UConn Men Get Shot at Championship Title

Hundreds of students in their UConn best gathered at the Student Union in Storrs Saturday night to cheer their men's basketball team to victory.

Third-seeded Connecticut, defeated No. 4 University of Kentucky 56-55, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX, knocking off the Wildcats and putting the Huskies in a position to win its third national championship in twelve years.

Fans in player’s jerseys and UConn blue and white huddled in masses around television screens throughout the building, with the majority taking advantage of the convenience and community of the food court.

All eyes were glued to the flat-screen TVs, audio blaring, as students hung on to the team’s every move.

UConn held a comfortable 10-point lead after the first half, outscoring the Wildcats 31-21.

“They’ve been playing great,” said UConn senior Xiomara Ortiz. “I hope they keep it up. Go Huskies!”

The Wildcats gave UConn fans a scare in the second half; as Kentucky began the half connecting on two consecutive three-pointers to narrow the Huskies lead to four.

Fans became antsy, and indecisive. To sit or to stand? Many paced back and forth in front of their seats, hands on head.

“Kentucky has had too many open threes,” said UConn sophomore Danny Maher. “We have to shut that down,” he said.

And shut them down they did.

UConn's defense held Kentucky to its lowest scoring performance of the tournament.

With a little over 16 seconds remaining, the Huskies held onto a 54-52 point lead when Kentucky was unable to convert a three-point attempt in the waning seconds of the game. UConn came up with the rebound and put the game away with a pair of free-throws.

A collective sigh of relief resounded, and then a buzz filled the food court. The energy and excitement for a UConn win was building.

When the final buzzer sounded, the crowd of students and faculty erupted into cheers and university chants.

The food court rang with students belting out their go-to cheer of the night: “UConn – Huskies – UConn –Huskies – Huskies –UConn – Woof!”

High-fives, hugs and chest-bumps abounded.

“[Charles] Okwandu really stepped up at key points in the game,” said UConn sophomore Richard D’Amico.

“We’re going to the finals!” students shouted in unison. “We’re going to the finals!”

Now, the 2010-11 UConn men’s team and Husky Nation are counting down in anticipation of Monday’s final game against No. 8 Butler.

 “This is unreal!” yelled a group of students as they filed out of the building. “UConn!”

UConn takes on Butler on Monday, April 4 at 9:23 p.m. at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX.