Here are some the best photos I took during the UConn postgame celebration on Sunday:
I saw plenty of former players in attendance when the Huskies beat Purdue in the 2024 NCAA title game in Glendale, AZ, but apparently they show up for the Elite 8 as well as 2006 UConn All-American Rudy Gay (left) and 2024 UConn national champ Cam Spencer (right) made their way down to the court to celebrate with the current roster:
The players were beseiged by the media looking for a sensational sound bite after 1 of the most exciting finishes in the history of the Elite 8:
Then it was time to celebrate by hoisting a trophy and any young fan they could find before the confetti rained down:
The only thing that could match the mascot on the court was the 1 in the stands:
Then it was time to hug it out with the guys who battled right beside you all season long:
Coach Dan Hurley is well-known as 1 of the most intense coaches in the sport, so it was nice to see all his different emotions come out with his players/family after the amazing comeback win:
You might not think a 2-time national champ like Alex Karaban would care about winning a measly little Elite 8 game, but he was as emotional about it as anyone on the team:
Associate head coach Kimani Young got his start in college basketball by playing PG for Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins at UTEP, and 60 years after Haskins became the 1st coach to win a title with 5 African-American starters, Young is 2 wins away from his 3rd NCAA title as an assistant in the past 4 years:
When I interviewed Malachi Smith last Saturday, he mentioned that his brother Scoochie made it to the Elite 8 as a player for Dayton in 2014, but now the little brother has passed the big brother:
Assistant coach Luke Murray was hired as the new head coach at BC last Thursday…but it has been hard for him to make it up to Chestnut Hill since his current team keeps winning and winning, much to the delight of his famous father:
Silas Demary Jr. seemed to be having the most fun of anyone. He never won an NCAA tourney game during his time at Georgia, but thanks to his pass deflection that led to the game-winning shot he still has never lost at NCAA tourney game during his time in Storrs:
Solo Ball grew up 40 miles west of DC in Leesburg, VA, so getting the win in front of lots of family/friends made his celebration extra-special:
Tarris Reed Jr. was named East Regional MOP, and through 4 games so far he is having an NCAA tourney performance for the ages with 22 PPG/14 RPG/3 APG/1 SPG/2 BPG/60 FG%:
I saved the best for last, and with the season on the line, Braylon Mullins had his 1 shining moment:
