Your First UConn Game

[itsasport]

At the University of the Pacific, Although I was brought up in Willimantic, I was gone by 1968.

One memory is the team going onto the court single file before the Anthem. That is not shown on TV. Very classy.

I had great seats close to the court. There was not supposed to be reserved seating. But, because of the huge crowd, I had to park far away, getting in a few minutes before game time, But, the University of Nevada had roped off seating with a sign "UConn fans only" very nice. One reason might have been that a large number of UConn fans, including myself, had bought seasons' tickets to get into the stadium early.

Most memorably, it was Heather best game of her career. I was basically at court level, Heather was in the low post on the opposite end of the court from me, her eyes seeming to look straight at mine- but she was looking at the UConn n guards, demanding the ball.

I do not know why she did not play with that fire in in other games I guess she was just too sweet a person. But she was the only UConn player to have any success depending Griiner (ExceptI, I think Tina as a senior)

After the game, she was called over to the announcers for the post-game interview, UConn fan sat close to hear the conversation.. I always used to mock the people gawking in those situations, but, in watching the rely at home, there I was with a stupid smile on my face.

 

[Zorro]

First game of the 2000-2001 season, vs. Ga. Ga. had Kelly and Coco, the Miller twins, and was highly rated. The Huskies were 22 or 23 points up at the half, and won 99-70. Damned good game to start with! Sue, Shea, Kelly S., Swin and Sveta. Hooked me for life!

 

[triaddukefan]

2008 Sweet 16 vs Old Dominion in Greensboro. Went the day before to the open practice as well.

 

[bluedevil]

My first and only game at Gampel (I live in fl) was when they played Oklahoma with the Paris sisters and a freshman named Doty hit 6 or 7 threes iirc.

 

[cbraarj]

Saw a bunch of games in 1987 when my hometown player Laura Lishness was a freshman with Kerry Bascom. Two years later her teammate from High School joined the Huskies Kathy Ferrier. Been going ever since.

 

[CTrefugee]

Men's team 1963 vs AIC I believe.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

Saw a bunch of games in 1987 when my hometown player Laura Lishness was a freshman with Kerry Bascom. Two years later her teammate from High School joined the Huskies Kathy Ferrier. Been going ever since.

Lishness was one of my favorite players. She didn't get the ink I think she deserved but then again there wasn't much ink back then.

 

[cbraarj]

Lishness was one of my favorite players. She didn't get the ink I think she deserved but then again there wasn't much ink back then.

She was fun to watch a toughness about her. She could touch the rim with both hands with a one step jump. I would practice against both of them at times in HS. I played for there High School coach in summer league when he was in college and I was in HS. There coach is still there and a longtime friend.

 

[Zorro]

First game of the 2000-2001 season, vs. Ga. Ga. had Kelly and Coco, the Miller twins, and was highly rated. The Huskies were 22 or 23 points up at the half, and won 99-70. Damned good game to start with! Sue, Shea, Kelly S., Swin and Sveta. Hooked me for life!

I just looked it up. Ga was ranked #3 at the time and the game was supposed to be close. I wasn´t! Everyone know that the Huskies had a good team, but pre-season no one knew just how bone-crushingly good they were going to be.

 

[todl31]

I have seen only one game in person. It was the New Years Day 2017 game in Orlando against UCF. UConn led wire-to-wire and it was not a close game. Brianna, Morgan and Moriah had graduated, but UConn still was about 85 games into the long winning streak. It was Coach Abe's first season at UCF and Nykesha was a UCF assistant.

 

[tkaes]

Have never seen the women's team live but thanks to the internet I've hardly missed a game on TV for years now.

First men's game was 12/1/64 in the old fieldhouse when I was a freshman against American International. Starting lineup included Toby Kimball at center, Dan Hesford and Ron Ritter at forward, and P.J. Curran and Wes Bialosuknia at guard. Later in the year Tommy Penders replaced Curran as a starter. Interesting to note that Bialosuknia, Ritter, Curran, and Penders were all sophomores and playing their first varsity game as freshman were not eligible to play varsity for a number of more years. UCONN only lost 2 regular season games that year. The tournament was only 16 teams in those years. UCONN won it's fist game but lost in Eastern Regional final to St. Joe's.

BTW, I didn't look up any of the above. I guess because it was my first live experience with CB, it just remains in my recall all these years later.

 

[Ron and Vida]

Don’t remember the year but will never forget seeing for the first time Maya glide down the floor on a fast break. I was mesmerized by the speed athleticism and grace. We’ve made it back to Gampel 3 or 4 times a year ever since
The closest I’ve seen to that memorable night was Bobby Orr skating effortlessly
Ive really enjoyed this post and all of us sharing memories

 

[Puppy Love]

I don‘t remember the first one overall (might have been at Conte Forum or URI or PC) but the first one at Gampel was a first round playoff game against Hampton. Most memorable is a toss up between the blizzard game and the national championship in Philly.

 

[augustaTC]

First game watched - the first NC win against Lady Vols. First (and only) in-person game - Feb 8, 2016 in Columbia, SC, against SC. Watched maybe the greatest assembly of WBB talent I've ever seen. Lasting memory - late in the game Geno was screaming instructions to Moriah and she turns to him with a big smile and with palms up gives him the "don't worry, calm down, we got this" gesture. It was priceless.

 

[Ex Nutmegger]

First and only(so far) game in person was UConn at Cal in Haas Pavilion in Berkeley - December 22 2018. Took along my daughter-in-law’s nephew who the year before had been the starting point guard for the Campolindo High School Northern California champions. He told me he was duly impressed by the UConn women.

 

[and one]

As I detailed in my very first BY post, my first in-person game was that most famous win against Tennessee that brought Uconn WBB to national attention. The short version is that the outfit I worked for had closed their office in Knoxville and many of us transferred to a new East Hartford location. A group of my co-workers, all natives of Knoxville, asked me to join them to go to see Tennessee play. "Sure", I said. I was rooting for UT (who I had somewhat followed while in Knoxville) for the first half. By the time the second half begin I was hooked on the Huskies and cheering them on. My co-workers were kind pissed. They got over it, or so I like to think.

I've only attended a smattering of games since. My wife is no sports fan to put it mildly and didn't much like going to games alone, particularly since almost all games are televised. We moved to Raleigh in 2003 and I persuaded the wife to go with me to a game against North Carolina in Raleigh that was the second game of the 2004-05 season. We lost the first of what would be 8 losses that season. Now living in the Tampa area I've been to a few USF home games against Uconn. All wins of course.

 

[southofnorth]

The first one I saw live was the 63-60 win at Tulane back in the 2016-17 season. Ironically I went with someone who was a Tulane alum so there was some obvious tension during the game.

 

[slug25]

I used to work crowd control at the Field House for men’s games in the 70’s but my first in-person women’s game was at Georgetown during the Amy Duran era. I recall getting a ticket for $5 and walking in with Senator Chris Dodd.

 

[Cuango]

Hopefully, now that Arizona has a decent coach, they will one day be worthy to play UConn. If and when that happens I will be among the first in line at McKale. I believe McKale would sell out for that game. First TV game was the 95 team. I have been an avid fan since! True excellence is so rarely seen and extended excellence (decades) is even rarer.

 

[Zinethar]

Only live game I have been to was the UConn/Vanderbilt game at the Mohegan Sun a couple years ago. Loved the game and the casino as I left after breaking even for the weekend

 

[Vancat]

About 1983- a Mens game in the Field House. The first game I really remember though was opening night at Gampel (M). Also UC vs Tenn at Gampel (W).

 

[FedupFred]

2015 National Championship vs Notre Dame at Amalie Arena in Tampa. What was missing on tv was the PA announcer. I still remember:
"Kaleena Mosqueda Lewis FOR THREE"

 

[Patty Bailey]

It was in Hartford against LSU, when they used to be serious contenders. I don't remember the year. After 95 because that's when I started following them.

 

[MSGRET]

I've already stated earlier when I saw them live, but the first time I ever saw them was also the 95 National Championship against Tennessee. It was shown on the Armed Forces Network where I watched it in the Netherlands. I had never watched a women's basketball game before and was fascinated by the ball movement and the defense that UConn played. Loved watching Jen, Rebecca, Jamelle, Kara, Nykesha, and the others play. It was like poetry in motion, especially the second half.

After returning to the US I watched them every chance I could, which to me was not enough. I'm happy now since I can watch every game they play this year live, thanks to the FOXNow app and I don't have to listen to ESPN announcing until the NCAA Tournament. I love SNY and their coverage, they talk about the game and not BS like ESPN does all of the time. FOX did ramble, but considering they were covering their first ever women's game Nationwide on FOX, (a little late to me) they had a different audience then ESPN has. They were bringing in some new people to the game that may have not seen UConn or women's basketball even.

 

[MooreMayaNY]

UCONN v Team USA 2007. Got to see the fantastic freshman Maya Moore face off against some of her future Olympic teammates. Game was pretty competitive too! Tina v Lisa Leslie, fresh off having her baby. Been a fan of Magnificent Maya ever since.