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    Donovan Clingan, UConn Dominate Northwestern, Impress March Madness Fans in Win

    Julia StumbaughMarch 25, 2024

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Donovan Clingan #32 of the Connecticut Huskies defends against Blake Preston #32 of the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
    Elsa/Getty Images

    The defending NCAA tournament champions are back in the Sweet 16.

    Top-seeded UConn dominated Sunday night in a 75-58 victory over No. 9 Northwestern in the second round of the 2024 NCAA tournament.

    Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

    UCONN's Tristen Newton with a TOUGH layup 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/5gHXhej1NK">pic.twitter.com/5gHXhej1NK</a>

    Bill Bender @BillBender92

    Highest margin of victory in first 2 rounds of NCAA Tournament by every national champion since 1985:<br><br>1. North Carolina (1993): 32.5 ppg.<br>2. Kentucky (1996): 31 ppg.<br>3. North Carolina (2009): 28.5 ppg.<br>4. Duke (2001): 28 ppg.<br><br>UConn won its first two games by 28 ppg.

    Jerry Beach @JerryBeach73

    UConn hangs on for a 75-58 win. Have won eight straight NCAAT games by an average of 22 ppg. Wagon.

    Donovan Clingan recorded a career-high eight blocks in UConn's win, while Tristen Newton led the Huskies with 20 points and 10 assists.

    UConn won despite shooting 3-for-22 from behind the arc. That didn't matter when the Huskies were shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

    Mike Hogan @mjhogan29

    UConn has only hit 2 of their 3 point shots all night and still up 25 lol. This team is scary good

    Rich MacLeod @richmacleod

    UConn is 2/16 from three… and they're up by 25 points 😂

    John Hollinger @johnhollinger

    Here's how dominant UConn is: The Huskies have shot 2-for-20 from 3 and are still winning this game by 18 and pulling their starters off the floor with 1:34 left.<br><br>Folks, it looks like Northwestern brought a Bjork CD to Mongolian throat singing fight tonight

    It took Clingan less than 16 minutes to record a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

    Clingan finished the outing with 14 points, 14 rebounds in addition to his eight blocks to prove why he's ranked No. 10 in Jonathan Wasserman's latest 2024 NBA Mock Draft for Bleacher Report.

    CBS Sports @CBSSports

    SEVEN blocks now for <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UConnMBB</a>'s Donovan Clingan <a href="https://t.co/sEJ1ARDD7n">pic.twitter.com/sEJ1ARDD7n</a>

    John Fanta @John_Fanta

    Folks, Donovan Clingan is inevitable. His presence takes away almost anything near the rim. Thus far: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks. You can negate some 3-pointers. You can have great guards. But he's just an exception on the floor that opponents don't have an answer to.

    Dick Weiss @HoopsWeiss

    A healthy Donovan Clingan is a problem for anyone in this tournament. UConn's 7-2 sophomore center is a triple double -- points, rebounds, blocks- waiting to happen.

    Jerry Beach @JerryBeach73

    Donovan Clingan needs three blocks for a triple-double. Is that good? That seems good.

    UConn's stifling defense held Northwestern scoring leader Boo Buie to nine points on 2-for-15 shooting from the field.

    HurleyMania dot bsky dot social @HurleyMania

    The defense is completely insane. Northwestern hasn't run one clean action.

    Kyle W @K_Williamsmedia

    UCONN's athleticism is definitely showing on defense. Every shot Northwestern has taken is a difficult shot

    Donovan Clingan, UConn Dominate Northwestern, Impress March Madness Fans in Win
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    After dominating in the first half, UConn's scoring rate decreased late in the second to allow Northwestern to claw their way within 20 points of the lead.

    The Huskies' dominant victory, despite the late-game offensive slowdown and poor shooting rate on threes, led fans to predict another deep tournament run for the defending champions.

    Sunday night marks the first time the Huskies have made it to consecutive Sweet 16 rounds since the team made three straight from 2002 to 2004.

    UConn fans will now turn to watch the Round of 32 game between No. 13 Yale and No. 5 San Diego State, the winner of which will advance to face the Huskies.