Jacob Furphy learnt how to play basketball in an agricultural Tasmanian town of 4000 people, and now he’s dreaming of winning the top US college basketball championship.
The 19-year-old is just one victory away from becoming the fourth Australian man to be part of a March Madness-winning roster, following in the footsteps of Justin Brown (1999), Kody Stattmann (2019) and Alex Condon (2025).
To make a national championship final is not an easy task, because each game is do-or-die in the famous March Madness knockout tournament.
Furphy’s University of Connecticut have overcome some of the best teams in the country, but now must beat the No.1-ranked Michigan in Indianapolis on Tuesday (AEST) to claim a seventh college title.
The Australian, who is a distant relative of NBA player Johnny Furphy, says it would mean everything to win the title, especially considering the Boomer grew up in the tiny Tasmanian town of Smithton, about a five-hour drive northwest of Hobart.
He previously told AAP he never expected to move away from the dairy and fishing hub and make it this far, having played for the Smithton Saints before moving to the Centre of Excellence in 2023.
“My family back home always reaches out. They’re my main support group,” Furphy told AAP.
“Everyone’s reached out, coaches, friends. They’ve all wished me good luck. They’ve helped me reflect.”
Condon won last year’s final with the University of Florida, and by Furphy reaching the same stage a season later, it means Australian men are part of consecutive championship games for the first time.
Furphy may not play in the final because he is often on the bench, and didn’t feature in the Final Four victory against Illinois on Sunday.
Regardless, he says learning from the likes of legendary coach Dan Hurley – who knocked back a $70 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers to stay at UConn – and NBA hopefuls Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr has been a huge benefit.
“It’s Tarris’s second March Madness, obviously losing last year. I’ve learnt a lot from him and understand the desperation he has to get back here,” Furphy said.
“The older guys show me the professionalism that I need to be able to even play at that level.”
Furphy’s college is in their third final in four years, but will face Michigan, who are looking for their first title since 1989.
Having lost their previous four finals, Michigan returned to the decider after thumping the University of Arizona 91-73.
Furphy isn’t concerned with the potential fairytale unfolding with his opponents.
“The people that have been there and done it have actually got that hunger, because they know the feeling of winning,” he said.
“We think about it (winning) every day. It’s not just the players. Coach Hurley obviously talks about it.”
