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The dream of a historic three-peat came to an emotional end for UConn on Sunday, as the Huskies fell 77-75 to No. 1 seed Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The loss at the Lenovo Center not only ended UConn's 13-game tournament win streak but also halted their quest to cement a modern dynasty.
Dan Hurley's emotional message after thriller loss
Despite entering the tournament as a No. 8 seed after an up-and-down season, UConn showed the resilience of a championship-caliber program, pushing Florida to the brink before the Gators took control in the final minutes.
The Huskies led by six points in the second half, but a late 3-pointer by Walter Clayton Jr. gave Florida a lead it never relinquished.
The game's conclusion left head coach Dan Hurley visibly emotional, as he reflected on his team's journey and the bond they had built.
Speaking to CBS in his postgame interview, Hurley fought back tears as he expressed his pride in his players and the way they battled through adversity.
"[Florida] showed their quality, I thought we played with tremendous honor, I thought we played with the heart of a championship program and a program that's gone back-to-back,"Hurley said.
"And for a team to end what we really wanted to do, they were going to have to put us down. And obviously, a worthy opponent like that, there's honor in the way we went out."
The game was a hard-fought contest, with UConn battling through a rough-shooting first half and a physical second half where fouls played a major role.
The Huskies were whistled for 21 personal fouls compared to Florida's 17, and the Gators made the most of their opportunities, going 22-of-34 from the free-throw line.
After a season marked by ups and downs, including a third-place finish in the Big East and an early stumble in the Maui Invitational, UConn still managed to showcase its championship pedigree when it mattered most.
The Huskies' first-round win over Oklahoma set up the showdown with Florida, but their valiant effort fell just short.
Despite the heartbreak, Hurley made it clear how much this team meant to him.
"I just love 'em. Just love 'em,"Hurley said.
"This year's been a real battle. We've battled and we've had to battle and battle and battle. At times, I don't think we liked each other a whole lot with some of the things we had to go through together, but I don't think I'll ever love a team more than how hard they fought for what we were trying to accomplish and for the honor they played with today."
Though their season ended earlier than they had hoped, the Huskies left the court with the respect of their coach and a lasting reminder of the fight that made them champions in the first place.