WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue's basketball team is back in West Lafayette after falling to UConn Monday in the NCAA national championship game.
The team got a warm homecoming Tuesday evening from Boilermaker faithful at the Purdue University Airport.
The celebration wasn't the one they were hoping for, but it's safe to say the team felt the love of their fans. Hundreds cheered the players and coaches as they made their way to their cars.
Fans told 13News they love the team.
"Would have liked to have won the whole thing, but hey, it was a great team," said Mike Hoffman, a Purdue alum. "It was a great experience, and we're all family here."
Fan Deserae Backscheider agreed.
"I'm just here to let them know that I love them to death, and I'm always a Purdue fan, always will be," Backscheider said.
"We are so thrilled that they got to the Final Four, that they beat NC State. I wouldn't be any more proud if they won it all. I love the team. I love the university," Purdue grad Dave St. Claire said.
It was the same story Tuesday on campus. Many of the fans were still wearing their Boilermaker basketball gear and said while they were disappointed by the game's outcome, they were still proud of the team.
Back at the airport, some of the fans said they shed a few tears after Monday's game but were pragmatic about the whole experience. They said they loved watching the journey and the Boilermakers' impressive run in the tournament.
University officials said Tuesday there's no current plan for fan events or team gatherings, but the reception at the airport was quite a celebration.