Pushing the ball inside against both Connecticut and San Diego State University is not for the faint of heart.
S.D.S.U.’s Nathan Mensah, 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, is averaging 2.6 blocks per game in this N.C.A.A. tournament. The 7-foot-2 UConn freshman Donovan Clingan is averaging 2.0 despite playing just 13 minutes per game. And UConn’s Adama Sanogo, 6-foot-9, has 1.4 blocks per game.
S.D.S.U. ranks fourth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to Ken Pomeroy’s ratings. UConn ranks eighth in the metric, which measures points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for the strength of the opponent.