BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 28, 2024: Cam Spencer #12 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates a point against the San Diego State Aztecs during the second half of the NCAA Tournament. (Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Dan Hurley's historically successful run with UConn men's basketball peaked in the spring of 2024, when his Huskies rampaged through the NCAA Tournament to clinch a second consecutive championship. On Wednesday, CBS Sports released the latest installment of the publication's "Candid Coaches" series, asking 100 anonymous coaches to name the best college basketball team of the 21st century. Fueled by this outstanding postseason run, UConn's 2023-24 team was the most popular answer, with 17% of coaches choosing the Huskies and several highlighting Hurley's role in cultivating such historic dominance. "Insanely dominant," one coach told CBS about the Huskies. "Five NBA players in the starting lineup. Best coach in the sport on the sidelines." That title run is part of an ongoing stretch of postseason excellence for UConn, as the Huskies reached their third national championship game in four seasons this past April before falling against Michigan. The 2025-26 Michigan team, fueled by a dominant frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson and Aday Mara, is tied for second place at 14% with the 2000-01 Duke squad. Other top answers include 2017-18 Villanova, 2006-07 Florida and John Calipari's Kentucky squads from 2011-12 and 2014-15. For a group of reigning champions, the 2023-24 UConn squad was hardly a runaway favorite to make another national title run, as Hurley needed to replace several key contributors, including star centers Adama Sanogo and wings Andre Jackson and Jordan Hawkins. The Huskies appeared somewhat mortal early on, letting a late lead against Kansas slip away at Allen Fieldhouse to kick off December before a stunning 15-point road loss at Seton Hall three weeks later. UConn stumbled once more on Feb. 20, when Creighton unleashed a 3-point shooting barrage in Omaha, but the Huskies were perfect over the final two months of the season. The Huskies won all six of their NCAA Tournament games by at least 14 points and enjoyed a whopping 23.3-point average margin of victory during March Madness, defeating Zach Edey and Purdue 75-60 in the title game. "No. 1 offense, No. 4 defense at KenPom. Didn't lose from mid-February on, one coach told CBS. "Big, skilled, disciplined, deep. One of the best coaches in college basketball, best players that year. I would have probably picked Michigan last year but didn't want to have recency bias." "Not sure we will see as dominant a performance during the NCAA tourney again," another coach said. "Felt like they just beat everyone by 30." Sign up for the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the biggest headlines of the day from our network of journalists around the state. This article originally published at College basketball coaches name 2023-24 UConn as best men's team of 21st century: CBS Sports.