Thousands of Jayhawk fans welcomed home Tuesday their beloved men’s basketball champions. With a chilly breeze, cloudy skies and occasional sprinkles in Memorial Stadium, adoring fans greeted the team as they returned to bask in the glory of a national title.
The ups and downs before KU’s eventual victory over UNC were, at times, difficult to watch. Fortunately, the Jayhawks held on to win 72-69, and fans erupted with excitement all over Lawrence. They shared their mixed emotions with us.
Following what will surely be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in NCAA history, 70,000 KU fans flooded Massachusetts Street late Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to an estimate from law enforcement.
More than 300 law enforcement officers from 16 agencies across the region will be downtown Monday evening to keep watch over basketball fans hoping to celebrate KU’s first NCAA championship since 2008.