“Don’t not be happy,” he said, “because you’ve accomplished something. But I don’t want to read you feel like you accomplished the world.

“Because,” he added, “we’re going to do that Monday night.”

Down the hallway, Magic Johnson was posing for pictures with a handful of Detroit cops, telling them “It looks like everybody in Michigan is represented here tonight.”

Izzo might need their energy and more to complete the mission he began as an undersized point guard at Iron Mountain High in the Upper Peninsula almost 40 years ago. Even more than his players, he looks like he’s running on fumes. When Connecticut closed to within 66-58 with 4:48 left on two free throws by A.J. Price, he stomped his foot down hard, twice, to get his players’ attention. Then he shoved both fists away from his chest to call a play for the next possession. When Lucas ended it by missing a layup, Izzo spun around so hard in disappointment, you half-expected to see him go flying off the floor.

Slideshow   Greatest NCAA tournament moments We rank the 30 most memorable moments in the Big Dance, including Bryce Drew's 1998 buzzer-beater. NBCSports.com

No problem there. There were 72,456 people looking on, more than a few of whom were prepared to catch him, set him on his feet, and point Izzo back in the right direction. They were every bit as determined as he was to see this job get finished.

Now, the coach he wound up beating feels the same way.

“Tommy Izzo is one of my best friends. He’s a future Hall of Fame coach,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “He’s probably going to win his second national championship on Monday. ...

“They played special. They have a cause. Anytime you have a cause,” he concluded, “it’s a great, great thing to rally people around.”

And the coach Izzo faces is rooting for him, too.

Almost.

“Tom Izzo, it’s impossible to have any more respect than I have for Tom and his staff,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

“But I’m not going to be a Tom Izzo fan,” he added, “on Monday night.”

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