Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont unveils new sign as the "basketball capital of the world" thanks to Dan Hurley's 2-peat
Dan Hurley successfully led the UConn Huskies to their second consecutive NCAA tournament crown by securing a 75-60 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers in April this year. Connecticut governor Ned Lamont celebrated the Huskies' title defense by unveiling a new sign this past Wednesday (September 4).
The sign dubs Connecticut as the "basketball capital of the world," echoing Huskies coach Dan Hurley's sentiments after the program completed a two-peat.
Men's basketball forward Jaylin Stewart and women's basketball guard Kaitlyn Chen featured alongside Lamont and UConn mascot Jonathan the Husky for the unveiling of the sign. Lamont also revealed this sign will greet all those traveling into the state through the I-95, I-84 and I-395 highways from Massachusetts.
Besides this, Lamont also revealed new signs similar to the "basketball capital" one. A new one calling Connecticut the "pizza capital of the world" will welcome those traveling on the I-95 and I-84 from New York. A "submarine capital" sign will welcome those traveling on the I-95 from Rhode Island, while a "foodie capital" sign will welcome those traveling on US Route 6 from Rhode Island.
Coach Hurley and the Huskies will return to the White House on September 10 after receiving an invitation from President Joe Biden following their second successive NCAA Tournament win.
Can Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies complete a rare three-peat in 2024-25?
The Huskies followed up a strong 2022-23 season with an even more impressive 2023-24 season. They annihilated their Big East rivals to clinch the regular season title with an 18-2 conference record and won the Big East tournament. There was no match for them in March Madness as they claimed their sixth NCAA tournament title.
Dan Hurley and his staff are hard at work to strengthen their roster in the offseason, signaling their intent by signing five-star small forward Liam McNeeley.
Hurley will look to lead the Huskies to an NCAA Tournament three-peat in the 2024-25 season. It won't be an easy task but if they do so, they will become only the second team in history to win the coveted title thrice in a row. The only team to achieve this so far is the UCLA Bruins, who won consecutive titles from 1967 to 1973.