UConn survives tense March Madness opener with Oklahoma to set up Florida matchup

 RALEIGH, N.C.— The bid for a threepeat is alive and intact. For the moment.UConn, the two-time defending NCAA champions who have endured a season of angst, survived Oklahoma, 67-59, in a tense first-round game Friday night at Lenovo Center.Now the degree of difficulty ratchets up for UConn, with No.

1 seed Florida standing in the way of history.The Huskies and Gators play each other Sunday at the Lenovo center for a berth into the Sweet 16.Florida (31-4) absolutely annihilated Norfolk State, 95-69, in Friday’s first evening game at Lenovo.The Gators, led by Walter Clayton Jr., a future NBA star who led all scorers with 23 points, is a beast, an offensive powerhouse.Want to tune into as much March Madness as you can? DIRECTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV both have you covered with every channel you’ll need, plus free trials.UConn, if it’s going to survive and advance, is going to need to be much more fluid offensively than it was Friday night.Huskies forward Liam McNeeley, one of their top offensive threats who averages 14.5 points per game, shot just 2-of-9 in the first half and had only five points.He finished with just eight points, six below his season average.UConn was led through the first 20 minutes by Tarris Reed Jr., who scored eight points off the bench on 4-of-5 shooting.

He finished with 12.Solo Ball had six points in the first half and finished with a team-high 14....