HARTFORD, Conn. — Thousands of fans lined the streets of downtown Hartford Saturday to celebrate the UConn men's basketball team following its second consecutive NCAA championship, its sixth in 25 years.
Players and coaches paraded on an open-air double-decker bus and hoisted the national title trophy from the state Capitol to the XL Center, the stadium where the team plays about half of its home games. The procession included marching bands, cheerleaders, first responders, state politicians and other groups as fans shouted and waved UConn signs.
The celebration followed Monday's 75-60 victory over Purdue, which capped one of the most dominant two-year stretches in NCAA Tournament history, in which the Huskies won all 12 games they played by double digits.
Coach Dan Hurley, who spent the week denying that he was considering leaving the program for another school, told the crowd that his focus is on a third straight championship, as he and the players gave brief speeches outside the arena.
“The champions are here in Hartford today with the best fans in the world,” Hurley said. “Basketball Capital of the World: Storrs, Connecticut. Back-to-back champions. Back-to-back champions… Some of the best players to ever wear a UConn uniform are here, and next year we're going for The Three Peats! Let's go!” “
Donovan Clingan, the 7-foot-2 sophomore center who announced Friday that he was leaving UConn and entering the NBA draft, thanked fans and said their support helped fuel the title race.
“I appreciate you guys,” the Bristol, Connecticut, native said. “You have been my biggest fans for the past two years. I will cherish those moments for the rest of my life. I will be a Husky for life. I love you.”
THE CHAMPIONS ARE HERE!!️🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/JoxSu3yJYk
– University of Connecticut Huskies (@UConnHuskies) April 13, 2024
The team will also lose Tristen Newton, the Final Four's most outstanding player, and Cam Spencer, who were ineligible when the season ended. Along with Clingan, freshman Stephon Castle could be a lottery pick in the NBA draft this summer if he decides to leave.
“Thank you for all the support you've given me over the last two years and for supporting the team,” Newton told the crowd. “Without you, these back-to-back meets would not have been possible.”
This was the 15th victory parade for UConn, which in addition to its six men's basketball national championships has won 11 women's basketball titles in the last 30 years.
There were joint parades in 2004 and 2014 when UConn won the men's and women's titles in the same season, the only Division I school to accomplish that feat.
The UConn men and women are 17-1 in NCAA basketball title games.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who this week hinted that Hurley would receive a pay raise, joined the team on the double-decker bus and on the podium.
“Hello, America, this is what the basketball capital of the United States looks like. Right here,” Lamont said. “Let's hear it for the Huskies… We're the champions, my friends.”
