CT Hoops Havens: State College Basketball More Than Just UConn

Editor's Note: Patch Field Editor Michael Lemanski, a 1992 University of Connecticut graduate, and his daughter Samantha Lemanski, 14, are both major UConn men's and women's basketball fans. But Connecticut's college hoops scene is more than just the Huskies. There are five other Division I programs in Connecticut: Central Connecticut State University; Quinnipiac University; Fairfield University; Sacred Heart University; and Yale University. This winter, the duo set out to visit all of Connecticut's Division I basketball facilities to see what they had to offer. Mission accomplished. This is the final installment of the series.

March in Connecticut can only mean one thing: March Madness and college basketball.

The University of Connecticut already has a total of 16 men's and women's NCAA championship trophies at its hoops training center (and who knows how many conference titles) and more might be on the way.

I've been a fan of this blueblood basketball power since I signed on the dotted line to go to college there in the late 1980s, just in time to watch them grow into national prominence.

But it wasn't until this winter that I realized college basketball in Connecticut is much, much more than just UConn.

With five other Division I schools playing on the hardwood in the Nutmeg State, it never dawned on me — after decades of men's and women's games at Gampel Pavilion and the Hartford Civic Center (I still call it that) — to check out the other schools.

So, once my family and I enjoyed the UConn/Louisville women's game in Hartford last December, my daughter and I talked about a fun little quest for the winter, a time when cold weather has us looking forward to Hartford Yard Goats baseball and Hartford Athletic soccer.

We decided to visit every Division I basketball college in Connecticut and then our "CT Hoops Havens" series grew from there.

With my daughter taking pictures along with myself, we captured all sorts of images of a state hoops scene we never knew existed.

And we both urge you, especially those die-hard UConn fans, to follow in our footsteps.

This was a joyful experience and it not only didn't disappoint, it far exceeded expectations.

From the history of Yale to the state-of-the-art features of Fairfield and Quinnipiac to the wholesome simplicity of Central Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart, we learned college basketball can deliver excitement to its fans without the high cost and anxiety of the big time.

One point to remember, however, is not to compare these programs to UConn. That's not the point and doing so is pointless.

Do remember, however, that if you're looking for an enjoyable day/night out and you love basketball, you cannot go wrong with our state's low- and mid-majors.

We found out that one ticket to a top-tier UConn men's game is more expensive than two each to the five other Division I programs in the state combined.

That, in this age of inflation, is not a bad deal.

So let's pull for more than just the Huskies in this season of postseason tourneys, let's hope and follow the postseason paths of the Pioneers, Stags, Bulldogs, Bobcats, and Blue Devils.

Let the madness begin.

From Feb. 26: 'CT Hoops Havens: Best Yet To Come At Sacred Heart's Gym'

From Feb. 6: 'CT Hoops Havens: Fairfield's New Arena Offers Fan-Friendly Perfection'

From Feb. 5: 'CT Hoops Havens: Yale's Gym A Hallowed Hall Of Basketball History'

From Jan. 23: 'CT Hoops Havens: Quinnipiac's M&T Arena A Gem On The Hill'

From Jan. 17: 'CT Hoops Havens: CCSU Is Definitely Worth A Visit'