STORRS, Conn. — UConn Men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley let the moment overwhelm him on Tuesday on a 40-mile ride back from Bradley International Airport back to campus, watching fans hang signs from overpasses. highways and line the roads leading to the campus.
More than 7,000 people gathered inside Gampel Pavilion, Connecticut’s home ground, to greet the team on Tuesday afternoon with cheers and standing ovations in celebration. Win 76-59 on Monday via San Diego State Aztecs in the national championship game. This is the program’s fifth NCAA title in the past 24 years – the most of any program in college basketball.
“This is a big deal,” Hurley said. “The NCAA tournament is a big deal. Playing in the Final Four is a big deal. And obviously basketball is a big deal for the people of Connecticut. Men’s and women’s basketball, it’s the professional sports team. industry, and you just have to see the incredible pride people have in their Huskies.”
protect the base André Jackson said he was emotional as he looked at the spot on the rafters where his team’s banner would hang along with banners celebrating the school’s four other boys’ and 11 girls’ championships.
“It’s really basketball country,” he said. “There’s not much else to do here. That’s part of the reason why I came here, is the environment, just around the championship legacy programs and around so many great players who have arrived. This.”
Huskies landed at the airport in Connecticut shortly after 3 p.m. ET and were escorted by police for the trip east to campus.
Students started queuing outside Gampel Pavilion at about the same time and waited about two and a half hours for the group to arrive.
“As a student, you are really proud to come from Connecticut and come to UConn,” says Jacob Levy, a 20-year-old sophomore from Woodbridge. “We’re blue-blooded, 100%. I said it before last night. We’ve been the most successful show of the last 25 years. I don’t think there’s any debate now.”
But not all celebrations are fun.
After Monday’s game, some UConn fans tore down signs and lampposts, smashed windows and caused other damage on campus.
Fifteen people were arrested on Tuesday, and 16 were taken to hospital in celebration. UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said there were no serious injuries.
“The majority of those celebrating last night’s Husky victory did so in a safe and responsible manner,” she said in a statement. “A few chose to risk their safety and that of others by vandalizing or destroying property after the game.”
She said most of those arrested were students. She said police were investigating the damage and that any student responsible could be expelled.
The Gampel Pavilion is also open Monday night for students to watch the game play out in Houston. More than 10,000 people attended that watch party.
Most of the parties that lasted until the early morning took place in peace. However, social media and television video showed students dismantling signs and lampposts, with some using a pole to smash the glass of a door at a building. on campus in front of the cheering crowd.
Reitz said damage also included broken windows, an overturned vehicle and flames rising from trash cans and wooden benches.
“We’re on the street and people are going crazy,” said Nancy Toskova, a 20-year-old student from Montreal, Quebec. “Everybody’s celebrating. Everyone’s happy. You feel good. Everyone’s coming together. Honestly, I was expecting something worse. I was expecting cars to roll over and over. burning everywhere and people breaking things, it happened but not to the extent I imagined.”
Teams worked hard all morning to clear the debris and make repairs. Classes and other learning activities were held as scheduled.
A victory parade and rally are planned around the state capitol in Hartford on Saturday morning.
“The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team has been the dominant force in the NCAA Tournament and we will be honored to welcome the coaches and players to downtown Hartford and congratulate them well,” said Mr. Governor Ned Lamont said in a statement. declare.
