'5 OF THEM THANGS': Numbers and reactions from UConn's title win

The UConn Huskies are national champions again.

Tristen Newton led all scorers with 19 points as the 4-seed Huskies knocked off the 5-seed San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 in the 2023 NCAA tournament championship game. Connecticut jumped out to a lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it, despite a brave effort by San Diego State later in the second half.

It's the fifth men's NCAA tournament title for UConn and its first since 2014. The Huskies weren't remotely title favorites at the beginning of the season -- Vegas sportsbooks had both them and San Diego State as 60-1 odds to win the title, according to ESPN Stats and Information. UConn wasn't even ranked in the AP Top 25 to start the season. It's only the seventh time in history a team that was unranked in the preseason poll went on to win it all. The last time that happened? 2011, with -- you guessed it -- the UConn Huskies.

This win also gives UConn an unusual record -- it's the fourth time it's won the tournament while in the state of Texas, giving it the most title wins by a team in a single state in NCAA tournament history.

One more odd coincidence -- Angel Reese, who led the LSU Tigers to their first women's title on Sunday, and UConn guard Jordan Hawkins are cousins. Good week for that extended family.

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023

Connecticut luminaries celebrated the win on Twitter.

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023

2023 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ‼️#HU5KIES pic.twitter.com/UV26Jq7Wx0

— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) April 4, 2023

All emotion from Dan Hurley and the Huskies 🙌#MarchMadness @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/3e0fNMf1Mq

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023 — Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 4, 2023 — Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) April 4, 2023

So awesome! Watched it with my 11 year old. He was fired up. That 3 by Hawkins to stop the late SDSU run was the dagger. A dominating run. https://t.co/rkipqOjWKu

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 4, 2023 — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2023

HANGING NUMBER 5️⃣#HU5KIES pic.twitter.com/6mphtfowhG

— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) April 4, 2023