In a match up of college basketball powerhouses we never saw coming this tournament, the University of Connecticut beat out the University of Kentucky to claim the NCAA National Championship title.
And the Huskies' 60-54 victory over the Wildcats was not only good enough to cut down the nets but made history in the process. (Via The New York Times)
This was the team's fourth national title in the last 15 years, and it was definitely the least likely, as The Washington Post points out — UConn is now the first No. 7 seed ever to win it all.
And it was UConn's first national championship victory under Coach Kevin Ollie. He became the first coach to win a national title in his first NCAA tournament since Steve Fisher in 1989. (Via Fox Sports)
But the road to this triumphant NCAA Championship victory wasn't an easy one. (Via YouTube /UConn)
UConn's basketball program was deemed ineligible for the NCAA tournament last year because of poor performance in the classroom. (Via CBS Sports)
And after quietly simmering for a year under the sanction, the team and its leader finally let their emotions boil over after the clock struck zero.
After the game had ended and the celebrations had begun, senior guard Shabazz Napier told the crowd, "You're looking at the hungry Huskies. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you ban us." (Via Flickr / Matthew D. Britt)
And the fans from both sides of the court couldn't keep their cool either. Dozens of UConn and Kentucky fans were arrested for damaging property and lighting fires in a riot after Monday night's game. (Via Vine / Hunter Douglas)
But the Hungry Husky fans wouldn't have had anything to celebrate if it wasn't for Napier. By SB Nation's count, Napier scored 15 points in just the first half and finished the game with a grand total of 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
It's really no surprise he was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
While Kentucky played well Monday night, Sporting News points out, the Wildcats and its five superstar freshmen could not get ahead. The Wildcats came back within one point a few times but, they never led in the game.
And Fox News points out missed free throws definitely didn't help. The Huskies made all ten of their foul shots, while Kentucky went 13 out of 24 from the line.
Coach Ollie told USA Today he couldn't be prouder of his team for battling through the tough times to get to this point.
"I told you the last will be the first. Last year we couldn't get in the tournament. But we kept believing." (Via YouTube / UConn Huskies)
