What a great end to the season.

The Huskies dug deep and found a way to win. The fact that they had to go through Calipari, Donovan and Izzo to win it is not lost on me. Some of the best coaches in the game could not tame the hearts and determination of this team and their selfless attitudes. Coach Kevin Ollie has said multiple times that without the losses to Louisville, this team could not accomplish what they have now managed to do. That is something that I'm not sure many coaches are able to do in this day and age. Winning by losing is a difficult sword to wield, given the temperament of today's 18-22 year old collegians. But without heady upperclassmen who have been through the fire of a title, then not being able to play for one, and then having the arduous road back to the top will make these guys one of my favorite teams of all-time, regardless of level or sport.

The secret behind what makes this team truly great is not so easy to see, though. The fact that Jim Calhoun, (who I think is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the collegiate game) first got Ollie the job, then managed to keep Nape, Boat and Daniels at UConn and give the Huskies a shot is a true testament to what the program is about. Calhoun built the program on the backs of tough, mean, no-nonsense attitudes of guys like Donyell Marshall, Doron Sheffer, Khalid El-Amin and Ricky Moore and Stanley Robinson. He enlisted them to stop the elite players like Jay Williams, Kerry Kittles, Allen Iverson, Elton Brand and Terrance Jones if they wanted the ultimate victory. These kids were given the same task as their predecessors before them.

It will be the New Yorker wearing #13 that is remembered with Allen, Hamilton, Moore, El-Amin, Okafor, Gordon, and Walker for his talents and hardware. There is no doubt that Shabazz deserves that accolade. But to me, his biggest and best accomplishment was the same thing Kevin Ollie did in 1990. He took a chance on an unknown coach and a program steering towards a murky direction and became the compass to lead HIS team through some difficult times and come out a winner. There is no greater victory than to overcome against all odds. That is Shabazz Napier's greatest badge to wear.

Needless to say, I'm awful proud to be a Husky fan and will continue to be one for quite a long time. I can only hope the coming years are as much fun and enjoyable to watch as this one became. I know I probably shaved a few days off the end of my life fretting the outcomes of more than a few of these games. I consider myself lucky to follow this team as close as I do and thank them for rewarding my nonsensical and often times ridiculous fandom. I hope the boys in blue bask in the glory of their title, but do not rest on trophies or rings or banners and instead become great men and lead fulfilling lives for others to admire and aspire to. Because that is what sports are all about.

Go Huskies!