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BOSTON — Bill Clingan had just witnessed his son Donovan utterly dominate an Elite Eight game. His boy, now seven feet two, had terrorized the second-ranked college basketball offense to the point where Illinois actually appeared to be broken. His father’s eyes welled with tears as he watched Donovan take in the Most Outstanding Player award from the NCAA Tournament’s East Regional after leading Connecticut to a 77-52 victory and their second consecutive Final Four. The father was staring up at the rafters inside TD Garden.
He exclaimed, “I’m feeling… I’m feeling… oh, man, what am I feeling?”. The whole gamut. So pleased for him, his coaches, and his teammates. So joyful. I really wish she was here, though. I really, really wish she was here. “.
Bill’s wife and Donovan’s mother, Stacey Porrini Clingan, passed away on March 27, 2018, nearly six years to the day, following a fight with breast cancer. During her college career, she was a standout player who participated in three NCAA Tournaments, finished with 1,128 points, 929 rebounds, and 220 blocks. She then instilled in her son a love for basketball and taught Donovan many of the moves he used to destroy the Illini in the regional final. To watch him in this manner, playing the game they both adored?
She would be crying, Bill thought to himself. She would be hollering and hooting. He bears a great deal of her essence, as she was an incredible woman. He is truly doing this for her. “.
Go deeper.
The next big thing at UConn plays for his mom up above and his father in the bleachers.
In less than 22 minutes on Saturday, Clingan scored 22 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, blocked five shots, and committed three steals. Even though the stat line is impressive, it falls short of fully capturing his dominance. According to ESPN Stats and Info, despite having a lot of offensive firepower, Illinois missed every shot it tried when Clingan contested. The Huskies defeated Illinois 34–4 in his first 17 minutes on the court.
Ten straight NCAA Tournament victories by double digits, with an average margin of 23 points, have been achieved by the defending national champions, but thus far this run has been even more unstoppable than the previous one. In a span of 27 full seconds, Connecticut (35-3) scored the next 30 points to break the tie with the Illini late in the first half. Blink, and the match is over.
This time, Clingan was the stick of dynamite at the top of the mountain, and the Huskies are an avalanche.
Just before climbing a ladder to retrieve his snip of the net, he remarked, “It’s a hard month for me.”. Six years ago, in March, I lost my mother. It means a lot to me and my family that I was able to accomplish what I did today. She is obviously happy. As a player, this was her dream. Even though I know she’s grinning down, I also know she would always be the first person in the stadium and through the doors. Furthermore, if we complete the task, I’m sure she’ll be even happier. “.
Early in the game, Clingan scored seven points. Within 37 seconds, he had blocked three shots, two of them going up against Terrence Shannon Jr., a star player for the Illini. missed ten of his twelve shots against Connecticut, despite having scored more than twenty-five points in seven of his previous games. On the opening play of the second half, Clingan scored over Coleman Hawkins, the big man from Illinois, by backing him down. In another 12-second flash of lightning-fast skill, he followed a monster block with a huge dunk on the other end. He quickly followed that with a reverse layup over Hawkins, another off-glass dunk, and a transition play that set up a game-changing 3-pointer from Alex Karaban.
Late on Saturday night, Clingan was hit by confetti, and Bob Hurley, the legendary high school basketball coach and father of Huskies coach Dan Hurley, stood there gaping.
A blitzkrieg was used. He remarked, “No, you know what that was?”. That reminded me of Bill Walton. “.
Although he was a complimentary player, Clingan played a crucial role in Connecticut’s run for the national championship the previous season. He entered the game off the bench, trailing Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sonogo. He scored 23 points in the final five games of the Huskies’ 2017 NCAA Tournament, averaging 13 points per minute as a freshman. Dan Hurley needs him to step up this time, and he more than meets the challenge.
“He and Zach Edey are the most influential players in the nation.”. Hurley stated, “Those are the two guys who are pretty much game changers. They were clearly unprepared for him offensively after what he did to them at the rim to frighten them defensively. “.
The element that distinguishes Connecticut, which has been 50-5 since January. It’s so scary because there are so many potential dangers on March 25, 2023. Star guards Tristen Newton and Stephon Castle combined for just seven points as the Huskies dominated Illinois. Cam Spencer and Karaban could blow up at any time. Coming off the bench, Hassan Diarra may have been the second-most valuable player on the court on Saturday.
This Clingan, though, who is back to full health, has overcome foot injuries this season and before, and is actively working to weaken opponents’ will?
Even Bill Clingan, a large man, expressed fear after meeting him.
Diarra declared, “We’re hard to beat when he’s doing what he’s doing right now.”. Because we know that Donovan has our backs shielding the rim, we can pressure the ball, really get after guys, and force them to the basket. “.
He goes by Cling Kong thanks to Dan Hurley. Clingan responded, “Hell yeah, I do,” when asked if he felt deserving of that title following Saturday night. “.
Hurley referred to him as a “jolly green giant.”. He’s a dog, though. Don’t be duped by the smile. “.
A top-40 recruit from Bristol, Connecticut, Clingan is another homegrown hero. , who attended college at home and continued his studies even though he was eligible to enter the NBA Draft following the previous season. But now he’s about to make history with the Huskies, as the first team to win the national championship twice since Florida in 2007.
Hurley remarked, “I’m not sure if a player and a state school will have such a unique bond. He is a legendary figure in the state that is becoming more and more so. “.
(Image courtesy of Maddie Meyer/Getty Images).
