hartford, connecticut — Thousands lined the streets of downtown Hartford on Saturday to celebrate UW's second consecutive NCAA men's basketball championship and sixth in 25 years.
The team paraded in a double-decker bus with an open-air roof and hoisted the national championship trophy from the state Capitol to the XL Center, where UW plays about half of its home games. Marching bands, cheerleaders, first responders, Connecticut politicians and other groups participated in the march, which was cheered by fans.
The celebration continued on Monday 75-60 win over Purduecapping one of the most dominant two-year runs in NCAA Tournament history, in which the Huskies won all 12 games they played by at least 10 points.
Coach Dan Hurley, who has denied all week that he was considering dropping the program to another school, told the crowd while talking to players outside the field that he was focused on winning a third straight championship. Ta.
“The champions are in Hartford today with the best fans in the world,” Hurley said. “Storrs, Connecticut, the basketball capital of the world. Back to back, back to back…The greatest players to ever wear a UW uniform are here, and we're aiming for a championship next year.” Three-peat! let's go! ”
A student at UW-Stanford told CBS New York: never forget the excitement Inside One University Place during the game.
“I was here watching the watch party with everyone, and it was a great time,” Anthony Small said. “People didn't see us coming, but we came! We went back to back.”
“They did a great job. I'm so proud of them and so proud to be a Husky,” George Tsorifis said.
Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot-2 sophomore center who announced Friday that he will leave college and enter the NBA Draft, thanked the fans and said their support was the driving force behind him winning the title. Ta.
“Thank you everyone,” the Bristol, Conn., native said. “You guys have been my biggest fans for the last two years. I will cherish those moments forever. I will be a Husky for life. I love you all.”
The team will also lose Tristen Newton, the best player in the Final Four, and Cam Spencer, who is ineligible at the end of the season. Along with Clingan, freshman Stephon Castle could also become a lottery pick in this summer's NBA Draft if he decides to leave.
“I want to thank you all for the support you've given me and the support of the team over the past two years,” Newton told the crowd. “Back to Back would not have been possible without you.”
This was the 15th victory parade for UConn, which has won 11 women's basketball titles in addition to six men's basketball national championships over the past 30 years.
Joint parades were held in 2004 and 2014, with UW winning both the men's and women's titles in the same season. It is the only Division I school to accomplish this feat.
UW men and women are 17-1 in NCAA basketball title games.
Gov. Ned Lamont signaled that Mr. Hurley would receive a raise and joined his team on a double-decker bus and podium.
“Hey America, this is what it's like in the basketball capital of America. Here we are. Just ask the Huskies. … We are champions, friends.”