This might be the best Final Four for Auriemma

A late three from Maya Moore sealed a Final Four berth for the Huskies. AP

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The night grew deep in this southern city but Geno Auriemma did not want to stop talking. It was obvious that this trip to the Final Four meant more to him than other years. "We don't have all the answers to every question like we have had in some years," he said. "We struggle at times, just like other teams struggle. This particular team didn't get to the Final Four on talent and experience and having three or four All-Americas. This team got there on a lot of the intangibles that make you appreciate coaching. How far they have come as a group makes this probably the most rewarding one of all."

Survival was a better description than winning. UConn's 66-56 victory over Rutgers lacked artistry. It was pure guts, with a dash of one special moment from freshman Maya Moore, whose three-pointer with 2:55 remaining gave UConn its first lead, 52-49. Moore came to UConn to start her own legacy but she also ended a drought: Every UConn class since 1995 had appeared in at least one Final Four. It was why with 4.6 seconds in the game, Auriemma walked over to Mel Thomas, the injured senior guard, and gave her a hug four years in the making.

If you wanted to find the beginning to Tuesday night's win, you needed to travel west. Last year LSU embarrassed UConn at this spot, a 73-50 win in the Fresno Regional. "Last year we got down by 14 to LSU and we lose by 20-something," said Auriemma. "I think this team has matured so much that what happened to us in the first half [UConn trailed by 5], we came in at halftime and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that we were going to win the game. Somehow, someway, we were going to make some plays and come back. There was no pouting, no feeling sorry for ourselves. Last year in the locker room in Fresno, there were just a lot of blank faces. You know what they were able to call on this year? They were able to call on every single time they were asked to do something this year, they did it."

Before he exited the podium, Auriemma was asked how he planned to prepare for the national semifinal against Stanford on Sunday in Tampa. It gave you a glimpse into the program's success. "We don't have a strategy for other teams," he said. "We kind of let the game evolve and then our strategy has to evolve during the course of the game. Plan A is what our plan is all the time. If we have to go to Plan B, then we go to Plan B. But we start every game the exact same way. This is what defense we are going to play, this is what we are going to do, this is how we are going to play. When we play Stanford, we are going to do the exact same thing that we tried to do against Rutgers and Old Dominion.

"What will be a little different is that they've played us already [UConn won 66-54 in November] and they are a much better team than they were back then. Are they going to run anything different? No. Will they put new players in? No. Candice Wiggins is still Candice Wiggins. She's liable to get 40 on us but there is going to come a point in that game where one team realizes they are going to win and the other team realizes they are going to lose. That's kind of what I coach my team to do. During that particular moment, sense it, and be ready to take advantage of it. That is what is going to happen Sunday. Hopefully, we will be able to take advantage of it."

One final note: The game ended the careers of Rutgers seniors Matee Avajon and Essence Carson, a pair of classy players. Both played 40 minutes. Carson finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Ajavon had 18.

"They are perfect examples of what student athletes should be," said Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer. "It's not about a show. It's about working hard to get it done. They had impact on our nation and certainly our program."

Carson, who spoke with grace and elegance during the Don Imus saga, plans on attending law school in addition to what should be a fruitful career in the WNBA.