NCAA Championship podcast with Michael Roberson: UConn fans and students celebration gets out of hand after championship watch party

There were many property casualties at the University of Connecticut in Storrs CT following the UConn Huskies win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the NCAA Championship game on Mon Apr 3, 2023 here fans rally on the campus (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Championship podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael after the UConn Huskies (31-8) defeated the San Diego State Aztecs (32-7) students and fans at the University of Connecticut rioted tearing down street signs, light poles, smashed windows, flipping cars over, setting fire to dumpsters and destroyed property following the NCAA Championship game.

#2 Michael, 15 people were arrested and 16 people were taken to the hospital in Storrs. A UConn spokeswoman Stephani Reitz said that a majority celebrating at the campus were mostly well behaved but that small group was big enough to do destructive property damage to the university which overshadowed Monday’s victory.

#3 Gampel Pavilion the Huskies home arena at UConn held a watch party that had 10,000 students in attendance who took to the campus and streets after the win and the campus was trashed. Work crews and contractors came in to clean up and patch up the damage. It was miraculous that no one was killed in this wild and out of control post game celebration.

#4 To the game talk about the Huskies high scorers who kept any chance of victory away from the Aztecs, Tristen Newton 19 points, Adama Sanogo 17 points, and and Jordan Hawkins 16 points.

#5 First lady Jill Biden suggested that the Iowa Hawkeyes should be invited to the White House too even though they lost to NCAA women’s champs the LSU Tigers. LSU’s Angel Reese tweeted with the link of the story writing “A JOKE” and three laughing on the floor emojis. Dr. Biden walked back here idea saying she didn’t mean any disrespect to LSU players regarding the idea of inviting Iowa to the White House.

Michael Roberson is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer and covered the Final Four and the Championship game for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Champions of NCAA National Title 54-53

Reining Champions of Women’s NCAA basketball the Stanford Cardinal hold up the Championship Trophy going all the way defeating the Arizona Wildcats at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Sun Apr 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Stanford women took on the Arizona Wildcats in search for a championship: the first ever all Pac-12 NCAA basketball title game. Stanford coming off a wild game that went right down to the buzzer winning over South Carolina who had a real shot at winning the game. That score was 66-65. One thing you could say about the Cardinal they kept it close again edging out the Wildcats for a 54-53 Championship victory in the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Stanford was able to pull off the win but the Cardinal will need everyone on board for the title game. Arizona has made a lot of noise beating No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 4 Indiana and No.1 Connecticut.They have the title in their sites. Aari McDonald & Co. will be ready for this one and will be gunning for the No. 1 overall seed Stanford.

The Cardinal will need Kiana Williams totally onboard for the game. She has struggled the past few games and her team will really need her to step up in this one. Haley Jones had an amazing game against South Carolina and hopes to pick up right where she left off on Friday in the Final Four. Ana Wilson will bring her defensive prowess along with Lexie Hull and Ashsten Prechtel who was great off the bench.

Stanford won both of their regular season matchups and got the third win against the Wildcats in the Championship Tournament. If trends prove true, it is especially difficult to beat a team three times in one basketball season. Both of those games were one-sided. Arizona has made great strides to come into this game with outstanding defense and was considered extremely dangerous.

Stanford was looking for their third national title under Head Coach Tara VanDerveer who won titles in 1990 and1992.

At the half Stanford led by the score of 31-24. They had been able to keep Aari McDonald under wraps allowing only five points. The high score for Arizona came off the bench from Shaina Pellington with seven points.

Lexie Hull had eight points for the half followed by Ashten Prechtel who again had a great first half off the bench. Every starter for Stanford turned in points in the half for a well-balanced first half. They were two quarters away from a national title.

Arizona outscored Stanford in the third and fourth quarters but came up just shy with Stanford winning another blockbuster game 54-53. These girls just hung in there and willed themselves to win giving Tara VanDerveer her third national title.

Aari McDonald came up with a big 22 points in the loss. Shaina Pellington had 15 points off the bench in a terrific outing for Arizona. The Wildcats had a great game coming up just short as time expired.

Stanford had some great numbers from their starters. Haley Jones had 17 points, Lexi Hull with 10 and Cameron Brink also with 10 points. The ever consistent Ashten Prechtel had seven off the bench.

It has been an amazing season for Tara VanDerveer and her team as they celebrate their third title. They played an awesome tournament withstanding a lot of pressure and rising to the occasion in every game. A big congrats to Stanford Women’s basketball and we all look forward to next season.

NCAA Championship Tournament podcast with Michelle Richardson:Both number ones Gonzaga and Baylor Monday night; Stanford-Arizona women was a battle for the ages

Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, ball handles against UCLA guard David Singleton (34) and forward Cody Riley, right, on Sat Apr 3, 2021 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis (AP News photo)

On the NCAA Championship podcast with Michelle:

#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (31-0) played for their lives and pulled it off against the UCLA Bruins (22-10) on Saturday to advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament on Monday night

#2 Michelle, Baylor (27-2) and Gonzaga both number ones have been playing almost perfect basketball all season long. Gonzaga comes into the Championship Tournament perfect and the favorites over Baylor but how do you see this one turning out?

#3 Stanford Cardinal (31-2) women faced off against fellow Pac 12 school the Arizona Wildcats (21-6) in the Championship Tournament in one of the tightest games on Sunday as Stanford for the second straight won by just one point this time 66-65. These two teams see each other during the regular season Stanford women’s are NCAA women’s Champions.

Michelle’s Final Thoughts

Michelle Richardson podcasted NCAA Sports from the beginning of the college football season to the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament for http://www.sportsradioservice.com