UConn returns home to celebrations, vandalism on campus

STORRS, Conn. — UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley let the moment envelope him Tuesday on the 40-mile ride from Bradley International Airport back to campus, watching the fans who hung signs from highway overpasses and lined the streets leading into campus.

More than 7,000 people gathered inside Gampel Pavilion, Connecticut's home arena, to greet the team Tuesday afternoon with raucous cheers and standing ovations in celebration of Monday's 76-59 win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the national championship game. It was the program's fifth NCAA title in the past 24 years — the most of any program in college basketball.

«This is a big deal,» Hurley said. «The NCAA tournament is a big deal. Playing in the Final Four is a big deal. And obviously basketball is a big deal to the people of Connecticut. Men's and women's basketball, it's the pro sports team of the state, and you just see the incredible pride that people have in their Huskies.»

Junior guard Andre Jackson said he got emotional just looking at the spot in the rafters where his team's banner will hang alongside those commemorating the school's four other men's championships and 11 women's titles.

«It's literally basketball country,» he said. «There's not much else to do out here. That's a part of the reason why I came here, was the environment, just being around the championship legacy programs and around so many greats that have come through this place.»

The Huskies landed at the airport in Connecticut shortly after 3 p.m. ET and were given a police escort for the trip east to the campus.

Students began lining up outside Gampel Pavilion at about the same time and waited for about 2½ hours for the team to arrive.

«As a student, it makes you really proud to