. Now, UConn either breaks through—or gets buried.

That’s the mountain UConn has to climb.

Florida’s firepower vs. UConn’s history: Can Hurley and his Huskies defy the odds?

Statistically, according to ncaa.com, Huskies rank 9th nationally in free throw percentage (79.07%), a crucial edge in close tournament games. Their defensive efficiency is elite, they average 6.4 blocks per game however this also causes them to receive a lot of fouls which Florida can take advantage of in the free throw line as they have a free throw percentage of 71.79% (ranked 196).

History favors the Huskies in this matchup—UConn is 5-1 against Florida in their last six meetings, including a dominant 75-54 win in 2022. But this isn’t the same Florida team, and UConn is navigating a changing of the guard. The gator group this year is deeper, more athletic, and hungry for revenge. “We’re going to win it all, you heard it here first,” said Florida congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, adding fuel to the fire.

UConn’s struggles this season—shooting woes, inconsistent rotations, and a lack of the “it” factor that defined their prior runs—have all put them at a disadvantage against Florida. So, it is clear that UConn has to do exceptionally when it comes to offense. The path to victory lies in controlling tempo and limiting turnovers. UConn’s offense is top-35 in field goal percentage and boasts a solid inside-out attack. If they can break through Florida’s perimeter defense and establish their rhythm early, they have a shot. But the Gators’ depth, combined with Clayton Jr.’s ability to take over games, makes them the clear favorite. BetMGM lists UConn’s title odds at +5000, with a mere 14.9% chance of reaching the Sweet 16. Florida, meanwhile, is a favorite to reach the Final Four.

As someone who would love to see a three-peat, I’d love nothing more than for UConn to defy the odds and keep their title dreams alive. But right now, that’s just wishful thinking—unless the Huskies deliver something truly spectacular on the 23rd.

Prediction: Florida 76, UConn 68.