Off the cuff: It was one of those games that you felt was really an opportunity. Carolina wasn't favored. Carolina was just two days removed from one of its biggest victories in history. And Carolina was an eighth seed who a week before the NCAA tournament teams were announced many thought would not make the field.

It was like playing with House money. But, dang, to lose after being up by 16 in the first half and 15 at the break. And to be saddled with foul trouble and injuries as a thin team. That was a bad way to end the season.

Even after blowing the big lead, it appeared that Armando Bacot, who had a step on the defender, was going to score a go-ahead bucket with about 40 seconds to go. But he turned the same ankle that was injured in the Duke game just as he was going up and he never even got the shot up, collapsing to the floor.

Soon thereafter David McCormack, who had battled Bacot much of the night inside, hit a hook shot that gave Kansas the final three-pooint margin.

Ochai Agbaji, who had bothered Carolina's Caleb Love all night, kept the Tar Heels from any late-game heroics like they had against Duke. Agbaji was named the Final Four's most outstanding player.

Bacot, who gamely played with a sore ankle, and Love, who had a much better game against Duke, were also named to the all-tournament team.

The Tar Heels had scored 16 straight points late in the first half during an 18-3 run to open a 40-25 lead at the break, but Kansas answered with a 31-10 run over the opening 10 minutes of the second to take a six-point lead.

The tough Tar Heels came right back and tied it on a three from the left corner by sub Puff Johnson with just over eight minutes to go.

Kansas got back up by four aided by back-to-back threes from Jalen Wilson but the Heels once again tied it, 65-65, on free throws by Bacot and Manek.

But a tough step-back three by Remy Martin put Carolina in a hole again with just 2:38 to go.

A driving layup by Love, followed by a put-back inside by Manek got the Heels back on top 69-68 with 1:41 to go.

It was their last points of the game as McCormack hit two hook shots in the lane and the Heels missed their last four shots. The last was supposed to be a three attempt by Manek but he stumbled. Coach Davis said he thought he would have been open on the far side corner had he been able to keep his feet.

There were a number of times players slipped and tripped. It got so bad I thought the Heels might want to call a slip-and-fall attorney.

Love started the second half by falling with the ball and traveling. About five minutes later, R.J. Davis fell and turned the ball over. Six minutes later, Manek did much the same. And finally Bacot slipped in the last minute, turning his ankle again.

The game ended with Manek stumbling and the Heels settling for a long, contested three by Love as the secondary target.

The Tar Heels came a long way this season and made a great run. While they have nothing to be ashamed of, to lose a big lead like that hurts.

For his part, Coach Davis said he should be disappointed but his thoughts were with his players, consoling them. "I'm so proud tof these guys - what they've done individually and as a team and the way they've represented our University, this program and our community," he said.

He missed out on a national championship in his first year - and it was a loss to the same team that knocked him out as a player in 1991.

But, to the very end of the press conference, he wasn't thinking about that. After the last question directed at the players on the elevated podium, Coach Davis asked, "can somebody help Armando get down?"