For decades, UCLA represented the gold standard of college basketball. But now, the Bruins have become yesterday’s news.

Connecticut has taken their place. The balance of power has shifted from Los Angeles to Storrs, Conn.

With six titles since 1999, and now two in a row, Coach Dan Hurley’s Huskies are making fans forget the UCLA dynasty (10 crowns in 12 seasons, 1964 to ’73).

Big East Conference affiliate UConn makes it look easy. The Huskies are the no­-sweat champs.

For the second season in a row, all six NCAA tournament wins were by double-digits, including Monday’s cruise control 75-60 win over Purdue in Glendale, Ariz.

Tristen Newson, a 6-foot-5 transfer from East Carolina, led UConn with 20 points and was named Most Outstanding Player.

Inside, 7-foot-2 Donvan Clingan battled Purdue’s 7-4 National Player of the Year Zach Edey, enabling the Huskies perimeter defense to snuff out the Boilermaker’s three-point shooters.

Richmond fans are familiar with Coach Hurley, who coached Rhode Island from 2012 to 2018, often facing VCU and Richmond in the 804.

The Monday game plan was to cover Edey, one-on-one in the paint with Clingan, and thwart everyone else. Mission was accomplished.

Edey was 15 for 25 from the field, all near the basket, while his teammates were a combined 9-for-29 (and just one of seven outside the arc).

Still, Edey scored 37 points (many in late going after verdict was in) to become the fourth leading scorer (tying UCLA’s Kareem Abdul-Jabber) in an NCAA Final.

The Final individual record of 44 was set by UCLA’s Bill Walton in 1973 against Memphis. UCLA’s Gail Goodrich had 42 in 1965 and Kentucky’s Jack Givens netted 41 in 1978.

UCLA dominated during a different era. The NCAA tournament included just 25 teams when its era began in ’64. The event is now a 68-team test.

The current UConn starting five accounted for all but four of the 75 points. Newton,

Clingan and Stephon Castle likely will be playing in the NBA next season.

Rebuilding hasn’t been a problem. Only two of last year’s five starters returned to Hurley’s lineup this go-round.

The 2025 Final Four will be in San Antonio.

Will UConn, with a new look, return for a three-peat? No team has won three straight finals since UCLA long ago. But this is UConn we’re talking about – the “UCLA of the East.”