FROM THE REAL ART SPORTS DESK
UCLA ends LSU’s run in semifinals

From the Baton Rouge Advocate:

LSU’s magical, mystical 2005-06 season ended abruptly in the national semifinals Saturday at the RCA Dome with UCLA blazing to a 59-45 victory.

And

But UCLA came at LSU unlike any team all season, particularly on defense.

LSU’s scoring output was its lowest in its 45-game NCAA tournament history. It was also the lowest score by a Final Four team since 2000 when Michigan State slugged past Wisconsin 53-41. The Tigers lost in the national semifinals for the fourth time in as many games.

The problems LSU (27-9) had masterfully managed to mask or overcome most of the season, especially the last four games, all seemed to surface at once. And the extra nuisance of the Bruins’ pestering and suffocating defense only exacerbated the Tigers’ struggles.

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Well, as I've said, I'm no basketball fan. I had already been burned when the Tigers shot down the Longhorns last week, so I figured I'd only watch again if they made it to the finals. That was a good call on my part, avoiding the agony of defeat and all that. To be honest, I'm still bummed about Texas losing, which is making the Tigers' loss not such a bad thing. Maybe my buddy Matt got a couple of bucks out of it. Ah hell. When does football season start?

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