STORRS, Conn. (AP) – Thousands of boisterous fans cheered and congratulated the national champion Connecticut basketball team Tuesday, just hours before the women’s team took the court for its own title bid.

The women’s team was in New Orleans trying to win its third consecutive championship, and give UConn an unprecedented sweep of the NCAA basketball titles.

Nearly 5,500 fans decked out in UConn apparel and waving blue and white pompoms greeted the men’s team at Gampel Pavilion.

Outside, police prepared for out-of-control celebrations like the ones after UConn won the title Monday night that resulted in 35 arrests, overturned cars and bonfires.

Star center, Emeka Okafor, selected the most outstanding player of the Final Four, was weary from the trip, having had little sleep since the title game. He said the accomplishment was still somewhat unbelievable to him.

“We were actually in the championship game and we actually won the dang thing,” Okafor said. “We made a lot of people proud.”

When Ben Gordon got on stage to address the crowd, the arena erupted into chants of “One more year!” Gordon, a junior guard, is expected to skip his senior year for the NBA.

“I just want to thank everyone in this building,” Gordon said. “It’s been a great three years here.”

The architect of the Huskies’ two national titles, coach Jim Calhoun, was greeted with shouts of “Hall of Fame!” He learned on Monday that he had fallen one vote short of being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Police arrested 35 people on and around campus Monday night after the Huskies’ 82-73 victory over Georgia Tech.

Fans overturned cars and trash cans, and set numerous fires. University police said the most serious incidents occurred at the Celeron Square apartment complex about a mile north of campus, where a dozen fires were set outside and two cars were overturned.

AP-ES-04-06-04 2026EDT