What's next for UConn after back-to-back NCAA titles? How about a 3-peat?

After another dominating run through the NCAA tournament, Connecticut and coach Dan Hurley are national champions once again, after defeating Purdue 75-60 on Monday night at State Farm Stadium. The Huskies are the first team since 2007 to repeat, when Florida under coach Billy Donovan did it.

Now in the thick of the conversation about the best basketball school in the country, UConn sets its sights on a historic title defense. They’ll try to become the first school in 51 years to win three straight after the legendary John Wooden-led UCLA teams last accomplished the feat in the late 1970s.

Quick takeaways from UConn-Purdue game

Zach Edey vs. Donovan Clingan proved to be a battle: Fans could have walked 1,000 feet to the AMC Westgate theater to see the latest Godzilla-King Kong movie, or they could see the real-life version as Edey, 7-4, and Clingan, 7-2, battled it out down low. The very first play of the game was a post-up between Edey and Clingan. Watching these two go at it was a sight to behold.

While Edey got the best of Clingan for the game, with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, it was clear that Hurley’s plan to push the pace on the offensive end wore down Edey as the Purdue center seemed to become less effective as the clocked ticked away. Clingan finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds.

UConn depth too much for Purdue: In UConn's Final Four game against Alabama, it was guard Stephon Castle who stepped up big with 21 points. In the title game against Purdue, it was guard Tristen Newton, who won the Most Outstanding Player award, scoring 20 huge points.

That’s the kind of depth UConn has all over its roster.

Anybody can score 20 a night. Its best player, Clingan, can play an all right game, and it doesn’t even show in the box score. UConn has now won every single game in the past two tournaments by at least double digits. 

Will Dan Hurley leave for Kentucky?

That’s the question everyone is thinking about right now. With John Calipari leaving Kentucky for Arkansas, there’s an opening at one of the most prestigious basketball schools in the country.

Hurley’s the hottest name in the sport.

Kentucky would be wise to at least try to poach Hurley. But Hurley has deep roots to the Northeast, having grown up there and coaching high school at St. Benedict’s in New Jersey.

He just received a bonus of $1.8 million, too, for winning the title. And Hurley signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract last June with the school.

Leaving feels unlikely. Hurley addressed the topic in his postgame news conference. 

“Yeah, yeah, I don't think that's a concern,” Hurley said as he laughed. “My wife, you should have her answer that.”

Who’s expected to leave, come back for UConn

UConn is projected to lose a number of starters next season. Clingan and Castle will be high NBA draft picks if they both decide to leave, which has a high chance of happening. That’s two starters right there.

Cam Spencer and Newton are both graduate student transfers, so that’s another two departures. Alex Karaban, a redshirt sophomore, is the only starter projected to come back. That mean's there’s going to be some retooling by Hurley, something he’s grown accustomed to in the era of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals.

“Obviously it's a special run,” Hurley said. “We’re going to try to replicate it again. We're going to maintain a championship culture. We're bringing in some very talented high school freshmen. Our returning players, through player development, will take a big jump. We'll strategically add through the portal. I don't think that we're going anywhere.”

But there’s also some young talent coming in. UConn has two four-star recruits, Ahmad Nowell and Isaiah Abraham, in the pipeline. With a few additions in the transfer portal, there's no reason the Huskies shouldn't be one of the favorites again next year.

Related:Social media reacts to UConn's national championship win over Purdue

Chances of 3-peat: 'Why not?' says UConn

The second title isn’t even a few hours old, and there’s already talk of a three-peat.

Only one school has ever done that in NCAA history: UCLA. There’s a chance for UConn to put itself in truly rarefied air.

After the win against Purdue, players weren’t shy about the opportunity.

“I mean, why not?” junior forward Samson Johnson said when asked if he thought a three-peat was possible. “We’re going to celebrate this. Once we get to the summer, we’re going to reset. What we did today is not going to matter next year. We have to reset and work harder. We’re going to have a bigger target on our back.”

Some might think UConn will get complacent after winning back-to-back. History has already been made, as the Huskies matched North Carolina's six all-time titles, third-best in the sport after UCLA (11) and Kentucky (8).

But with Hurley as coach, complacency is not an option. Freshman guard Jaylin Stewart got minutes in Monday’s game, one of the few to have his name called off the bench. He’s one of the players looking to take a step up next season.

“I think with a coach like Dan Hurley, him just showing up with that intensity, it’s kind of hard to slack off because you got to match his energy,” Stewart said.

Clingan, who has played with Hurley the last two years and has morphed into a top NBA draft prospect under him, put it more bluntly. 

“He’s never satisfied,” Clingan said. “He’s always hungry. He’s always wanting more. Coach is crazy. He’ll be in the office in three or four days, recruiting and worrying for next year. It’s a special program to be a part of and Coach Hurley is the best coach in the country.”