It's a combination of the success of the men and women's teams, under Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriema, and the fact that CT has no sports - the Whale departed in '97, and other than false hopes of the Patriots coming to town 5 years ago, Connecticut has to piggy-bank the success of Boston or New York teams.  The Huskies provide the lone sense of individual pride for its residents.

CT residents love their hoops - men's and women's. I went to college in Hartford and had a friend whose family let us use their season tix to husky games when they played at the Hartford civic center (rather than in Storrs). I don't know if it's because they're starved for a team to root for (no pro sports), or what, but even the decidedly non-school-affiliated fans were borderline manic about their huskies. really fun games to attend.

Connecticut loves the Huskies - Both Men's and Women's teams.

Few schools can boast perennial championship-caliber basketball in both men's and women's basketball as UConn can.