University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Celebrates 2023 Title At Ring Ceremony
10/14/2023 2:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STORRS – Even as the UConn men's basketball team prepared to kick off the 2023-24 season, there were still two celebrations to experience before the thrilling 2022-23 season could become part of Husky history.
One, the unveiling of the 2023 NCAA Championship banner in Gampel Pavilion, which will occur on Nov. 6, before the Huskies play their first game of the new season
Two, the distribution of the 2023 NCAA Championship rings.
Put a checkmark in that box.
Late Friday afternoon, just a few hours before UConn's annual First Night festivities, the UConn men's basketball players, coaches and staff were awarded the championship rings at a reception held on their practice facility court in the Werth Center. The players, coaches and staff were joined by invited donors to relive the excitement of the championship season. The event was hosted by legendary FOX and CBS broadcaster Bill Raftery.
"It's an incredible moment," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "Cutting down the nets, the White House invite and getting the rings, those are the ones (moments) that only the big champions get.
"The timing's a little weird, though, because you're obsessing over the current state of your team and you're obsessing over whatever recruiting you still have going on and while you're doing that, you're getting a National Championship ring from like six months ago."
The eight returning players – Tristen Newton, Alex Karaban, Donovan Clingan, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson, Apostolos Roumoglou, Andrew Hurley and Andre Johnson Jr., were individually introduced to the crowd and seated on stage, and members of last year's team who could not make it back Friday – Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson Jr., Jordan Hawkins, Joey Calcaterra, Nahiem Alleyne, Richie Springs, Yarin Hasson, and Emmett Hendry were also recognized. Also on the stage were Hurley, associate head coach Kimani Young, assistant coaches Tom Moore and Luke Murray, as well as the team support staff.
Representing the administration was UConn President Radenka Maric and Director of Athletics David Benedict.
The crowd was treated to two video presentations, one celebrating the history of the program, the other celebrating the 2022-23 season. That was followed by the presentation of the rings – each one a glittering mass of white gold adorned with sparkling gems surrounding "UConn" in blue over the National Championship trophy on the face. On one side is UConn's championship logo and the team's 31-8 final record and the player's name. On the opposite side is the Final Four logo in front of the eyes of the UConn Husky dog. Inscribed on the back of the ring is "We Season," the team's mantra in 2022-23 and on the inside of the ring are the final scores of each of the six NCAA Tournament games. The rings were created in collaboration with Jostens.
"This was such a beloved team," Hurley told the audience. "Great on offense, great on defense, great rebounding, they cared about each other. They just didn't give the other team a chance when it came to the most important time of the year. We just dominated the tournament."
Hurley called his assistants "the best coaching staff in the country," and then addressed the donors and fans in the audience.
"We couldn't have accomplished any of this without you," he said. "Our facilities, the way we travel, the resources we are given are among the best in the country. We can't thank you enough. Now, let's go for six."
