A Night to Remember: UConn’s Campus Alive with Joy After Second Straight Basketball Title
Although some street signs were removed and some windows were shattered, UConn’s second consecutive men’s basketball championship celebrations were largely calm, the university reported on Tuesday.
After Arizona’s 75-60 victory over Purdue in the NCAA title game, thousands of students poured into campus, and the celebration continued long into the next day.
According to school officials, someone broke part of the glass front of the student recreation center by smashing a fallen street sign. The school’s website states that the center’s opening was postponed and that area of the facility was boarded up on Tuesday morning.
According to school spokesman Mike Enright, at least five people were detained on campus, but the names of the individuals and the accusations against them were not immediately known.
“On the whole, it was a very good night on the Storrs campus and the university looks forward to continuing to celebrate our phenomenal student-athletes, their coaches, and this incredible win,” In an email, he stated.
Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. is when the team is anticipated to return from Arizona, and the school has planned a welcome-home celebration for that time.
At UConn, which over the past 30 years has won 11 women’s and six men’s basketball national championships, these kinds of celebrations have almost become standard. It has a 17-1 record in NCAA basketball championship games.
“You know, we’re coming back next year, ” UConn student Kevin Medina told WFSB-TV. “We’re amazed. We’re all good times. It’s good to be a resident of Connecticut right now.”
Following more extensive vandalism last year, sixteen people were hurt, 39 people were taken into custody, and six students were ultimately expelled.
On Monday, safety measures were implemented to avoid a recurrence of the incident, and there were no reports of significant injuries.
The school temporarily replaced the aluminum light posts along Hillside Road, the primary highway through the heart of campus, with temporary lighting in advance of the Final Four.
The campus watch party’s size was likewise restricted by the institution. The 10,000-seat Gampel Pavilion could only hold 6,700 students, all of whom had earned lottery tickets to attend. These students were seated in the arena’s upper bowl.
In contrast to previous year, alcohol was neither offered within the event nor permitted for entry by the general public, according to Enright.