STORRS, Conn. — Some windows were broken and street signs taken down, but celebrations following UConn‘s second consecutive men’s basketball championship were mostly peaceful, the school said Tuesday.
Thousands of students spilled onto campus following the 75-60 win over Purdue in the NCAA title game in Arizona and the celebrating lasted into the early-morning hours.
Someone took a downed traffic sign and smashed it through part of the glass front of the student recreation center, school officials said. That section of the building was boarded up on Tuesday morning and the center’s opening was delayed, according to the school’s website.
UConn Police said six people, ranging in age from 18 to 21, were arrested during the celebrations. Charges ranged from criminal mischief to rioting to interfering with police. Any students arrested also face university discipline.
“On the whole, it was a very good night on the Storrs campus and the university looks forward to continuing to celebrate our phenomenal student-athletes, their coaches, and this incredible win,” school spokesperson Mike Enright said in an email.
The school planned a welcome-home celebration for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the team returns from Arizona. A victory parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday through Hartford from the state Capitol to the XL Center, where another victory rally will be held.
“For the second year in a row, the UConn men’s basketball team wowed the nation by dominating the NCAA tournament, and now it’s time for Connecticut to give them the victory celebration they deserve,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said.
Such festivities have become somewhat routine at UConn, which has earned six men’s basketball national championships and 11 women’s titles over the past 30 years. The school is 17-1 in NCAA basketball title games.
“You know, we’re coming back next year, ” UConn student Kevin Medina told WFSB-TV. “We’re amazed. We’re all good times. It’s good to be a resident of Connecticut right now.”
Last year, 16 people were injured, 39 people were arrested and six students ended up being expelled following more widespread vandalism.
Precautions were in place Monday designed to prevent a repeat of that and no serious injuries were reported.
In advance of the Final Four, the school removed the aluminum light posts along Hillside Road, the main thoroughfare through the center of campus, and replaced them with temporary lighting.
The school also limited the size of the campus watch party. Only 6,700 students, all of whom won tickets to the event through a lottery, were allowed inside Gampel Pavilion, and they were seated in the upper bowl of the 10,000-capacity arena.
The general public was barred from the event and, unlike last year, no alcohol was sold or allowed inside, Enright said.