Christopher Shays: “I join the entire State of Connecticut in congratulating the University of Connecticut Women and Men Huskies for…”

“I join the entire State of Connecticut in congratulating the University of Connecticut Women and Men Huskies for becoming the first school, ever to have both their college basketball programs win the NCAA National Championships in same year. It is extraordinary. The Male Huskies overcame early adversity in winning their second national championship since 1999. Despite several injuries, the UConn Huskies simply would not be denied their second national championship in 5 years. Led by Academic and Athletic All-American Emeka Okafor, junior sensation Ben Gordon at shooting guard, senior leader Taliek Brown at point guard, sharp shooter Rashad Anderson at forward, and freshman force Josh Boone, the Huskies were a force to be reckoned with. I would also like to commend the hard work, the extraordinary work, of Jim Calhoun. He has given us years of tremendously exciting basketball. I commend him for so many things but also to say he overcame prostate cancer to become one of only three active coaches to win multiple national championships. The Huskies demonstrated quickness, great outside shooting, and stifling defense; but in the Final Four in San Antonio, they demonstrated their greatest trait, resilience.”