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. |
Portuguese bodybuilder 'Monster', who claimed to be the 'most shredded ever', dies aged 46United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nationHard right makes hay with European farmers' anger ahead of June electionsDoctors warn about the one skincare mistake that's ageing thousands of women under 30Urgent warning over shortages of lifeSweeping gun legislation approved in Maine after mass shootingReuters photographer wins World Press Photo of the Year with poignant shot from GazaNancy Pelosi memoir, 'The Art of Power,' will reflect on her career in public lifeUK Conservatives suspend lawmaker as sleaze allegations swirl over possible misuse of party fundsNFL draft has potential to set a record for most players on offense selected in the first round