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    UConn Amazes March Madness Fans With 30-0 Run in Dominant Elite 8 Win vs. Illinois

    Erin WalshMarch 31, 2024

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 30: Donovan Clingan #32 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates a basket against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at TD Garden on March 30, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
    Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

    UConn played like a team ready to repeat as NCAA champions on Saturday night at TD Garden in Boston.

    The No. 1-seeded Huskies downed the No. 3-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini 77-52 to clinch a berth in the Final Four against the winner of Saturday's matchup between Clemson and Alabama.

    UConn's win was spearheaded by an incredible 30-0 run that started near the end of the first half and extended into the second half. Once the Huskies began cooking, there wasn't much Illinois could do to stop them.

    Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

    UCONN JUST WENT ON A 30-0 RUN 🔥<br><br>Dominant. <a href="https://t.co/svMnbJxUI9">pic.twitter.com/svMnbJxUI9</a>

    Big man Donovan Clingan was unstoppable for the Huskies on Saturday, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and one assist. He was a major reason why the team went on its 30-0 run.

    Cam Spencer finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists and Hassan Diarra finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.

    While UConn was dominant overall, March Madness fans were particularly impressed with its unprecedented 30-0 run:

    Bryan Fischer @BryanDFischer

    UConn after Illinois tied the game: 📈 <a href="https://t.co/17cL2udaCw">pic.twitter.com/17cL2udaCw</a>

    UConn Amazes March Madness Fans With 30-0 Run in Dominant Elite 8 Win vs. Illinois
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    Matt Norlander @MattNorlander

    Update from press row here, via the great Phil Chardis (former UConn writer-turned-SID): UConn's 30-0 run tonight is the program's longest since it started a game vs. New Hampshire 32-0 in 1990.

    Jean-Ralphio Saperstein @Sum_RnB_4free

    UCONN. 30-0 run in college , never seen it

    Field Yates @FieldYates

    We just saw a 30-0 run<br><br>Speechless

    Zach Osterman @ZachOsterman

    It's hard to put together a 30-0 run in football and they give you twice as many points for scoring.

    Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops

    Illinois has scored a GRAND TOTAL OF 4 POINTS while Donovan Clingan has been on the court.

    Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

    UConn flips a switch like Thanos snaps his fingers… IT'S OVER <a href="https://t.co/D8OxNfDXGE">pic.twitter.com/D8OxNfDXGE</a>

    Matthew Alvarez @matthewa_10

    A 30-0 Run by UConn is insane

    Nick Dawson @dawsonnick90

    Nahhh a 30-0 run is nuts… UConn different

    Zach Wargo @ZachWargo3

    Just saw the UConn score and… Wow, they're on an entire different level compared to everyone else, a 30-0 run is insane!

    Julio Gonzales Jr. @JGonzalesJr10

    A 30-0 run! I don't think I have ever seen anything like that. UCONN is on fire 🔥 🔥 🔥 Unreal!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a>

    Evan Curry @bigEv216

    UCONN was really on a 30-0 run. <br>Just completely UNBELIEVABLE

    Kiss My Grits @FLDawg80

    I'm definitely no UConn fan, but going on a 30-0 run to open the 2nd half of an Elite 8 game is mind-boggling. UConn will most certainly repeat as National Champions if they keep playing like this. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a>

    UConn was the team to beat entering this year's NCAA Tournament, but they proved on Saturday why they should be the most feared program in the country at this point in the season.

    If the Huskies end up repeating as champions, they'll be the first team since Florida in 2006 and 2007.