Scott Burrell, Chris Smith among former UConn players to celebrate the start of March Madness in Milford

UConn men's basektball greats Scott Burrell and Chris Smith are among the former players celebrating the beginning of the 2023 March Madness tournament at a Milford brewery on March 16. Dockside Brewery in Milford is hosting an interactive celebration to tip off the start of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. On March 16 from 2 - 4 p.m., the brewery will be hosting a Pop-A-Shot competition in which fans can play against Burrell, Smith and other former UConn players. No tickets are required to attend the event. Burrell, a New Haven native, grew up in the Nutmeg State and went to Hamden High School, where he was awarded "HS Player of the Year" for basketball and baseball. In 2013, Burrell said in an interview that he was extremely close to going to play baseball at the University of Miami, but that UConn's assistant basketball coach at the time, Howie Dickenman, was persistent enough to convince him to come play basketball for the Huskies under coaching legend Jim Calhoun. In 1989, Burrell made history by throwing a full-court pass that led to his teammate Tate George's buzzer beater against the Clemson Tigers. This ultimately led the Huskies to their first Elite Eight appearance, and the play is now colloquially known "The Shot." Following his UConn career, Burrell went on to play in the NBA after being drafted No. 20 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Burrell was then traded to the Chicago Bulls and was a part of the Bulls' sixth NBA Championship team alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan in the 1997-98 season. He is currently back in Connecticut where he now works as the head coach of men's basketball at Southern Connecticut State University. Chris Smith, a Bridgeport native, played at UConn under Calhoun as well, alongside Burrell. To date, Smith is UConn's all-time leading men's basekbtall scorer with 2,145 points to his name, and an average of 16.9 points per game. After his UConn career, Smith played as a member of the U.S. national team and was later drafted by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves in 1992. Smith played at Minnesota for three seasons before going on to play six more years abroad. Both players will be available at Milford's Dockside Brewery for photos, Pop-A-Shot play and celebration of the start of the notoriously unpredictable single elimination basketball tournament. The 2023 March Madness tournament's "Round of 64" will begin on March 16 .

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