NCAA Tournament: The Final Four Most Outstanding Player belongs to UConn's Tristen Newton for the 2nd straight year

Connecticut Huskies point guard Tristen Newton once again took the National Championship by storm with his precise and sound decision-making, timely shot-making, and decisive leadership that is always on display when he is on the floor. Last season, Newton won the Most Outstanding Player award for the Final Four after they defeated Miami and then San Diego State, and now after wins against Alabama and Purdue, he did it again. He has proven that he is built for the high-stress moments and that will go a long way in his future endeavors in the NBA. 

UConn outlasted Purdue 75-60 in the National Championship and outside of Zach Edey, They shut down everybody on the Boilermakers team. Edey scored 37 of the 60 points and Purdue only made one three-point attempt all game shooting 1-6 from behind the arc. Dan Hurley had his team dialed from the time the ball tipped, to when the clock struck triple zeros. 

On the season, Newton averaged 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. Shooting 41.5% from the field and 32.1% from three. Newton spent his first three seasons of his collegiate career at East Carolina before transferring to the Huskies and becoming the starting point guard. 

In 39 minutes of action Monday night, Newton was as efficient as he could’ve been. Leading all Uconn scorers with 20 points, adding five rebounds and seven assists which also was a team high. Newton shot 6-13 from the field, 6-6 from the free throw line, and 2-5 from three, all while having zero turnovers. 

Tristen Newton will now set his sights on the next level. Whether that be in the NBA or elsewhere. The 6-foot-5 guard, is a projected early second-round pick in many NBA mock drafts, behind his teammate who is a projected lottery pick, Stephon Castle, one of the best freshman in this years NBA draft class and a vital piece to the Huskies success all season long. Both Newton and Castle landed themselves alongside two other Huskies on the All-tournament team.

Regardless of where Newton is selected, he has the size and the frame to last in the NBA and his ability to see the floor, rebound as a guard, shoot the ball at a high clip, and finish around the rim, will surely land him somewhere that can utilize all of his attributes. Newton has now supplanted his legacy in the UConn Huskie blue.