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When you think of the state of Connecticut in the sports world, the first thing that comes to mind is UCONN Huskies men’s basketball. The University of Connecticut basketball team is like Friday Night Lights in those small Texas communities that take their High school football very serious. Connecticut does not have a professional team from either of the 4 major sports in the states. The city of Hartford once had the Whalers skating downtown from 1979-1997 in the NHL. The Hartford Whalers’ new owner at the time took the team to Carolina as they became the Hurricanes. Hartford built an arena downtown to attract an ABA team. The Whalers were like the second choice coming from a league of the old WHA that folded up shop. Whalers never could get a good following in the state of Connecticut. With so many people from Boston and New York City living in the state, it was hard to get behind the Whalers except when the Bruins, Islanders, or Rangers were in town. Besides some minor league baseball and other semi-pro teams in other sports, it’s all about Huskie hoops, both women and Men. The men’s Huskie basketball team pulled a number 7 seed in the tournament on selection Sunday in the Eastern region. Another University in the state of Connecticut suddenly is making some noise on the hardwood floors. The University of Hartford has found their way in the tournament for the first time in school history.

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University of Hartford is home of the Hawks. The Hawks are located on the Western side of Hartford. The University of Hartford resides in the American East conference. The Hawks were the number 4 seed in the American East Tournament and with a win over University of Massachusetts Lowell on Saturday night, they won the entire thing. Winning the tournament gave University of Hartford a ticket to the NCAA tournament, in which they will be a 16th seed. The University of Hartford will have to have one of the greatest Cinderella stories and play the underdog role in March Madness that we all love, who will be playing a number one seed in Baylor. The odds will be against the Hawks as a 16th seed has only knocked off a number 1 seed once, which happened back in 2018. The team that knocked off number one Virginia that year has a name sounding like a DMV. Univerisity of Maryland Baltimore County hails from the same conference as the University of Hartford the America East. University of Hartford is hoping they can do the same thing UMBC did by taking down Baylor in a tournament they have no history in, because they have never been this far.

The greatest thing about March Madness is the big time upsets and how a small school even made it this far. It seems like 11 years without making it to the tournament would have gotten the head coach John Gallagher fired from the University of Hartford. University of Hartford is not Duke, North Carolina, and UCONN; the bigger universities that you have to get results very quickly or you’re out of a job at these basketball dynasties. University of Hartford is small potatoes in comparison, but a guy like Gallagher will have plenty of chances to build up a program in which he did. Last year could have been the year for the Hawks. The Hawks were on the bus and ready to face the University of Vermont in the American East tournament Championship. The Covid invasion shut down basketball completely including the championship game and dreams of any NCAA appearance. This season, the Hawks were the top rated defense in the conference allowing only 63.3 points per game. The Hawks beat the University of Vermont who were a higher seed in the tournament this season. John Gallagher, at the age of 43, had University of Hartford with a record of 15-8 record and redemption versus the pandemic that almost crushed this school last Spring.

The odds are stacked up high for a school like University of Hartford being the 16 seed trying to knock off a number 1. You love to see a guy like head coach John Gallagher win a game and really make it interesting. All the hard work and sweat he put into this program year after year getting there is impressive, but winning a game would be huge for the entire school and city of Hartford. What about guys that have played all four years at University of Hartford? Traci Carter and Austin Williams, who came up big in the tournament with his play, helped seal the deal for the Hawks. The Whalers brought in guys like Gordie Howe, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Bobby Hall, and Chris Pronger. Some of these Whalers were the best ever in the NHL, but on their last legs playing in Hartford. The Whalers did not win in Hartford period. The Whales probably have been forgotten in the city of Hartford. This group of Hawks could be that story to be told for decades to come in the city of Hartford that needs some sporting moments. Connecticut is a beautiful state. You might say the state is yuppified. We know who the boss is? Which would be the Huskies over the Hawks. Even though Tony was the boss over Angela in the sitcom, Who’s the Boss, that was set in Connecticut. University of Hartford is the mom and pop stand going up against McDonalds in Baylor and living with Burger King in the state of UCONN. When the little guy makes the shot or the burger, it is always better than the big dog in the state. Let’s go Hawks !!!!