WASHINGTON — It began with a game against American International College in early November and carried on to the final game against Butler in April, but the Huskies’ championship season was not finished until they made it to the White House Monday for a ceremony held in their honor by President Barack Obama.

The ceremony was held in the East Room of the White House to honor the Huskies for winning the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

President Obama welcomed the players from UConn but said he personally found the day to be bittersweet.

“On one hand, I get to congratulate a great team and a great coach for winning the national championship,” Obama said. “On the other hand, I am reminded, once again, that my bracket was a bust. I did not pick UConn to win it all, that was a mistake.”

President Obama mentioned that he had UConn going to the Elite Eight, but his bracket was among many others that were incorrect.

“But I was not alone, lets face it, this was a tough year for a lot of brackets because teams like this one shocked the world,” Obama said.

Obama said the team was successful because everyone knew their role, including Shabazz Napier, who “sang and danced and talked his way through an incredible freshman season.”

In keeping with the tradition of the winning team giving the president a jersey bearing their name; Walker presented the president a jersey with the number one and the name B. Obama on the back.

Walker, appearing confident in the face of the president, asked him for his help as well.

“I want to ask you, can you teach me that walk?” Walker said.

President Obama jokingly said, “that’s a special presidential walk.”

Earlier in the ceremony, President Obama suggested that Walker take a look at the Bulls organization following their win over Miami the night before.

Calhoun compared the Huskies to President Obama, both underdogs going in but they had a similar motto of “Yes, we can!”

“And like you Mr. President, yes, we did,” Calhoun said. “We accepted our roles, we accepted who we are and did anything possible to be the best we possibly could become.”

President Obama made few predictions for the future of the team, but noted that there is a lot of freshmen on the team so there is no reason why they couldn’t meet again soon.

The ceremony included many people from the UConn community, who came out to share in this monumental experience. Some guests included the university’s Interim President Philip Austin, the soon to be President Susan Herbst, Dean of the School of Medicine Cato Laurencin and others.

State politicians were also among the crowd, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman, State Rep. Gregg Haddad, and State Sen. Don Williams.

This marked the third title for the Huskies and would mark Jim Calhoun’s third trip to the White House as the coach of a championship winning team.

Calhoun, in his three visits to the White House, has had the opportunity to meet with the past three presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and current President Barack Obama.

Calhoun recently reached another milestone in his illustrious career, May 14 marked 25 years of service as the head coach of the UConn’s men’s basketball team.

The team began their visit to the White House by hitting the president’s court, where they held skill drills with over a dozen students from Eliot-Hine Middle School.

The students were given words of encouragement and advice from the man whose service as coach will be long remembered.

“You’ve got to apply what you do on the court to your life,” Calhoun said.

Assistant Coach Kevin Ollie encouraged the kids to make sure they got an education while they had the opportunity and to know that they can do anything they set their mind to.

“I’m just like you, I had a dream one day,” said Ollie, who continued to say that he went out there and made that dream come true.

Kemba Walker missed the clinic because his travel was delayed.

UConn defeated Butler 53-41 in the final of the NCAA championship back on April 4 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

UConn student athletes are not strangers to the White House, Monday’s visit marked the ninth trip a UConn basketball team has been honored, and the third year in a row following the women’s basketball team’s back-to-back championship in 2008-09 and 2009-10.