HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Thousands of fans lined the streets of downtown Hartford on Saturday to fete the UConn men’s basketball team following its second straight NCAA championship, its sixth in the past 25 years.
The players and coaches paraded on a double-decker bus with an open-air top and lifted the national title trophy from the state Capitol to the XL Center, the arena in which the team plays about half its home games. The procession included marching bands, cheerleaders, first responders, top state politicians and other groups as fans shouted and waved UConn signs.
The celebration followed Monday’s 75-60 win over Purdue, which capped one of the most dominant two-year runs in NCAA Tournament history, one in which the Huskies won all 12 games they played by double digits.
Coach Dan Hurley, who has spent the week denying that he was considering leaving the program for another school, told the crowd his focus is on a third consecutive championship, as he and the players gave short speeches outside the arena.
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
Farmers create vibrant scenes of spring farming in SW China's Sichuan
Nobel winner cherishes hometown memories
Robert Downey Jr. poses with glamorous wife Susan as they join A
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
New Godzilla x Kong film continues to lead China box office
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
Antiques from Napoleon's palaces exhibited in Beijing
Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
Guangdong rally by Fujian, Sichuan lose 12th in a row