An electric crowd of nearly 500 filled Aria Banquet Facility on September 24 for the inaugural Southern Hoops Tip-Off Talk, a fundraiser benefiting Southern Connecticut State University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.
The evening featured a star-studded lineup of basketball icons — including UConn Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma, SCSU head coaches Scott Burrell and Kate Lynch, former NBA player and broadcaster Donny Marshall, and CBS Sports analyst Bill Raftery. The program was emceed by George Grande, a longtime broadcaster and member of the USA Baseball Board of Directors.
The Tip-Off Talk highlighted both the tradition and future of basketball in Connecticut, while raising vital support for Southern’s student-athletes. Guests enjoyed an evening of meet-and-greets, autographs, and a silent auction before settling in for a spirited live program.
“This event really is a celebration of basketball in Connecticut and of Connecticut being the Basketball Capital of the World,” said Kate Lynch, ’08, SCSU women’s basketball head coach and former Division II national champion. “We really appreciate everyone being here to support both programs.”
The panel discussion brought personal stories and lively exchanges between some of the sport’s most recognizable voices. Auriemma, who has led UConn to 12 national championships, praised Southern’s commitment to excellence:
“I like the fact that [Kate] is trying to run the kind of program that is bigger than what you would expect. She does a hell of a job coaching and has a great personality when it comes to recruiting kids and all that. I’m glad we get to play them again.”
“Sports is a way to bring people together,” Auriemma said. “It is part of the fabric of pretty much every community in America. Connecticut is recognized as a state where basketball means an awful lot, and not just Connecticut basketball. That is the whole point of what we are trying to talk about.”
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Related Coverage
- WTNH: Auriemma among basketball coaches attending Tip-Off Talk fundraiser in Prospect
- CT Insider: UConn women’s basketball team holds its first practice Monday. How Geno Auriemma views the Huskies.
- New Haven Register: Why Southern Connecticut State hoops fundraiser was a ‘celebration of basketball in Connecticut’
