The Final Four’s a rare occurrence at most schools. It’s business as usual at Connecticut.
The Huskies are in their fourth Final Four since 1999. More impressive is that it’s the ninth time the UConn women’s team has made the Final Four since ’99.
And it’s the third time in the last seve3n years both have made it at the same time. That’s just absurd.
“It’s all anyone can talk about,” 20-year-old junior Briana Crow of Levittown, N.Y., told the Associated Press. “Two teams in the Final Four is such a big deal, and I really think both have a great chance of going all the way. Because both the men and women are going, it makes it that much more exciting.”
The men (30-9) plays Kentucky on Saturday night for a chance to win their third title. The women (36-1) face Notre Dame Sunday night. Two more wins would give them their eighth title and third in a row.
If either team wins this weekend, the school will open its arena, Gampel Pavilion, for students to watch the national title games. This kind of weekend is huge for the school’s pride – and its bottom line, too. Athletic director Jeff Hathaway says the hoops success will be huge for raising money for a new $35 million practice facility.
“This is something that energizes not just donors, but the whole campus and our entire fan base,” Hathaway said. “It’s a great weekend to be a UConn fan.”
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