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Connecticut’s second straight NCAA men’s basketball title came without the rioting and destruction that marked the 2023 Huskies championship when the Storrs campus suffered $550,000 in damage as 25 students, 10 faculty and 10 others were arrested.
In what can be seen as a sign of maturity, there were only five arrests this year. And instead of lighting fires, flipping cars and repurposing fallen light poles as battering rams, the UConn students refrained from any major destruction amid a heavy police presence.
“Thousands of UConn students and others on the Storrs campus celebrated an amazing Husky victory tonight and the vast majority did so respectfully, responsibly and safely,” a statement from UConn officials said.
‘There were some incidents of vandalism after the win, but they were limited in number.
“Overall, it was a very good evening on the Storrs campus and the university looks forward to continuing to celebrate our phenomenal student-athletes, their coaches, and this incredible victory.”
The crowd gathered outside Gampel Pavilion had just watched UConn’s victory over Purdue
On Monday, large numbers of UConn fans streamed onto the campus in Storrs, Connecticut
A waiting area was held Monday at the Gampel Pavilion, where Huskies fans watched Danny Hurley’s Huskies capture the 2024 title with a 75-60 victory over Zach Edey and Purdue.
The win came three days after the Connecticut women were bounced from the Final Four by Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
But even with only one championship to celebrate in Storrs, police were well prepared for the excessive exuberance of the crowd outside Gampel Pavilion on Monday evening.
Fireworks were heard immediately after the victory, according to NewsTimes.com, which reported that officers managed to keep students off buildings and other objects.
The University of Connecticut is removing aluminum light poles from the main path on campus
In 2023, students used a fallen lamppost as a battering ram to break into a campus building
UConn fans climbed lampposts and pulled them down on campus after the team’s 2023 victory
The school also took down light poles as a preventative measure, which kept fans firmly on campus on Monday.
Perhaps most importantly, no alcohol was served during the waiting area in the Gampel Pavilion on Monday, which may have helped police maintain a safer atmosphere on campus.
Despite the safety measures, the students were still able to enjoy themselves.
‘It’s a unique experience, but we’ve done it twice. Back to back!’ Jenessa Perez, a junior, told NBC Connecticut.
“Last year it was definitely chaotic I would say, but this year it is much calmer,” Perez continued. “The security, the police, they’re here. They are aware and make sure everyone is safe. So I like that.”