Minnesota kept fighting back, but everytime the Gophers got close, Connecticut countered.

Key stat: offensive rebounds. UConn had 12, and several at key times. The Gophers played evenly in every category except rebounding, where they had a deficit of 12. Minnesota's other players seemed to expect McCarville to get it every time, so they didn't bother boxing out. Killed us.

Key stretch: from 6 minutes to 4 minutes in the second half. Down 3, Minnesota had chances, but couldn't convert. Two transition layups missed, a three-pointer missed, Strother hits a three, then Whalen's drive came up empty.

We'll always look back with an incredible amount of pride at what this team has done. And we hope that the comparisons to the 1991 Huskies are apt -- maybe this run will spur our recruiting and send us on the way to more Final Fours.

But that's all cold comfort right now. Losing sucks.