Lively crowd welcomes national champion UConn men’s basketball team back to campus
STORRS — The UConn men’s basketball team bounded off the bus in front of Gampel Pavilion, filled with a crowd of fans eager to celebrate the program’s fifth national title, on Tuesday.
Players wearing championship shirts and hats with pieces of the net hanging on the strap gave high-fives to a lucky few waiting for their entrance and then strode through a sea of cheerleaders accompanied by the Husky mascot into Gampel. Hometown hero freshman Donovan Clingan, from Bristol, held the newly earned trophy while still wearing that fresh pair of sunglasses he was rocking in the locker room after the win.
The Huskies won it all in dominant fashion as they defeated San Diego State 76-59 on Monday night in Houston. After a night that didn’t involve much sleep, they then flew back to Connecticut. Following an official police escort from Bradley International Airport, they arrived back on campus to a warm welcome.
Fans erupted into loud cheers once the team made its way into the arena. Each player and coach was introduced to even more raucous noise as they stepped onto the stage and basked in what they had just done.
“We had to remind people last night where the basketball capital of the world is. And that’s Storrs, Connecticut,” Hurley told the crowd. “I don’t know about you guys, but I love this team, and not just the winning and level of play, it was just an incredible locker room and great leadership. So we strived for five and we got that fifth (championship). And I promise you, just let us get a little bit of sleep and we’ll start working on No. 6 and we’ll be right back here.”
In the hours leading up to the rally, workers updated signage outside of Gampel to include the fifth championship. Others were hard at work repairing street poles, torn down by students as part of a wild celebration after the final buzzer sounded on Monday night.
“It was probably the most electric atmosphere I’ve ever been in,” said Louis Dortenzio Jr., a junior at UConn from Easton, who was also at the watch party at Gampel. “We stormed the court. We went out over here. And then once one lamppost went down, they all started going down. People were going berserk. We played ‘We are the champions.’ We got a bunch of people over by the Student Union, lampposts were going through buildings, cars. It was surreal. It was a wild environment. People were going crazy.”
A slightly more tame, albeit enthusiastic, crowd gathered outside of Gampel ready to give the freshly crowned champions a hero’s welcome on Tuesday. Some wore newly minted championship apparel, on sale outside of the arena. Fans filled the stands and erupted in cheers as players and coaches were announced and walked across the stage.
“It felt great. I felt like I was about to play a game in Gampel again,” Andre Jackson Jr. said of the crowd. “It made me sad that I couldn’t play here right now. So it’s just great to have this type of fan base and this type atmosphere. So many memories I’ve made in this place already and I can’t wait to just continue to be around this program.”
Director of Athletics David Benedict, President Radenka Maric and Board of Trustees Chairman Dan Toscano all gave a few words before Hurley and players took the stage. At one point a fan chanted, “We love you Dan!” to which he replied with a chuckle, “I love you too.”
Jordan Hawkins got a standing ovation as the first player to speak, and the crowd stayed standing with loud cheers throughout as Jackson Jr. and Adama Sanogo both took the stage.
“Man, we did that thing!” Hawkins exclaimed as he stepped up to the microphone. “We love you guys for all the support throughout the season. … I promise man, we ain’t done yet.”
The Huskies’ championship will be further celebrated on Saturday with an official parade through the streets of Hartford, as announced by the governor’s office on Tuesday. The parade will be hosted by the state, the city of Hartford and the Hartford Business Improvement District.
