Lightning struck again as the University of Connecticut Huskies won both the 2014 men’s and women’s basketball National Championships. 10 years ago, UConn accomplished the same feat—The only school ever to do so.On Monday, April 6, an unlikely No. 7-seeded UConn men’s basketball team beat No. 8 seeded Kentucky in a tight championship game 60-54. The next night, the 1st seeded and undefeated UConn women’s team steam-rolled undefeated Notre Dame 79-58, marking another historic moment as the first time in NCAA women’s basketball history that two undefeated teams faced each other in the title game. “I think it was really impressive that both teams won and I think that it says a lot about the school and it’s coaches,” said freshman Denise Davis, and exercise science major from Cobleskill, New York, “Clearly, UConn knows what they are looking for in both coaches and players.”The Lady Huskies finished with an impressive 40-0 record and an even more impressive record of 13-0 in national title games. This is the fifth time Coach Geno Auriemma has led the women’s team to an unbeaten season and the ninth time that he has won the National Championship. A solid senior class, especially senior center Breanna Steward, who won the Associated Press Player of the Year award, led the women’s team to one of the best years in school history. “It means we’ve done something no one else has ever done,” said Coach Auriemma. “I’m flattered and grateful and all things that come with this kind of accomplishment.”Unlike the women’s team, the men’s run at the national title came as a complete surprise to college basketball. This years’ NCAA tournament was full of surprises and upsets that pitted No. 7 seed UConn against the No. 8-seeded Kentucky Wildcats. The Huskies were led all tournament by Senior Shabazz Napier, who had 22 points in the national championship game. “I see my guys enjoying it,” said Napier. “That’s the most special feeling ever.” With the win, UConn became the lowest seeded team to win the national championship since the 1985 Villanova squad.
Writer: Matt Roberts ~ Multimedia Journalist
