Arlington, Texas - They took turns answering a question about why they believe they will win a national championship.

Not a bit surprising UConn's players gave similar answers during a Sunday afternoon press conference at AT&T Stadium.

This tight band of basketball brothers has arrived at this stage by sharing a common faith in their mission, an unbreakable willpower forged by adversity and strong belief in each other and the tradition-rich program.

Tonight, they'll be put to the ultimate test, playing young and talented Kentucky for the national title (9:10 p.m., Ch. 3).

"We've been through so much together," junior Ryan Boatright said "We've got a lot of heart and a lot of will and coach (Kevin Ollie) always tells us that this was a special team… We really believe that."

Nothing has discouraged them from remaining faithful to their beliefs. Not double-digit deficits against highly-ranked teams, not bad regular season losses, like a 33-point defeat at Louisville in early March ... not even their role as an NCAA tournament underdog.

Ollie called the Huskies a team of destiny after recovering from a 12-point deficit and upsetting No. 1 Florida, 63-53, in Saturday's national semifinal.

"They are fighters, every one of them," Ollie said. "They fight to the end. … They're made for this championship game. We're going to go out and play 40 full (minutes) and hopefully Connecticut is on that big Jumbotron… saying that we're national champions."

History is on UConn's side.

The Huskies (31-8), who were seeded seventh in the East Regional, have never lost a national championship game, winning in three previous trips (1999, 2004 and 2011).

The Wildcats (29-10), seeded No. 8 in the Midwest, also have displayed some postseason magic this season, becoming the first team to win four straight games by single digits in tournament history. Aaron Harrison, one of seven freshmen in the rotation, hit a game-winning 3-pointer with six seconds left to beat Wisconsin, 74-73, in Saturday's semifinal. He's a perfect 3-for-3 on either game-tying or winning shots in NCAA play.

"He's got that clutch gene that everyone's talking about," said senior Shabazz Napier, who knows a thing or two about being Mr. Big Shot.

Like UConn, Kentucky is determined to prove doubters wrong.

"Late in the game, they have an unbelievable will to win, and part of that comes from how they have been treated all season," coach John Calipari said. "They've been ridiculed and criticized. … It made them stronger and it made them come together."

Both teams will count on their strengths to push them to the finish line.

The dynamic backcourt of Napier and Boatright has guided the Huskies on their tournament run, scoring and creating on the offensive end and playing disruptive defense.

Junior DeAndre Daniels has emerged as a star during the postseason, averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds, while the supporting cast has made timely contributions.

The Wildcats are long and athletic in the frontcourt where powerful 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward Julius Randle, one of the top freshmen in the country, resides. They thrive off second-chance points, averaging 15.5 points per game, and have outrebounded all but one NCAA tourney foe.

Interior play has been a weakness of UConn's this season. Ollie pointed to getting back in transition as the biggest key and defending the lane. His stingy defense already has taken down several NCAA tournament giants, including Florida and Michigan State, two of the tourney favorites.

"They've got a lot of great athletes," Ollie said. "They use their quickness, their speed, their jumping ability, to get inside the paint. So we want to locate, get back, and keep them in front of us, and then play solid defense."

The Huskies are counting on their family bond on and off the court to help them complete their memorable run.

"It's a basketball game," said Napier, one of three players on the 2011 title team. "But we believe in each other outside of it. If someone on this team said, 'Man, I can fly if I jump off this building,' we're going to believe it. That's how strong we believe in each other."

g.keefe@theday.com