I was actually there, working for WHUS (yes, with John Tuite who headed up the sports department, meager as it was, at WHUS at the time).
That whole weekend in Manhattan was awesome!
I will always and forever remember Toraino Walker coming out of nowhere and playing toe to toe with Mourning and Mutombo to play a key role in our semi-final victory over Georgetown on Saturday afternoon. And then followed that up with a strong effort against All-American and future NBAer Derrick Coleman to help us win that first title, 78-75. I also still remember our student section calling out Brent Musburger because he had given us no chance of running the gauntlet through both Georgetown and Syracuse on back to back days to win the tournament. Oh, how wrong he was! And boy did our section let him hear about it!
It was such a great feeling walking from MSG to Grand Central Station that sunny late afternoon knowing we owned New York for the first time ever. UConn fans were scattered all over, and the train ride back to Stamford was incredible as everyone was so elated with the championship while also wanting to know if we would get placed as the 1-seed in the East Region of the NCAA's (we did) and would get to play our first two tournament games in Hartford (which of course we did, as well).
That year was the unforgettable start to what has been a run of excellence far beyond anything any of us could have ever dreamed of 35 years ago, that is for sure.
Thanks for the reminder of some truly wonderful memories
@FfldCntyFan!
