President pays tribute to NCAA-champion UConn men’s basketball team at White House

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — President Joe Biden honored the winners of the 2023 UConn Huskies NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the White House on Friday.

“This team is proof that there are no quitting at UConn,” Biden said. “Just like there is no giving up in America. None.”

UConn won its fifth national title by defeating San Diego State 76-59 in April.

The president highlighted the Huskies’ ability to defy expectations, noting that less than 3% of the brackets had UConn winning the national championship trophy.

“You’re a fourth seed and you’ve won every single game by double digits and the final breakout of the fifth national championship,” Biden said. “Congratulations, congratulations. Nothing like a comeback, man.

This is the UConn men’s team’s fifth visit to the White House since 1999, and the Huskies have now met four of the last five presidents.

“When I joined UConn, I certainly thought about winning a national championship, but I didn’t think about the other things that come with it, like being sidelined on a day like this.” , said the UConn guard and co-captain of the team. Andrew Jackson.

The players said they were honored to carry on the tradition.

“It was definitely surreal to be in the same room with the president, him shaking my hand and talking to me,” Jackson said.

Although some of his players had already declared themselves for the NBA draft, Huskies coach Dan Hurley is not ruling out a triumphant return to the White House next year.

“Coming back here to DC,” Hurley said, “we might have a pretty good chance, as good a chance as a lot of other top teams.

The president also honored the 2023 women’s champions, LSU Tigers, in a separate ceremony.