UConn Huskies gone from Final Four, but expects to be back soon

4/7/2008 4:01 PM

By PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Connecticut ended its first trip to the Final Four in four years saying not good bye, but see you later.

The Huskies failed in their attempt to win a sixth national championship, losing to Stanford on Sunday night. However, with seven key players returning and a stellar incoming class, the future looks bright.

Despite losing two starters to injury, these Huskies (36-2) lost just one game during the regular season, and returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2004.

``I think compared to the last couple years, we accomplished a lot, and I think we proved to ourselves what we really have in us,'' senior Ketia Swanier said. ``There was a lot of growth. We improved ourselves a lot. I think we have always had it in us, but we showed it this year.''

Swanier, and fellow seniors Mel Thomas, Brittany Hunter and Charde Houston are done. But UConn will return seven underclassman who played significant minutes, including the game's newest star, freshman All-American Maya Moore.

``Nobody on this team had ever been (to the Final Four),'' said Moore. ``Now we have that experience. We've accomplished that experience and now the bar is higher, and we have to make it to another Final Four, and another semifinal, and hopefully another championship.''

Moore began the year on the bench, but moved into the starting lineup in December after junior guard Kalana Greene suffered a season-ending knee injury. Moore averaged almost 18 points, and was in double figures in all but two games. The 6-foot forward helped lead the Huskies to the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles and became the first freshman - male or female - to win conference player of the year. She was just the second freshman in history to be named a first-team All-American.

``Maya Moore is going to be a four-time All-American,'' Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said.

The Huskies also have two third-team All-Americans coming back, sophomore center Tina Charles, who averaged more 14 points and nine rebounds and junior Renee Montgomery, who also averaged 14 points and put up double figures in 26 of her final 30 games.

Montgomery was forced to switch from point guard to shooting guard in January after the Huskies second major knee injury of the year took out senior sharpshooter Mel Thomas.

``I think Renee is as good if not better than any guard in America in every area, Auriemma said. ``Renee is probably going to benefit the most from people coming back.''

Those people include Greene, who can play either guard or forward and was perhaps UConn's best defender before being hurt.

Connecticut also signed another top recruiting class, led by national high school player of the year Elena Delle Donne.

The 6-4 Delle Donne showed off her skills in Tampa this weekend, being named the most valuable player at the WBCA High School All-America game. She had 17 points, while another UConn recruit, guard Tiffany Hayes scored 18, despite fighting off the flu.

``Somebody asked me, 'What are you going to tell the players?''' Auriemma said Sunday night. ``I'm going to tell them we'll be back here next year, you can count on that.''