Listen To The UConn – Purdue Championship Game on 97.5 The Fanatic

Weeks of College Basketball action comes down to tonight. UConn and Purdue, the final two teams standing. The two 1-seeds square off tonight at 9:20. And if you will be on the road for whatever reason, or otherwise unable to get to a TV, we have the solution to your problem. The game will be broadcast in full over the 97.5 The Fanatic airwaves, with coverage starting at 7:30 pm

Only 7 teams have ever repeated as champions in back-to-back years in the Men's game. The last game in 2006 and 2007 when Florida did it with Billy Donovan as their coach. Uconn has a chance to be the 8th.

They won last year as the 4th seed. That was a bit more of a magical run. This year they were the number 1 overall seed and by far the most picked team. It is a different situation, but so far the same results. They have run through their side of the bracket. They beat every team in their way by double digits so far. Including a 14-point win over Alabama in the Final 4.

They won last year but then came back as an even better team. And that experience from last season has clearly paid off so far this year. But they will have to go through a hungry Purdue team to seal the deal.

Purdue is trying to replicate what Virginia did a few years ago. And by that I mean winning it all the year after they went down in the first round.

Last season, as the number 1 overall seed, they became just the 2nd 1-seed ever to lose to a 16 seed. Fairleigh Dickinson beat them 63-58. It had the choke artist cloud hanging over their heads all season long.

But the year when now everyone picked them to choke, has been the year they finally put it all together. They aren't crushing teams like UConn are, but they beat Tennesee in the Elite 8 by 6 points and then beat NC State by 7 in the Final 4.

Zach Edey has taken to them to their first National Championship game in 5 decades and will look to win it for them for the first time in school history.

A couple of weeks ago we held the annual Fanatic Knockout Tournament. An event that has been held for nearly a decade now. The Fanatic Staff, and a group of listeners who won tickets, attend a Sixers game. But the best part comes after the game. We get to go onto the Wells Fargo Center Court and play a game of Knockout.

For those unfamiliar with the game, you get in a line and try to hit Free Throws. If you miss, you have to make a layup before the person behind you hits their free throw. If they make it before you, you are knocked out. Otherwise, you move to the back of the line. You continue from there until there is only 1 person left standing

It has led to some fierce competition from the Fantic Staff. Two years ago Tom Alvord was the Staff Champion. But because of circumstances outside his control, he could not attend last year. And without the reigning champion, Connor Thomas snuck by and was crowned the 2023 Fanatic Staff Champion. Leading to a lot of debate about who would have won if Tom made it. This year, both made it though, and we got our answer.

That was not the only rivalry though. Myself and Ray Dunne also had a bit of a back and forth. As the new guy last year, he showed a lot of nerve by not only Knocking me out but waving goodbye. I did not see him wave me goodbye. I was too disappointed in my performance. Ray made sure I saw it though by sending me the video of it the next day.

In truth, none of the Fanatic staff had ever won it outright. They only outlasted the rest of the Fanatic Staff. Our last two actual winners were brothers oddly enough. And their dad just so happens to be a former Pro Wrestler, Sal Sincere. They returned this year to try and protect the actual crown.

So who won? Both among the listeners and among the staff? What were the best moments from the night? We put together a gallery of some of the highlights.